20 week old hen Crawling-Can't Walk!

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Sorry, if my story is rambling, I'm sort of borderline hysterical.

So, I smelt a skunk last night and simultaneously heard a rooster crow. This roo (Carlos) is notorious for crowing even at night, but only when a car pulls in. No car pulled in, so I went to see what was going on. My wonderful lab/pitbull Boom-Boom and my borgie (border collie/corgi) Sweeney were taking care of the skunk, but I went into the chicken house anyway.

I noticed one 20 week old Speckled Sussex was on the ground instead of on her usual perch. I didn't think anything was wrong though because she was with my cochins and d'Uccle, Stoner Eyes (really that's her name; she looks like she's stoned!), and they love to cuddle. Everyone seemed ok (except one Phoenix roo, but he seems to disappear for a few days every once in a while anyways) so I went inside.

This morning when I opened the door I didn't notice if the Sussex was okay or not (I didn't even think to look for her because I didn't know something was wrong) until I saw her laying in the doorway. It almost seemed like she came out of nowhere though. I picked her up and her legs look fine she seems fine and energetic, she doesn't act or look like she's in pain.

I gave her some plain water then some with crushed up multivitamin in it. My mom said this happened to a hen before and she died but we didn't know much about chickens at the time either.

Please help, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I love this hen and she has never had any problems before. I don't won't to take her to the vet because ours knows nothing about chickens and would probably have her put to sleep.

Note: The only rooster that takes an interest in her is a d'Anvers (he is about 1/5 her size) so I don't think that would have hurt her. He seems really worried now.

 

[chkn]

Has she started laying? Maybe she's eggbound (vent pulsing?). Check her over good, vent, wings, etc., for maggot infestations. Look for injuries. Feel her crop, abdomen for anything unusual. Don't lay her on her back. Nows the time for a mite/lice and worming program (right now!). Those things can suck the life out of a hen.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

She doesn't have any injuries on her legs except a small cut that looks like it healed a long time ago. I couldn't tell if her vent was pulsing because she was panting (it's 100 degrees and humid, she's in the shade though). I moved her closer to the water and she started flapping her wings and shaking a bit. She looks like she might be a little bloated. Is it possible she ate to many apples (a big wind just knocked a bunch from our trees) and just doesn't feel like walking. Like I said in every other way (besides walking) she seems energetic. She doesn't have lice or mites (I use a regular program with Sevin) but I don't know about worms because I've never de-wormed or had it be a problem.

I feel really bad, all the other chickens are worried about her, I had to pry a d'Uccle away from her so they wouldn't overheat being so close.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Might be the heat...maybe she feels ill from it?

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I hope so. I don't think she's going to die though. I'll bring her in the house and keep an eye on her for a while. (As you can see from my picture of Sophie I have no problem with a chicken in my house

)

We'll see what happens.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

So, my hen went missing! I let her outside again because she was getting fussy in the cage. I left to go on a trip for a few days and told my mom to make sure she was safe tonight. She couldn't find her though. Luckily, I found her under our porch, and she acted like she was hydrated, so I think she was able to reach the water from where she was (the water is right next to our porch). She was able to stand up for a few seconds, but she falls over when she tries to walk.

She seems to like her spot under there and I gave her her own food and water bowl. She is staying cool and looks comfortable.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

She is doing fine now. Saw her walking around under the porch. I wonder what it was?

 

[froggiesheins]

Heat stress......it CAN suck all the energy out of a chicken....glad she is walking again....

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Yeah, Glad she found a nice cool spot though. None of my family members like to have a "guest" in our house!