My chicken is having trouble walking

sumyungchik

In the Brooder
Jul 12, 2015
10
0
22
Hawaii
So, I have a 6 week old hen named Cupcake and is a barred plymoth rock I got from a farm store when she was a chick. She has been healthy her whole life until recently one of our roosters got really sick with gapeworm so we dewormed the whole flock. That was a few days ago and we thought it was okay and out of nowhere I noticed she sometimes had her right eye shut. All the others seem fine so I took her out of the coop and she's in a tub by herself with food and water. She's very lethargic and barely does anything. When she tries to stand or walk she falls over. At first it was just her right foot- I would notice her toes curled and now I think it is both feet. I have done a lot of reading and considered different reasons as to why this might be happening but I still don't know what to do. I have been holding her a lot which she loves. She makes little sounds that sound like cooing (cat purr?) but she cries when I leave her alone. Today I tried to let her run in the grass but she just kept falling so I picked her back up. I have given her vitamin B and C and today she ate some strawberries and blueberries. I just don't know what to do at this point if I should just keep an eye on her or take her to a vet. Any advice I would appreciate. She is a very sweet chicken and I don't want her to get worse.
 
I'm sorry to hear that.

It could be an injury (like a hurt back), it could be nutritional (in which case the vitamins should help) or it could be something worse like a virus. It sounds like partial paralysis, when a bird can stand somewhat but falls over when attempting to walk. We had a chick with this problem, and she unfortunately never got better and had to be put down.

I wish the best for your bird! I hope she gets better soon!
 
okay, yes I hope the vitamins help, too... hopefully its not a virus. I'm gonna wait it out and see if she gets better but we are prepared to do what's best for her. I just hope she can walk again. I don't think she has a back problem, she's never fallen as for as I know and I pet her back and head and she seems to like it. But who knows. Yes, the paralysis sounds like what she has. Thanks.
 
I've heard some incredible stories of chickens unable to walk being helped with things like slings and braces to heal their legs again and get them back on their feet. There is certainly hope for your girl.
smile.png
 
Thank you, I still have hope! She still can't walk and when I try to have her stand while supporting her she usually has her feet crossed, and then when she tries to walk ends up having to use her wings and then falls to one side. I try to catch her and not let her fall. Today I made a sling out of a shirt and carried her around in it. She loved it. I hand fed her corn, strawberries, and bread and gave her some leaves and grass and she even ate some scratch out of my hand! Shes taking vitamins... which I hope will help. I tried to have the other chickens come see her but one pecked her in the head so I don't think she can be around them but she loves to be carried. I hope it is not Mareks....
 

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