Hen keeps falling over

Valerie-Anne said:

Thanks so much for your reply - I was hoping for some contact when I got up today! Apart from the lack of balance and watery pooh, Rita seems well her eyes are bright,she perks up when she spots me and she is eating and drinking. She is mostly sitting with her tail held really high and the slightest movement forward causes her to tip over - is there anything else it could be or am I just ignoring the obvious? I read on here about giving Hypericum so I bought some drops and started giving her that with a dropper yesterday. When I picked her up she was light but still feisty and kicked hard so that is hopeful isn't it. Don't worry I couldn't give up on any of my girls and after reading your lovely story about Fern I'm going to make the sling today. I got Rita with her friend a white star, Florence and I've noticed her feathers everywhere though no sign of illness yet, I'll just have to keep an eye - she is a nightmare to catch nowhere near as friendly yet as the others! My fingers are constantly crossed at the moment.

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Valerie-Anne said:

Thread update - November 6th 2012
This is to let all those kind people out there who helped me and Rita during a really stressful time when she was so ill, what has happened since.I have to tell you that so far the story has a happy ending.

After my last post on here she really started to perk up and was less happy to be picked up so I took her back outside with the flock during the day. She still kept falling over so I modified the floor in the main run to the coop and lowered the steps up to the roost. The first night I helped her up into the roost - she has always chosen to sleep on the floor and not perch so I knew she would be able to settle. The next morning Rita came out last, came down each step carefully and did not fall - I was amazed! She still had a dreadful limp but slowly, over the next few days she got stronger and stronger and the other hens kept coming back to keep her company. Then I noticed she was keeping up with the rest and even running over to me when I went out.


Now, you would never guess that she had been ill at all! I can't explain it and I still don't know what she had but it is lovely to see her looking so happy and healthy again.
So thank you for all the advice and support I am really grateful and I hope I can help someone another time.

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CAPPYGIRL said:

I have a chicken that is falling over on her back and can't get back up. I do not know how old she is or if she was vaccinated. I just put the castor oil in her crop and followed with some water that had vinager and vitamins and electro lights in it. She is just sitting all puffed up. She will eat. But is very underweight. She is a brahma
Can anybody help?

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