Limping in chickens can be caused by a myriad of factors including injuries, diseases, pests and other physiological factors. It is possible to prevent these issues and also deal with them when they occur. In this article, we take a close look at why your chickens might be limping, We will not stop there, we will also look at how to prevent leg problems and how to fix them when they occur.
My first experience with a limping chicken was shocking. It was my cockerel, second in command. At first, I ignored it as I thought the limping was a minor injury caused by the usual scuffles chickens go through day in and day out.
As each day passed, the limping got worse and the cockerel started secluding itself. At this point other chickens, even the young ones started attacking it. In chickendom, there is usually no place for weakness. After a week, the chicken stopped walking entirely and was dragging itself across the coop. I had to intervene.
Reasons Why Chickens Limp
- Injuries
- Bumblefoot
- Scaly mites
- Perosis
- Rickets
- Vitamin and mineral deficiency
- Diseases