mobility
2 stories filed under mobility on Alektorophobia. The newest of them: “Cluck-tastic news: a little TLC for your toe-walking hen” and “Cluck-tastic news? No, this is a feathery emergency: help needed now.”. Well, a month of watching a hen hobble around on tiptoes would test anyone's patience, let alone the poor bird's. Oh, my heart is absolutely breaking for this little hen. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every mobility story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
Cluck-tastic news: a little TLC for your toe-walking hen
Well, a month of watching a hen hobble around on tiptoes would test anyone's patience, let alone the poor bird's. It sounds like you've done everything right: quarantine, a full leg exam, and plenty of treats to keep her spirits up. The fact that she's still alert and eating like a champ is a good sign, but that toe-walking and lack of balance? That's a head-scratcher. You're not wrong to wonder about her quality of life. It's a fine line between "she's fine, just gimpy" and "she's suffering." Since she's not in obvious pain and still engages with the world, I'd say you have time to keep observing.
Cluck-tastic news? No, this is a feathery emergency: help needed now.
Oh, my heart is absolutely breaking for this little hen. She's a fighter, that's for sure, if she's still standing and walking around after having her poor head that roughed up. You've got to give her credit for that stubborn spark, even while the rest of us would be chickening out just looking at the photo you described. Listen, when a bird has that kind of exposed tissue, the risk of infection is immediate and brutal. It's not about being brave here; it's about being kind. If she's eating, drinking, and alert, there's a small window to help. But if she starts to fade, or if you see any swelling, you owe it to her to end her suffering.