2-3 year old Novogen limping; no injury apparent, thoughts?

[ReluctantChickenOwner]

Hi all, it's been a long while since I've posted or searched BYC. Life. I still have my original hens; some 2yrs old, some 3yrs old. Usually, they are all seemingly healthy, but one Novogen passed away last month overnight in the coop. I found her lying on the bedding. I had noticed her often by herself that day, but didn't follow through on it. Now, I have another Novogen with a limp. There is no apparent injury on the leg or foot, that I can tell. I can't feel any breaks....but?

I searched through BYC last week, and found that others caged injured hens to let them rest; giving Vit B-complex. I did this for over a week. I kept her in the house in a dog cage. Kept it cleaned out and fed her, and gave her the B-complex. A couple of times I took her out to a side yard to see how her limp was doing. Seemed better. So, yesterday I put her in the cage out with her hen friends, but in the cage first. Then last night I snuck her into the coop. She did jump up on a roost and settled in. This morning she came down and out to the run by herself.

However, I still see her by herself a lot, and I'm afraid she is not eating. She is still limping too. Each time I checked on her, her crop was empty. It's getting late and it still feels empty. I don't think she is eating. All the other hens have full crops like usual before going to roost. Any other ideas as to what it could be? I've have local friends mentioning Marek's disease causes neurological issues that could cause the limping. If it might possibly be that, what else should I look for? Will she eventually die?
So far, no other hens seem sick. Sad. Thanks for your time.

Laura

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of her and her poop?

I'd watch to make sure she's getting to food/water, sometimes when one is away from the flock, they can have difficulties with re-integration and are kept from the feeder and water station. Having multiple of both can help with this.

When was her last egg?

It can be hard to know what is causing a limp, sprain?, disease?, reproductive issues?, something else?

 

[LaFleche]

When did she last lay an egg and how did the shell look?

Feel her lower abdomen below her vent and between her legs, is it swollen, hard or rather squishy like a water filled balloon?

When did you last deworm?

 

[ReluctantChickenOwner]

When did she last lay an egg and how did the shell look?

Feel her lower abdomen below her vent and between her legs, is it swollen, hard or rather squishy like a water filled balloon?

When did you last deworm?

To be honest, I have 4 Novogens and I don't watch them lay their eggs, so I can't tell who is laying and when. I do know that she did lay an egg the whole week that I had her in the dog crate. I felt the area you mentioned, and it isn't swollen or hard. I do natural reworking once a month or so, but while in the crate, I cleaned up her poo, and I didn't see signs of worms. She is still limping now. Eating a bit more, but stays to herself. She does go up in the coop at night on her own, but I've caught her trying to sleep in the egg hutch. So I guess it's hard for her to perch on the roost. I'm at a loss as to what it could be.

 

[ReluctantChickenOwner]

To be honest, I have 4 Novogens and I don't watch them lay their eggs, so I can't tell who is laying and when. I do know that she did lay an egg the whole week that I had her in the dog crate. I felt the area you mentioned, and it isn't swollen or hard. I do natural reworking once a month or so, but while in the crate, I cleaned up her poo, and I didn't see signs of worms. She is still limping now. Eating a bit more, but stays to herself. She does go up in the coop at night on her own, but I've caught her trying to sleep in the egg hutch. So I guess it's hard for her to perch on the roost. I'm at a loss as to what it could be.

Correction: Sorry, I meant to say "I do know that she DIDN'T lay an egg the whole week that I had her in the dog crate."

 

[LaFleche]

Is it her left or the right side leg that is troubling her?

There could be different causes and we only will be able to approach the matter by trying to eliminate the possibilities one by one.

Novogens and layer hybrids get spent after their laying cycles as they will not be able to consume and metabolize the enormous amount of calcium needed to produce an egg every day thus depleting their body by pulling it from their bones which leads to severe osteoporosis.

Here is what I would do:

# deworm her thoroughly in case she has bever been dewormed.

# feed her a daily calcium 600 + vitamin D tablet for 7-10 days to see if the limping will get better.

#check her toes and in between, the claws for any sign of twisting, break or swelling. Feel up her legs for unusual warmth or swelling and compare to legs of a healthy flock mate.

# watch for signs of beginning moult which will leave them rather sickly and not wanting to roost, avoiding body contact as the incoming feather quills hurt when touched.

# feed her some scrambled eggs with oregano every other day.

 

[ReluctantChickenOwner]

Is it her left or the right side leg that is troubling her?

There could be different causes and we only will be able to approach the matter by trying to eliminate the possibilities one by one.

Novogens and layer hybrids get spent after their laying cycles as they will not be able to consume and metabolize the enormous amount of calcium needed to produce an egg every day thus depleting their body by pulling it from their bones which leads to severe osteoporosis.

Here is what I would do:

# deworm her thoroughly in case she has bever been dewormed.

# feed her a daily calcium 600 + vitamin D tablet for 7-10 days to see if the limping will get better.

#check her toes and in between, the claws for any sign of twisting, break or swelling. Feel up her legs for unusual warmth or swelling and compare to legs of a healthy flock mate.

# watch for signs of beginning moult which will leave them rather sickly and not wanting to roost, avoiding body contact as the incoming feather quills hurt when touched.

# feed her some scrambled eggs with oregano every other day.

It's her left leg she is favoring. But the limping seems better now, however, she still stays off to herself a lot, but interacts if I bring treats out.

As "Novogens and layer hybrids getting spent after their laying cycles" wow, I didn't think about that. They were my first set of layers 3 years ago. They aren't friendly birds either. I have 3 others, not Novogens, that seem very healthy and friendly.

Deworming: I do a natural herb dewormer per the schedule, but what would you suggest? I don't see signs of worms, but again, I'm only 3 years into this.

Calcium: Ok. I started her on the calcium today and will track the limp.

Looking for deformations: I felt and looked early on for anything, but could not feel inflammation or anything bend weird. She does seem lighter in weight then the other Novogens.

Molting: Yes. The whole flock is showing signs of it now. But she seems to be not so bad yet.

Still feel so new to this. I've had the most issues with the Novogens. One had a prolapsed vent issue. I tried so hard to help her as others here suggested, but she just seemed in pain for too long. So we culled her. Then another just died in the night. I found her in the morning when letting them all out for the day. No signs or systems of anything! Now this one. Probably will not replenish my flock with their breed again.

Thanks. I will post back on how she is doing.