Limping / Hopping Hen

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I've searched a lot of threads about limping birds, but can't seem to find the specific info I'm looking for.

About a week ago, Lenore the Ayam Cemani, started limping suddenly. The next day I saw her run from a potential hawk and she stumbled. Her limp was much worse after that.

I seperated her from the flock and set her up in the 20' x 15' garden area along with one other hen so she doesn't have roosters. She has less (although still a lot of) space to run arond in. She's also sleeping in a dog crate in the coop so she doesn't have to roost. This seemed to help for a few days, her limp subsided a bit. At this same time she was getting really antsy (pacing) so I put her back in with the flock for a bit since she seemed she might hurt herself by pacing. But that wasn’t a good idea.

She is currently not putting weight on it.

I see nothing wrong with her legs/feet. I can't find a sign of a break or sprain, but I do believe the issue is within her foot or toes, based on how the toes on her left foot respond to being touched/moved versus the toes on her right foot. She is eating, drinking, and laying normally. She is her normal active self.

My question is this:
- Should I keep doing what I'm doing? (daytime garden, overnight crate) OR
- Should I confine her more aggressively so she has time to heal?
OR
- Should I return her to the flock so she's less anxious?

I'm open to ideas/suggestions.

 

[azygous]

Yes, she needs to stay off the leg so it can heal. I know. Easier said than done. Chickens are like toddlers. They won't take to being confined very well, wanting to be out with their mates.

Some would recommend a chicken chair which would immobilize the leg. But the chickens I've tried to confine to one of these rigs, absolutely hated it, and even risked doing themselves more injury trying to free themselves. You could try it if you like, though. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

I good middle ground would be a pet crate large enough to allow standing up, but small enough to discourage too much movement. Place her in her crate where the flock is so she can feel a part of things. Also, be sure to provide grit since she won't be able to be out to pick it up. And provide her with an opportunity to dirt bathe for half and hour each day to maintain her feathers.

Give vitamin B-complex can also help to repair any damage to nerve connections, so I recommend that. And giving an anti-inflammatory would also help. Either one half an ibuprofen two times a day or one 81 grain chewable aspirin two times a day.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

Yes, she needs to stay off the leg so it can heal. I know. Easier said than done. Chickens are like toddlers. They won't take to being confined very well, wanting to be out with their mates.

Some would recommend a chicken chair which would immobilize the leg. But the chickens I've tried to confine to one of these rigs, absolutely hated it, and even risked doing themselves more injury trying to free themselves. You could try it if you like, though. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

I good middle ground would be a pet crate large enough to allow standing up, but small enough to discourage too much movement. Place her in her crate where the flock is so she can feel a part of things. Also, be sure to provide grit since she won't be able to be out to pick it up. And provide her with an opportunity to dirt bathe for half and hour each day to maintain her feathers.

Give vitamin B-complex can also help to repair any damage to nerve connections, so I recommend that. And giving an anti-inflammatory would also help. Either one half an ibuprofen two times a day or one 81 grain chewable aspirin two times a day.

Thank you for the ideas. The chair is an idea. I’ve used slings before for other chickens. This little girl is pretty flighty and active, so I don’t know if she’d tolerate it.

I’ve considered the crate option. I have plastic cat carriers, metal crates for small, medium, and large dogs. Do you think a crate for a small dog would be okay? I’m worried she’ll pace, so maybe a smaller crate would be better but that gives just enough room for food/water/ and standing room.

I also considered covering the crate to keep it dark for part of the day to encourage her to stay still, but I can’t really do that while I’m away during the work week.

 

[azygous]

I think the crate would work to help her leg heal, and you can safely leave her in it while at work. Pacing in a small crate is a far cry from trying to run on the leg as she's been doing.

But she will still need to be let out to dirt bathe. And don't forget the grit!

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

Thanks for your advice. As an update, this is Lenore’s current set up.

She doesn’t love it and although she looks content in these pics I assure you it’s a rouse, haha!

But she gets 20-30 minutes in the run while the flock is out free-ranging. She has access to everything in including dust bath area and hangs with a few mellow hens to socialize (roosters and bully hens get locked out during this time). Then she spends most of her day in the crate but goes back to the garden for a little bit in the evening just before bed and then sleeps in her other crate in the coop.

I’m also giving her Vitamin B complex and aspirin in the mornings.