HELP! My hen is hurt and I'm an idiot !!!!

I have about a 6 month old hen who is not laying yet. Two days ago I noticed she was limping when she walked. I picked her up, inspected her for a foot injury of any kind and she looked fine. Then yesterday I noticed while limping she was losing her balance pretty badly every so often and not keeping up with the flock. My husband picked her up and felt all around. She wasn't hot anywhere, no bones were broken, but she seemed to be in pretty bad pain. This morning when I went to open the coop door, she was the only one that didn't come out. She was shaking, looked horrible, and lethargic.

I can't find anything wrong with her! I'm not feeding them layer, and it doesn't seem like she's egg bound (we have one of those that is CONSTANTLY egg bound). This morning I separated her from the flock and put her in a large dog kennel with shavings, towels for comfort, food, and sugar water to see if she could relax and rest. When I got home today from work I went to giver her some lettuce to see if she's eating and she bit me. I know she's in pain. I know she's eating. I know she's drinking. I know she's going to the bathroom. I know she's shaking. I know she doesn't have any broken bones. Do you guys have any idea of what may be going on? I'm going to keep an eye on her in the kennel for a while. When I opened the door to it she didn't want to come out at all, despite me wanting her to stretch her legs.

We do have a "surprise" rooster, so we thought maybe he'd hurt her some how or that she was sore. But she just seems to get a little worse each day. Has anyone else experienced this or have any advice? I hoping there is an "ah-ha!" answer lol

It sounds like it could be Marek's disease. It could also be a vitamin deficiency, or there are a number of conditions which can affect a chicken neurologically. It is serious. Do you have a cage or pen you can put her in to keep her separate from the others? Throw a towel or something over part of it so she can seek privacy if she wants it, but it's best if she can still hear and/ or see the other chickens. Try to keep her at a comfortable temperature, warm, but not hot. You can try giving her Hypericum Perforatum (there is a whole huge thread on this, titled St John's Wart)...but if you do that you need to do it soon and be prepared to keep at it for a while. Make sure she is eating and drinking, and, if not, you can take steps to tempt her to eat, by offering her goodies or even tube feeding if you want to go that route. I have found Hypericum Perforatum can sometimes produce amazing results...we have had two chickens recover from severe neurological conditions after being treated with it...but it does not always work. You can also try vitamins, preferably poultry specific vitamins if you can...Rooster Booster B & K is good. In a pinch you can use baby vitamins (no iron).

Watch for progressive paralysis or just progressive loss of use of her wings and legs. Lots of times if they have Marek's they will extend their legs to the side, or one forward, one back, but this does not always happen, and there's no definitive diagnosive for Marek's unless you have a necropsy done.

Have you ever dewormed your flock? Worms can cause neurological symptoms, though I would not deworm the sick one now., until she starts to improve. You might ask your vet to do a fecal analysis on a sample from one of more of your other birds, including her if you can, just to make sure that worms or parasites are not contributing to the problem.

chickens can and usually do develop an immunity to Marek's disease, as well as many other illnesses that can affect chickens, so just because one is sick does not necessarily mean they will all get sick, but it is important to keep your sick one separated til she recovers, and sanitize the quarters of the others as much as possible, at least scrub and sterilize the feeders and waterers, Oxine is awesome if you can get it, but if not, at least bleach and hot water. I like Oxine because you can mix with water in a spray bottle and spray everything, including misting the birds themselves.

This is extremely good info thank you. I think you're right about the Marek's. As I do more research it seems that way. She is leaving her left left out when she lays down, but I thought maybe it was because she was hurting. I'll keep an eye on her and do some of the things you suggested. I appreciate your reply! Luckily she's not with the flock any more. I know Marek's is contagious.. how can I get her close enough to her flock mates so she's comfortable without infecting them?

They may have already been exposed to it, but just don't worry about it UNLESS or until you have to. I don't know how you are set up, but as long as she's not continuing to mingle with them...that is the best scenario. So if we have a sick one we put them in one of our elevated free standing pens, or just in a cage that is not in the main area where the chickens run, but the sick bird isn't in a totally quiet, chicken free atmosphere. Because I think it's more stressful for them if they can't hear and see their friends. You don't want the healthy ones bothering her if she's sick either, though, so you will have to choose a spot, based on how you are set up.

And you're not an idiot, diagnosing health problems in poultry is a challenge. It always has the potential to be one of many things. Don't beat yourself up, because at least you are trying to help her. Good luck, and keep us posted.