2 year old barred rock limping - update, necropsy

[Miss Lydia]

The vitamins are infant poly-vi-sol or generic version, w/o iron 1-3 drops on her beak or in her water a couple times a day. Did you do any more soaking?

 

[jrabbit]

I didn't bathe her today. My husband got a children's vitamin that has some iron in it ... anyone know if that's an issue? I don't intend to go out again tonight, and I won't give anything to her til tomorrow, since she's in her coop already for the night. She is just in the hay, not on the perch. But she looks alert and comfortable.

thanks!
--janis

 

[Miss Lydia]

Everything I've read is not to use the one with iron, not sure why though. Glad to hear shes no worse.

 

[jrabbit]

I went to feed store today - got a vitamin/electrolyte supplement. She is sipping it very very slowly. The feed store guy is perplexed, too. He did say that 2-3 years is the max laying potential for a lot of hens, which is disappointing to me, but I have to be realistic: she hasn't laid an egg in probably 5-6 months.

I also got oyster shell (even though their feed should have enough calcium) - I sprinkled some on the ground around her, and she pecked at it a little.

Her walking seems worse today. This morning, she literally fell out of the roosting house, off the ramp. Fortunately, the feeder broke her fall, so it was just a few inches, but it broke my heart to see her. She was scrambling to get out of the roosting house, and lost her footing.

Just now, I watched her walk around - I confined her to the smallest part of the run and let the other hen out to free range. She is taking 4-5 steps, fully upright, not favoring either side, then she just collapses or falls on her face. If she falls on her face, she curls up her claws at the same time. Otherwise, she just sits down abruptly. She will sit there for a minute or so, appearing to gather strength, before trying to walk again. Her tail is up, there is no discharge. I kept moving the bowl of vitamin water to her side, and she would take a sip or two then start roaming again - she is noticeably disturbed by me approaching her, so I'm trying not to do it often.

I have left a message with my vet who specializes in avian and exotics. Not sure when she'll call back, and I'm not particularly wanting to spend a lot of money on her, even though she is a pet. The vet is a friend, though, who might offer free advice, at least

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope your friend the vet will call you very soon, please let us know what she thinks this could be. Did you research Lymphoid Leukosis?

 

[Jane Jill Jack]

Cholera maybe?

 

[jrabbit]

Vet called. She is stumped, but she does have experience with backyard chickens, so I'm taking her tomorrow.

sigh.

thanks for all the advice y'all!
--janis

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please let us know what the vet says, Thanks

 

[jrabbit]

vet thinks it is neurologic - possibly an abdominal mass/cancer? (she is thin, so the mass could be normal intestines) the fact that she has gone so long without laying gives credence to disease theory.

sadly, she is worse today. we have elected to do no further testing or treatment.

however, another possibility is toxin. I'm going to call back to see if they could do necropsy on third hen who died on Dec 26 - and hasn't been buried yet. I guess if it's not too much, at least we would know if remaining hen is at risk.

frustrated. We had 5 hens in September - soon be down to 1

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is sad and I am sorry, I just hope you don't give up on keeping chickens. How is the remaining hen is she healthy? She'll need a buddy. Please remember that at some point most of us are where you are right now, We know your pain and frustration, Please let us know what you find out.