Black Sex Link Walking Issues

It's been about 3-4 days since we initially noticed something was "off" with one of our hens (who we always viewed as the alpha female). She wasn't coming out of the box part of the coop....she just stayed on the perch all day unless we got her down. When we got her out she did drink and ate some bread/yogurt. In the evening she somehow hobbled back into the box for the night although we had to place her on the perch. She is definitely not walking right and when she tries she just steps on her own feet then hunkers down. We also put some medicated food with her other food and some pedialyte out too. We thought maybe she was egg bound (as we sometimes only get 3 eggs but have 4 chickens) but I don't know that that is the issue.....we gave her a warm bath and massage and she has some green poop (which may be b/c she needed more food/water), and then had some that was just really watery. This morning my husband said her poop looked more normal but she is still having a hard time walking and won't try on her own. She prefers to be with our other 3 hens and they don't seem to bother her....as she remains on the outside perch we created. I still have to take her off to eat/drink though.

She didn't seem to have any issues with her actual feet (like bumble foot) but I wonder if she did something to her spine or is having reproductive issues?! The other chickens (we have 3 others) seem to be fine. We tried to put this one in a tote in the coop area but she just hopped out. Oh and she is 6 months old. Thanks so much

This is how she is sitting

Hope the video shows up

Hope the video works....her walk which seems a tad better than yesterday

Was she vaccinated for Marek's?
Any way she got into something moldy, rotten, etc.?
Are her hocks swollen or have any sores/bruising on them?

Provide her with some Poultry Vitamins that has B2(riboflavin) and give extra protein like egg, tuna, mackerel or meat.

There can be many things going on, from vitamin deficiency, injury to illness. Keep her hydrated.



MAREKS
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

Mycoplasma S.:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...synovitis.html?qt=Mycoplasma synoviae &alt=sh

Vitamins:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency/
http://www.tillysnest.com/2014/03/vitamin-deficiencies-in-backyard-chicks-html/

Thank you so much for the response. My husband got the chicks at 2 days old from Tractor Supply so I am not sure on the vaccination. I plan to ask him tonight although he may not know the answer.

I have been wondering about the moldy part as it was quite rainy last week......

I will have to check her hocks...is there a good way to look for bruising? I feel like it's tough to always tell with her dark colors.

Are there any particular vitamins you recommend?

It seems like she will take food ok but I have been saturating small pieces of bread to make sure she is getting water. Is there a good way to use a syringe to give water?

Thanks

Also thanks for the links. This is my first time having chickens so it's all a learning experience for me.

Most feed stores carry poultry vitamins.

I know she is happier with the flock, if you have a dog kennel or crate you can place her in with her own food and water, she may do better. Place the kennel inside the run so her friends can see, but she won't have to try to move around - it can sometimes be stressful on them to continue to act normal (chickens try their best to hide illness/injury).

If her problem is an injury, keeping her confined will keep her from aggravating and injuring the leg(s) further.

This will also help you monitor her food/water intake.

Thanks for the suggestion. She came out of the run on her own tonight with the others whereas the past two days she has stayed. She seemed to enjoy eating some leaves

She did feel warm to the touch on her underside....I assume that can be associated with illness ?!

Thanks again

bamslp07 said:

Thanks for the suggestion. She came out of the run on her own tonight with the others whereas the past two days she has stayed. She seemed to enjoy eating some leaves

She did feel warm to the touch on her underside....I assume that can be associated with illness ?!

Thanks again

Click to expand...

Chickens can feel quite warm to us, but it's possible should could be warmer than normal.

When was the last time she laid an egg?
Does her underside/abdomen feel bloated, soft, hard, normal, fluid filled?
What does her poop look like?

It's possible she could have an internal laying/reproductive disorder like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Ascites, Salpingitis, tumors or cancer.
These can cause some leg issues as well. You can try soaking her in warm espsom salts bath and providing extra calcium if you feel like it is a laying disorder. This may give her some relief/supportive care.

Try to get her to eat as much of her normal feed as possible, it is nutritionally balance. Wetting it and making it into a "mash" sometimes helps.

Peritonitis and internal egg laying issues:
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/6-causes-of-chicken-swollen-abdomen.aspx