Chicken walking on hocks with curled feet

[Hayg]

We have a 9 month old hen who is walking on her hocks with her feet curled. She wasn't moving around in the coop much last week and I assumed she was broody but she made it out of the coop and into the run on Thursday. My husband closed up the coop on Thursday night and didn't notice that she hadn't been able to make it back up into the coop so she spent the night in the run in the snow. It was a cold night. When I found her on Friday morning, I brought her in and warmed her up.

She's eating and drinking, though maybe not as much as usual. She hasn't laid since Thursday or maybe before but she isn't egg bound. We started giving her vitamins and electrolytes yesterday. She's done a black, tarry poop each of the last two days. While her feet are curled up, she'll still grip on your finger if you pull her leg gently. Her legs feel quite warm and her hocks are starting to get a little irritated.

Any suggestions? I've looked into mycoplasma Synoviae, riboflavin deficiency, zinc poisoning, bumblefoot and Marek's and can't figure out what it is. I think she had it before she got stuck outside as she always makes it back into the coop at night. Maybe she injured her legs at some stage but there's no swelling. She's been on layer crumb for the last 2/3 months with occasional sunflower seeds and apple cores but very occasional. The rest of our flock are all fine. I've attached some photos.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she's not doing well.

I would try giving her B-Complex. 1/4 to 1/2 tablet a day for a week.

She has only 1 black tarry poop a day -what does the rest of her poop look like?
If possible, taking some poop samples to your vet for testing would be a good idea.

Is her crop emptying overnight?
Checked her for lice/mites?
If you can get a photo of all of her that would be good too.

Since her joints look irritated, it may be a good idea to make a sling for her so you can place her in that a few times a day (monitored), this will help take some pressure off the legs so she doesn't develop sores.

As to the cause, it's very hard to know. Marek's should be considered. Other things to look at would be molds and toxins (oils, compost, dead animal/matter, etc.). If you happen to lose her, getting a necropsy would give you more information.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with giving B complex—not B12, but B complex tablets, which are a good source of riboflavin. The curled under toes and walking on hocks are symptoms of riboflavin (B2) deficiency. The sooner it is treated after symptoms appear, the better the chances of success. If after 2 weeks, you are not seeing an improvement, then it could be Mareks disease. Here is a good 2 for 1 deal on B complex and other vitamins:
https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/nature-made-super-b-complex,-tablets/ID=prod6149174-product

 

[Hayg]

Thanks for all the advice! We'll pick up some b vitamin complex today for her. I have a video of how she's moving but can't upload it. I'll get a photo of her today. Her crop isn't impacted and no sign of lice or mites. Her poop looked normal until Saturday evening and then she did her first black tar one. Most of them since then have been green and liquidy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for all the advice! We'll pick up some b vitamin complex today for her. I have a video of how she's moving but can't upload it. I'll get a photo of her today. Her crop isn't impacted and no sign of lice or mites. Her poop looked normal until Saturday evening and then she did her first black tar one. Most of them since then have been green and liquidy.

For video you would need to upload to a platform like Youtube, then provide us a link. The BYC upload does not work.

 

[Hayg]

Ah, that makes sense, thanks! I'll try that later. Here are some photos of her and some other poops.

 

[Hayg]

Unfortunately our chicken is still not walking properly. I've been giving her b vitamins for around 4 weeks now along with an Epsom salt bath now and then. She did start to stand occasionally a few weeks ago but that is the only progress aside from she started laying eggs again. Her feet seem to be curled almost all the time. I'm starting to wonder if she'll recover and her quality of life isn't great if she doesn't. I don't want to cull her as she's the nicest one of our chickens but it might be the most humane thing to do.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she's not getting better.

She may have Marek's, hard to know unless you send the body to your state lab for testing.

It does stink when it's a sweet girl like that. I agree, quality of life does need to be considered, you have some thinking to do.
She's a pretty girl, I have a soft spot for BR's.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

@Hayg how is your hen doing? I just received a hen with similar symptoms to your hen today.

 

[NorCalNewFarm]

Unfortunately our chicken is still not walking properly. I've been giving her b vitamins for around 4 weeks now along with an Epsom salt bath now and then. She did start to stand occasionally a few weeks ago but that is the only progress aside from she started laying eggs again. Her feet seem to be curled almost all the time. I'm starting to wonder if she'll recover and her quality of life isn't great if she doesn't. I don't want to cull her as she's the nicest one of our chickens but it might be the most humane thing to do.

Having same problem, except all poop is regular. Dosed with Vit B2 for about 4 weeks, little improvement. Another site mentions a slipped tendon, so I'm going back out to try that. Hen was 9 months old when this started and fine up to that point. Just found her that way one day, no signs of decline or struggle prior, so I'm hoping that is her problem. https://crittercleanout.com/chicken-walking-on-hocks/