1.5 year old hen with sudden onset ataxia

[RottnEggs]

I have a 1.5 year old black Australorp hen who came out of the coop wobbly this morning. Last night when I closed the coop, I heard someone fall and found her on the ground. I assumed someone knocked her down while jockeying for a spot, and it was dark, so I just put her on a roost and closed the doors. This morning she came out of the coop on her own but is very wobbly. She’s active and doesn’t seem weak or thin. I did see her eat a little. I brought her inside and gave her some poultry cell. She was panting some but I don’t know if that’s just from stress. When she’s not being handled she is quiet. She eats Kalmbach feeds with occasional fruit or veggies. I did offer them some hay recently, but nothing else out of the ordinary. Any ideas what this might be? Video available here:

 

[azygous]

This behavior is very alarming. About the only somewhat benign explanation for it is vitamin E or B deficiency. If it's an E deficiency, giving a vitamin E capsule to her can solve this within hours. Treating her with B-complex can take up to six to eight weeks for improvement, but is worth trying.

The more serious implications of her wobbly stance is it could be petroleum distillates toxic poisoning. Insecticide use, rodent bait, and neglected machines sitting around leaking fluids can be responsible. It can also be from an avian virus such as Marek's or avian leucosis. If it's these latter, she will continue to worsen despite treatment.

It could also be heat sickness. Has it been very hot lately?

 

[RottnEggs]

This behavior is very alarming. About the only somewhat benign explanation for it is vitamin E or B deficiency. If it's an E deficiency, giving a vitamin E capsule to her can solve this within hours. Treating her with B-complex can take up to six to eight weeks for improvement, but is worth trying.

The more serious implications of her wobbly stance is it could be petroleum distillates toxic poisoning. Insecticide use, rodent bait, and neglected machines sitting around leaking fluids can be responsible. It can also be from an avian virus such as Marek's or avian leucosis. If it's these latter, she will continue to worsen despite treatment.

It could also be heat sickness. Has it been very hot lately?

The weather has actually cooled off the last few days, but it was hot and humid earlier this week. How likely would a vitamin deficiency be given her diet? She’s part of a backyard flock with no access to petroleum products that I know of. I was worried about Marek’s but most of what I read said symptoms were paralysis which she doesn’t seem to have. It sounds like supportive care is her best bet?

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you added any new birds to your flock recently in the past few months? Mareks does come to mind, but normally seen earlier than her age unless of a recent exposure to a carrier. I would watch to see if she is showing any signing of a molt. That is a time I have seen some unusual symptoms or sickness. The vitamin B complex 1/4 tablet daily) and vitamin E (400 IU daily) would be good for at least a couple of weeks.

 

[azygous]

A vitamin deficiency can occur suddenly and without obvious causes, especially vitamin E. Vitamin B deficiency can also cause neurological symptoms, but usually it causes weakness in tendons and muscles. Why does it happen? Sometimes, it's from foods and treats that can dilute the vitamins in the commercial feed. Other times it can be caused by stress. Who knows?

Here on BYC, while we cannot give you an actual diagnosis, we can list possibilities and recommend treatments to address them. If giving a vitamin E capsule resolves the leg wobblies, then we can assume vitamin E was deficient and the cause.

 

[RottnEggs]

Thank you both for the replies. I’ll try the supplements and see how it goes.

 

[MROO]

It almost looks like her one leg keeps going out where it meets her body. Have you checked that joint thoroughly for tenderness or dislocation? I had a BJG hen that did everything with her bantam bestie. She was repeatedly blowing out one leg jumping down from the highest roost. Adding an old wooden ladder to the coop solved the roosting issue. Rest was the only thing she needed for the leg. Hopefully that's all your hen requires as well ...

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know how she gets along after the vitamins.

 

[RottnEggs]

Let us know how she gets along after the vitamins.

Thanks! Also meant to add- no new birds recently. I did give them some hay recently which she has not had before, maybe she’s been filling up on that and not eating their regular feed? Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Eggcessive]

Hay can become moldy, and can also cause crop disorders. I would probably avoid that in the future.