Limping Hen, but no injury... what could be going on?

[TheBurningRedRose]

Not really sure if this goes here, but - My leghorn Hen Ducky[I named her before we got the Ducks] I noticed was limping yesterday. I picked her up[Our Rooster Sunny was not a happy one] to check on her, and saw nothing wrong with her left foot/claw. Honestly, what would you call a Chickens foot...a foot, a claw? Anyway before I sidetrack myself, I looked and saw nothing, moved her leg around, and saw nothing.

Today/this morning I picked her up because she was still limping, and again checked her left foot/claw...whatever and still saw nothing. Could it just be that my Chicken just sprained her foot or whatever? This time our Rooster was a little more tolerant, but kept a close eye on me. I love her and all our chickens to death, she's three this year. She is still eating, and pretty sure she's leaving to get water, I'll put a waterer inside the coop tonight though just to be safe.

My question is, has anyone else dealt with this with their hens/roosters or chickens in general? Where you look at the injury and find nothing? How did it turn out for you? Please don't tell me to Cull the animal, that will not be happening unless it turns more severe and she is no longer able to walk. Thank you.

 

[M.Magis]

If you can’t find anything, give it a couple days and watch her. Most likely something minor that will clear up in a few days.

 

[TheBurningRedRose]

If you can't find anything, give it a couple days and watch her. Most likely something minor that will clear up in a few days.

Okay, thank you very much.

 

[wbvs58]

The rooster might have something to do with it overloading her legs. I have known of their achilles tendon pulling away but then they walk on their claw and hock just like a big foot.

Ken

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

Welocom to the forum. I have 6 pet pet hens also although they create quite an egg supply for 3 households. I raise a couple of new pullet chicks every year just to support the retired ones (also known as stewing hens) although they live out their lives. Of the Aracana breed I have had hens still laying eggs up to the age of 10 or 12. Not a lot of eggs, some kind of deformed but heck, they are eggs. I have also raised up some Barred Rocks lately and highly endorse the breed. They are calm and friendly by nature and lay big brown eggs. Both of these breeds are non broody and do not try to sit and hatch eggs and peck their keeper.

I do not keep roosters. They are noisy crowing rapists and the eggs are fertile and do not keep well. Concerning your hen - 3 years she is getting old. She may have injured a foot joint flying down from the roost. Or have an injury in the callosed foot that is not visible unless you look at the thickens skin of her old foot. Like M.agis said, she may recover on her own.

Also, there are mite and lice that infect chickens that could invade a small injury. They can cause the scales of the foot and thicken and it could split. I would put my hens into a paper sack with lice powder and shake (but do not bake Do them all, this is the end of the lice.

 

[J Hoy]

You should check the bottom of the hen's foot to make sure there are no injuries or swollen areas there.