Marching, high stepping, flat footed walk

[windhillmom]

My 6 year old New Hampshire red is walking high and stiff like. I have a flock of 17. My blue Andulsion is doing the same but not as extreme. It’s been going on for quite sometime. No bumble foot or injuries. Eating drinking laying just fine. They get nutridrench in their water at least once a week, I feed whole grain scratch and peck layer. Grubs for treat, melon, corn on the Cobb stuff like that. She doesn’t appear to have raised scales so I don’t tjink it’s scaly leg mites.

It’s just appears she has developed a flat footed walk that prevents her from going very fast and jumping up on things very well. She doesn't seem to be able to flex her feet, I am not sure how to explain it other than that. Her claws remain straight out and she picks her feet up really high when she walks. Any ideas?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've had a few. Generally it's either arthritis, or their eyesight is failing.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have a rooster that had pretty bad scaly leg mites, and he does that on occasion. It has been better since I have been treating the leg mites. Do you have any pictures of the feet or a video posted to YouTube with a link here?

 

[windhillmom]

 

[windhillmom]

Pumpkin is the New Hampshire Red

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you notice if he has any scaly leg mites? He does walk a bit stiff-legged, and then promptly sits down after eating as if his legs are tired or sore. I always think about Mareks in birds who do the high step, in case they are getting numbness in the feet. It is less likely if you have not added any new birds to the flock recently. Also, since he is older, he is most likely arthritic. He might benefit from some aspirin in a treat or in his water. One 81 mg low dose aspirin can be given once or twice a day in a treat such as scrambled egg if you are inclined to do that. Meloxicam or metacam is an anti-inflammatory that vets use on chickens and other small animals to help with pain.