Can hens twist their ankles?

dawninspain · « **on:** February 13, 2008, 18:29 »

MY OH went to shut the girls up tonight and found one lying on the floor of the run. At first he thought she had broken a wing but when we examined her indoors her wings seem to be moving OK. At first she could not support her weight on her feet and kept keeling over but then she managed to get her feet splayed out and she balanced albeit a bit wobbly. She is very quiet and subdued and hunched over rather than standing up straight. Its like her legs keep turning to jelly. 2 hours earlier all the hens were fine.

She took a few drops of water when I offered her a bowl. We have put her indoors for the night in the spare room in a covered box with straw.

Any ideas anyone?

Dawn

gobs · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2008, 18:39 »

Have they got ankles? :?

poultrygeist · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2008, 18:45 »

i think I've read somewhere (on here?) that they can do themselves damage by leaping from too high a perch.

Don't know how high is too high.

Do they have anything tall for perching on in the run ?

No idea how you check though.

dawninspain · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2008, 18:51 »

They love jumping/flapping up onto the compost heap (about 4 foot high) Its possible that she hurt herself jumping down and managed to drag herself into the hen house as it got dark. Her crop feels full so she has been feeding.

poultrygeist · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2008, 19:00 »

Only thread I can find is this recent one regarding poorly legs.

LINK

Hope you can get a definitive answer. Must be worrying.

Rob

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2008, 19:03 »

All the above is true Sandra, so check her over very carefully for swellings or pain.

Has she been a good layer so far ? I think that hens can suffer with a condition similar to milk fever in cows. Lack of calcium makes them fall over and become very weak. Try giving her some plain bio yogurt and perhaps some vitamins. You can syringe it into her mouth.

If she is paralyzed instead of weak thin it could be the dread Marek's

dawninspain · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2008, 19:24 »

Thank you PG and Aunt Sally for your advice.

She is one of 17 hens so its impossible to keep track of who is laying well.

We'll see how she is in the morning. If necessary she can go in the shed by herself with some food and water.

I'll let you know how she is getting on.

This is the first time one of our girls has not been well.

Dawn

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Can hens twist their ankles?

dawninspain

poultrygeist

dawninspain

poultrygeist

dawninspain