One of our Barnevelders is worrying us. She started limping during the week and now she can barely walk. She is eating and drinking and apart from the leg problem seems perfectly healthy. We've separated her from the rest of the flock and she's spending her days in the vegetable garden where she's not troubled by Gracie and the other chooks. Do we have any vets reading here or anyone with chickens who has had a similar problem? I'd love to hear your thoughts on what's happening.
I'm off on a road trip tomorrow. I'm meeting Tricia half-way between Sydney and here and we'll drive back together. I'm looking forward to it and will get some photos along the way.
Thank you for your visits during the week. I hope you get the chance to put your feet up and relax on the weekend. I'll see you next week. 🌼
Advanced Style - I think the word "style" is over used and over-rated but this site is so joyous I couldn't resist it.
National Geographic KidsThe life-affirming joy of sweet peas
What a beautiful painting in your first photo, Rhonda. It looks like one of Margaret Olley's still life paintings. I love cornflowers but sweet peas are my most favourite flower in the whole world...I've popped over and read that article already! Safe travels on your road trip over the weekend. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteYou've got a good eye, Meg. It's Margaret Olley's cornflowers.
DeleteHi Rhonda, I'm sorry to hear that your chicken in limping. I am not a vet, but year ago, one of my neighbors had a chicken that was gimping. It's foot had gotten infected from stepping in the chicken poop in the coop. I hope yours recovers. Have fun with Tricia!
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip Rhonda.
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I love the stylish ladies! Yet when I imagine myself dressing so flamboyantly I imagine people saying "Just look at her! Who does she think she is??" Those ladies have flair and guts too.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Rhonda. I hope someone can help with working out what is wrong with your Barnvelder. I also hope Gracie is a good girl and doesn't hassle her :-) It is very warm here for the middle of winter and it would be nearer to the coast too I imagine. Have a relaxing weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt could be Bumblefoot, a bacterial infection of the foot, if it is it needs treating or the infection can spread up the leg. Early stages can be treated with epsom salt soaks a quick google search will give you lots of information
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting. There are no signs of infection - no swelling or redness.
DeleteWe've had chickens that have limped and it seems when they jumped off the roost, may have strained a leg. hopefully some rest and she'll be ok.
ReplyDeletethanks Christina.
DeleteDepending which side the limp is it could be an infected oviduct or retained egg. If so take her to the vet asap or it will be the end with a few days.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise she may have landed aukwardly when alighting from her overnight roost.
I recently knew of a lady whose chook did that and broke the fima which cost over $500 to repair at vets and around 3months in a box by the wood stove in the kitchen.
As another reader has mentioned it could be infected foot otherwise known as plantar wart. But you will see the wart growing in that case. However, planters can be life threatening also due to the infection.
She is healthy and eating with no signs of retained egg. There are no warts or infection in her legs. Thank Clissa.
DeleteHello Rhonda, we have had 2 Barnevelders who started limping, however with them they were quite young and it was possibly something in their breeding. Luckily a vet nearby keeps chickens at home and he diagnosed dislocated knees with one. The second one we saw a vet who didn't know so much about chickens because he wasn't available. I do see on the Facebook chicken pages, people saying that their chickens have recovered from limps so maybe she has hurt herself and will recover with time and rest. Have you picked her up and had a good look at her legs and feet including the bottom of her feet, check for bruises, cuts, ticks etc. If you feel her over and gently move her legs you might be able to find out where her sore part is. In our case the vet only charged $29 for the appointment and when we knew they weren't going to recover, $14 to put them to sleep. In our case I felt it was worth taking ours so we knew what it was and they didn't suffer for a long period. I hope she will be ok. Enjoy your road trip!
ReplyDeleteShe comes from a professional breeder who we've had a lot of chickens from so I doubt it's a breeding problem. We can see no injuries, infections, bruises or problems on her legs and feet. She walked around with a limp for a week but now both legs have stopped supporting her. She's eating, drinking and appears to be quite well - except she can't walk. Thanks for your comment, Amanda.
DeleteOne of ours started limping 3 weeks ago, then gradually began losing her balance and sitting back on her heels. She became slowly weaker even though she ate well and we had to carry her to bed each night. She died last night even though she seemed a bit better last night. The only thing I can find is Marek's Disease😞
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that Corinne, I was thinking it sounds more like paralysis and Mareks.
DeleteBest Wishes for your little chook, Rhonda.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the blog, 100 Acts of Sewing and Advanced Style. Those knitted top hats look great.
Enjoy your road trip with Tricia
Hi Rhonda, have you by chance tried adding a vitamin/electrolyte mix to your hen’s water? “Durvet” makes a good one that I use for both the chickens and goats whenever there’s a stress or unknown issue - sometimes a particular hen is just deficient in a nutrient for whatever reason, and I’ve cured mystery leg problems with vitamins before. You might add a little raw apple cider vinegar to her water as well...I hope she’s able to recover, it’s upsetting when we don’t know the cause...
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Have a fun and safe road trip with Tricia. Lots of chatting and maybe singing?
ReplyDeleteThe symptoms sound very much like Mareks especially if her legs splay in different directions. Mareks is fatal no matter how much you attend to the chicken. There is often no visible signs of injury but if a post mortem is done tumours are often found. I have had quite a few chickens show the limp,then the inability to use the legs, and the other chickens pick on them.
ReplyDeleteVets are unable to help chickens recover. It is meant to be contagious but I think my flock has built some immunity so only random chickens get it. Usually younger ones however not exclusively.
Often the large chicken suppliers vaccinate for Mareks but small suppliers may not.
I am not a vet but I have researched on line and have a text book on poultry diseases.
Thanks to everyone for the advice and thoughts. I’ll be back home tomorrow and will update then.
ReplyDeleteHello, Is the hen over weight? We had three Orpington hens....they were so large as chicks that we thought turkeys we sent in error. They layed huge pale pinkish tan eggs with double yolks. They became so large walking slowly declined. They probably should have been butchered but we loved them They simply went to sleep, one in my lap. The other Rhode Island reds are fine. The Orpingtons breast grew huge probably a meat bird. Sorry not more helpful.
ReplyDeleteHolly yes they sound like meat chickens. They are bread to grow quickly and keep growing, sit down alot, have big feet to support their weight and should be butchered after they reach 3kg.
DeleteHave an awesome time with Tricia. I remember picking bunches of sweet peas as a child. Alas they do not grow up here in the tropics. that is ok to keep that sweet smell in my memory box.
ReplyDeleteHello Rhonda, still thinking of you and your hen.
ReplyDeleteRhonda, i just wanted to let you know I have enjoyed the Weekend Reading list so far. Those pictures of gardens in The Guardian were amazing! And I like the "style" article LOL! Some good tips and reminders in the article about reducing plastic...I keep trying. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely visit with your sister! I haven't been on here lately as I've had to go back to work full time after 2 years at home. Major medical bills and a horrible farm economy have wreaked havoc on our finances. We will get through it one way or the other. I have a job I love and we are all healthy now but I do miss being at home. I love the reading list...can't wait to sit down with a cup of coffee and read a while! Take care, Rhonda!
ReplyDeleteBumblefoot is what most call it, but it's actually a Staph infection. Do a search and you'll find info on this common problem.
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