Sick hen?

[azygous]

I doubt it's Marek's for what it's worth. We've ruled out some common causes of imbalance. That leaves toxic exposure to insecticides or petroleum distillates. They will cause balance issues. Any leaky machinery sitting around? Rodent bait? Have you sprayed insecticide at all lately? Even on something your chickens can't reach that may have become wet with rain and formed a puddle that your chickens may have drunk from?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a hen that seems off balance when she is standing and walking. She is walking slightly hunched over as well. I gave them some corn and she went after it like normal, but just side stepping to catch herself. Im not 100% how old she is because she was given to me. I would say maybe 5 or 6 years old. RIR. Im really afraid it might be Mareks

Im not sure if she has laid. I know she doesnt lay every day, but i also have 23 hens. I have not checked her vent. I have vitamins i can give to her. No new hens. I think both legs were weak, walking flat footed, no curled toes or walking on hocks. I didnt notice her drinking, but she was eating.

I don't think Marek's is the first thing I'd jump to if she's 5-6yrs of age.

What do you feed? You mention giving corn, how much corn do your hens get each day?

Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs for bloat or fluid. Check her over for lice/mites, consider deworming her if you haven't done so in the last few months. Make sure her crop is emptying overnight.

I would work on hydration. Get some vitamins that contain B1 (Thiamine) and E. Calcium wouldn't hurt either.
Offer her some wet feed once she's drinking well.

A hen that is of that age, I would suspect some type of reproductive disorder is affecting her, but I would also try to rule out a few other causes like parasites.

 

[Sclark0012]

I don't think Marek's is the first thing I'd jump to if she's 5-6yrs of age.

What do you feed? You mention giving corn, how much corn do your hens get each day?

Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs for bloat or fluid. Check her over for lice/mites, consider deworming her if you haven't done so in the last few months. Make sure her crop is emptying overnight.

I would work on hydration. Get some vitamins that contain B1 (Thiamine) and E. Calcium wouldn't hurt either.
Offer her some wet feed once she's drinking well.

A hen that is of that age, I would suspect some type of reproductive disorder is affecting her, but I would also try to rule out a few other causes like parasites.

We just had left over corn on the cob from dinner that day. She is still eating and drinking very well. I gave her some vitamins as well. Her comb is still red, not dark red, and not pale. I felt her today to see if she was egg bound, and there was nothing there. She is more off balance today than yesterday, often falling forward on her face as well as falling to either side. She did try and get away from me when i caught her to look her over, she looks healthy, honestly. Just falling over. We have not used any pesticides or poison that she could have gotten to. Im not sure about parasites.. could i treat her for them? If so, what should i get, and where? I was at rural king today to see what i could find, and I didnt see anything for parasites.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We just had left over corn on the cob from dinner that day. She is still eating and drinking very well. I gave her some vitamins as well. Her comb is still red, not dark red, and not pale. I felt her today to see if she was egg bound, and there was nothing there. She is more off balance today than yesterday, often falling forward on her face as well as falling to either side. She did try and get away from me when i caught her to look her over, she looks healthy, honestly. Just falling over. We have not used any pesticides or poison that she could have gotten to. Im not sure about parasites.. could i treat her for them? If so, what should i get, and where? I was at rural king today to see what i could find, and I didnt see anything for parasites.

I would get some vitamins into her. 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily. Give her a treat of egg or tuna daily along with her normal feed. The egg or tuna will help with the uptake of E.

For deworming, you can use Fenbendazole (Safeguard) or Albendazole (Valbazen).
Rural King should have Safeguard liquid goat dewormer. Dose is 0.23ml per pound of weight given orally once a day for 5 days.
Valbazen can be ordered online. Dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once, then repeated in 10 days. https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30E07949-7B6A-11D5-A192-00B0D0204AE5

 

[Sclark0012]

I would get some vitamins into her. 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily. Give her a treat of egg or tuna daily along with her normal feed. The egg or tuna will help with the uptake of E.

For deworming, you can use Fenbendazole (Safeguard) or Albendazole (Valbazen).
Rural King should have Safeguard liquid goat dewormer. Dose is 0.23ml per pound of weight given orally once a day for 5 days.
Valbazen can be ordered online. Dose is 0.08ml per pound of weight given orally once, then repeated in 10 days. https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30E07949-7B6A-11D5-A192-00B0D0204AE5

Thank you for all of the information! I appreciate it!