2.5 yr old hen won't walk, looks completely healthy otherwise

[Oster-coop]

I have a Rhode Island Red hen who had been picked on by the other chickens. This began in the spring but there had never been any visible injuries. About a month ago, she just stopped walking. I thought maybe she could be egg bound. I brought her in and soaked her but I couldn't feel any egg. I thought maybe it could be an injury but I don't see evidence of any injury at all.

I put her in a dog crate where she resides in our dining room and seems to be living her best life. She eats very well. She makes happy coo-ing sounds. Her poop looks very healthy, although I'd prefer less. She completely does not look sick in any other way. She looks great, eyes are great, feet look great and her feet even curl around my fingers.

I take her outside and put her near the others so she won't forget she's a bird. She just sits in one spot. She'll sometimes stand, maybe turn, but doesn't move from the spot. This has been going on for a month. She seems to be having a grand time, but it is not sustainable for me.

I'm completely at a loss. She is so sweet but she really needs to go back outside! I don't know what to do. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Noraaaaa]

I’m not quite sure what your hen has, but a similar thing has happened to me. I had a rooster and at first he was just tripping. Then he couldn’t even stand. I concluded that it he was paralyzed. Could your hen have that?

 

[Oster-coop]

Yes, I'm afraid it could just be that. To think it's permanent would be so horrible. I can't have a chicken in my dining room indefinitely. That would be terribly sad.

What did you do with your rooster?

 

[Noraaaaa]

Yes, I'm afraid it could just be that. To think it's permanent would be so horrible. I can't have a chicken in my dining room indefinitely. That would be terribly sad.

What did you do with your rooster?

I kept him with his hens due to him being super upset when leaving them. I lowered the feed and water and gave him mash every day. Unfortunately after about a month, we decided to put him down because he was just getting so upset. He started to refuse to eat as well. Your bird sounds better, so I hope you can keep her .

 

[Noraaaaa]

you could also take her to the vet. Make sure to keep vitamins in her body as well!

 

[SomeChookLover]

You said she had been picked on by the other chickens. Is it possible she could have a head and/or brain injury?
A vaulted skull wouldn’t be common in Rhode Island’s but one of my hens got a brain injury after being pecked by another chicken. She seemed decently normal and I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t see her get injured.

Maybe see if you can retrain her to walk? Since it doesn’t seem like she has any physical injuries.

 

[Oster-coop]

You said she had been picked on by the other chickens. Is it possible she could have a head and/or brain injury?
A vaulted skull wouldn’t be common in Rhode Island’s but one of my hens got a brain injury after being pecked by another chicken. She seemed decently normal and I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t see her get injured.

Maybe see if you can retrain her to walk? Since it doesn’t seem like she has any physical injuries.

Thank you. It could be something like that. I have been taking her out often and encouraging her to walk by holding her weight and moving forward. We call it chicken PT. Maybe it will help.

 

[Oster-coop]

you could also take her to the vet. Make sure to keep vitamins in her body as well!

Thank you! I have been putting vitamins in her food. I have electrolytes from Tractor supply and people Vit B complex. Do you know of any others? I probably wont take her to the vet. I am really hoping she'll just come around.

 

[Noraaaaa]

Thank you! I have been putting vitamins in her food. I have electrolytes from Tractor supply and people Vit B complex. Do you know of any others? I probably wont take her to the vet. I am really hoping she'll just come around.

I can understand that! I choose not to either. I use nutridrench a lot and it has multiple vitamins in it. I don’t think it has any Vitiman B in it, so I think you can feed bolth together.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/nutri-drench-poultry-4-oz

 

[Oster-coop]

This is an update on my paralyzed chicken.
She is still in the crate in my dining room (since November ). But, she did begin standing and walking again about a month ago. I swear, my husband and I were at the table talking about how to end the situation and thats about the time she started walking. LOL. She also started laying eggs in the crate.

I've been taking her outside, separated from the other chickens when the weather is good. Now, the other chickens are not playing nice. I will wait till the nights are warmer before I try to reintroduce her to her flock. It will be a hard transition I believe. But...I believe that ultimately, she must have hurt herself and it has taken this much time to heal. I'm glad I waited.