Limping chook

[frias]

Spotty my eldest ex-batt is limping. It started about 2 weeks ago and I took her to the vet then. He tried to get her to walk around the surgery but as she was broody at the time she just fluffed herself up and growled at him. Anyway he couldn't see anything wrong but said to check her foot every day for bumblefoot. Today Spotty gave up being broody and is still limping. There's no sign of any infection or swelling but she is reluctant to put it on the ground for long. She's usually the speedy gonzales of the flock so I wondered what else I should be looking for. Do chickens get arthritis? I don't want her to be in pain and she seems fit and well in every other way.

[pinkprincess]

unfortunately yes. ex batts are prone to arthritis due to the conditions they have come from. It normally comes and goes but the effects normally only last a week or so and happens more when the weather is bad. One thing i would say is that do keep an eye on her though as we recently had to have one girl put to sleep as we thought it was her arthritis playing up but it turned out she had dislocated her hip (probably when comming out of the hut).

good luck though and let us know how she gets on

[Suechooks]

My vet told me that you can give chooks Metacam. Its like other stuff - not actually licensed for them but only because the drug companies haven't bothered to test it. Might be worth a try if she's ok otherwise?

[frias]

I'm happy to say Spotty is running around without a sign of a limp today. No idea what make her limp in the first place but just glad she's back to being her usual speedy self.

[Suechooks]

I'm happy to say Spotty is running around without a sign of a limp today. No idea what make her limp in the first place but just glad she's back to being her usual speedy self.

Goodoh! Did you give her anything or just let it heal on its own?

[MrsC]

Good news x

[frias]

Goodoh! Did you give her anything or just let it heal on its own?

I just checked her feet every day for bumblefoot and I could see the limp was getting a little better every day until today when it had gone altogether. The vet had already said he couldn't find anything wrong which made me think she might have arthritis but now I think she must have just had a sprain or jarred it.