Disabled Flock Members

I have a Black Australorp hen named Trouble who apparently had a stroke (no other explanation I can find). She was unable to balance, tipping on her sides when trying to move, falling on her face when trying to eat or drink. After a week or so, she was able to stand and she started laying eggs again. After a couple weeks in a very small cage to limit movement she was able to be penned in a corner during the day and put in the small cage at night. After a couple more weeks she started flying up into the small cage to lay her eggs. She also became "cage trained" where she wouldn't poop in the small cage where she spent her nights.

Trouble eventually started spending her days in a dog crate in the grassy yard and back in her small cage at night. At that point my WLH Cotton got a leg injury and joined Trouble in the "infirmary".

I built a small pen with a double nesting box and a roost to be the new infirmary pen. Trouble and Cotton still live in there, though I let them out some during the day while I'm there to watch to make sure they aren't picked on.
 
I have a Black Australorp hen named Trouble who apparently had a stroke (no other explanation I can find). She was unable to balance, tipping on her sides when trying to move, falling on her face when trying to eat or drink. After a week or so, she was able to stand and she started laying eggs again. After a couple weeks in a very small cage to limit movement she was able to be penned in a corner during the day and put in the small cage at night. After a couple more weeks she started flying up into the small cage to lay her eggs. She also became "cage trained" where she wouldn't poop in the small cage where she spent her nights.

Trouble eventually started spending her days in a dog crate in the grassy yard and back in her small cage at night. At that point my WLH Cotton got a leg injury and joined Trouble in the "infirmary".

I built a small pen with a double nesting box and a roost to be the new infirmary pen. Trouble and Cotton still live in there, though I let them out some during the day while I'm there to watch to make sure they aren't picked on.

That's awesome. I'm so glad she is doing better. She sounds like a happy hen, and even has a buddy now.
 
Bobbi, another of my silkie mix bantams, developed Progressive Paralysis (as I call it) later then any of my other chicks did. She began to limp on one foot and it seemed she couldn't control it. I brought her in after a few days, when she seemed to be struggling, and kept her in a crate in the basement with a heater, food and water. She rested the whole time. I cleaned out the cage as needed and made sure she had an easy to grip surface. And guess what!!! She recovered!!! She isn't limping at all and in fact seems better then before she began limping (she always walked strangely and seemed a bit smaller than the others).
She is healthy looking, and even escapes out the coop through a window in the morning to go find food! Way to go Bobbi!

My first PP survivor. : )
 
Bobbi, another of my silkie mix bantams, developed Progressive Paralysis (as I call it) later then any of my other chicks did. She began to limp on one foot and it seemed she couldn't control it. I brought her in after a few days, when she seemed to be struggling, and kept her in a crate in the basement with a heater, food and water. She rested the whole time. I cleaned out the cage as needed and made sure she had an easy to grip surface. And guess what!!! She recovered!!! She isn't limping at all and in fact seems better then before she began limping (she always walked strangely and seemed a bit smaller than the others).
She is healthy looking, and even escapes out the coop through a window in the morning to go find food! Way to go Bobbi!

My first PP survivor.  : )

If she starts limping again you might want to call your state lab and ask if they will necropsy her for free.
 
That's a good idea. I've thought of trying that before but I'm worried about the expense. The nice thing is, she is doing wonderful!!!
 
I wanted to update my story. Trouble and Cotton are with the flock and are doing great. Trouble still walks like she's drunk but everyone is doing great!
 
That's awesome. I'm glad they can be back with the flock. Bobbi is back with my flock and Sapphire, who injured her leg, is with them and doing well also. : )
 

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