20 week old Pullet - Not Standing or Walking but Alert

[ChickenB12]

Yellowlegs is a 20-week-old Easter Egger from Hoovers/TSC; she was perfectly fine on the 16th, I came out the morning of June 17th, and she would not put weight on her right leg. There was a dead mouse in the yard, that was the only "new" addition to the yard I assumed she hurt herself in the frenzy of either exiting the coop or going after the mouse because there were no obvious signs of injury, no bleeding, not wounds, and no bumblefoot. I was able to look at her legs closely, and could not find anything a miss. I decided not to separate her and see how she was the following day

On the 18th, she was no longer able to stand, and would scoot along the ground. I immediately assembled my hospital yard/coop and had her isolated with food and water. I started giving her Vitamin B12 and Rooster Booster. Just in case I checked to see if she might be eggbound, she does not seem to be.

She is eating, drinking, and very angry with me when I give her the Vitamins and Rooster Booster.

I am in Colorado, and it was hot and humid over the weekend, then cooled to a balmy 65 degrees the other day.

Poo is normal. I would prefer home remedies over a vet. Bedding is hemp from eaton pet and pasture, coop is the medium coop from overez with an automatic door. I have 14 chickens

They have fresh water and are on a nutrena all flock feed.

June 17th: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0fh6...ey=boyan16mqnop4un86q3ek4h29&st=vxyvkz7f&dl=0

June 20th: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/od72...ey=zbdp47fd5e2wowps1k4h2wx4s&st=76w595bu&dl=0

Today seems better than yesterday, she is moving around more, but any help would be amazing

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Glad she's improving.

I'd continue with the vitamin therapy and see how it goes. Make sure she's getting B2(Riboflavin).

 

[ChickenB12]

Glad she's improving.

I'd continue with the vitamin therapy and see how it goes. Make sure she's getting B2(Riboflavin).

Yes, she is getting the Riboflavin, I made sure the mineral supplement I have been giving her contained that. Not sure why only she was low or if we need to change food.

 

[coach723]

Sometimes with riboflavin it can take higher doses to get it reversed, if that's what it is. That commonly can cause curled toe paralysis and hock sitting, which is kind of what I'm seeing in the videos. It can also sometimes take a bit of time. I prefer to use human supplements, b complex or super b complex tablets or capsules, as they tend to contain more, and get the levels up faster. The B's are very safe, extra will be excreted. I just give one, once a day. She may be low in pecking order and not getting as much access to feed, she may have started deficient while developing in the egg, it can be passed from the parent stock. Usually feed (if it's not too old) will supply enough to maintain normal levels, but if they get deficient then it takes more to get it reversed, then they can usually maintain it after that.

 

[ChickenB12]

Sometimes with riboflavin it can take higher doses to get it reversed, if that's what it is. That commonly can cause curled toe paralysis and hock sitting, which is kind of what I'm seeing in the videos. It can also sometimes take a bit of time. I prefer to use human supplements, b complex or super b complex tablets or capsules, as they tend to contain more, and get the levels up faster. The B's are very safe, extra will be excreted. I just give one, once a day. She may be low in pecking order and not getting as much access to feed, she may have started deficient while developing in the egg, it can be passed from the parent stock. Usually feed (if it's not too old) will supply enough to maintain normal levels, but if they get deficient then it takes more to get it reversed, then they can usually maintain it after that.

Thank you. I have added B Complex to my grocery list for today. How old is too old for the feed? With 14 girls, they go through a 50-lb bag every 7 to 10 days.

 

[coach723]

Check the mill date on the bags when you buy it. It should be on the bag, usually on the sewn strip or the sewn on tag, depending on the brand. It's not unheard of for a store to find a bag in the back that has been sitting, and they put it out for sale. I always look for the freshest mill dates when I buy. Vitamins deteriorate with time. I also smell the strip on the end of the bag (I'm sure people think I'm a bit looney) for any bad or strong smell which can indicate spoilage. Don't buy those either. I have purchased bags that were moldy on the bottom from sitting in wet or damp. If you ever buy feed that is questionable, either take it back or throw it out, do not feed it to your birds, any of it. My store will take them back if they are bad, and it does happen. Moldy or spoiled feed can kill them. I always empty every bag into another container before using, so I can see it all, make sure there is no clumping, color change (often white, gray or green), or bad smell anywhere. I try to buy what I know I will use up in 2 -3 weeks (we have hurricanes, so I try to have enough on hand to make it through one of those during the season).

 

[ChickenB12]

Sometimes with riboflavin it can take higher doses to get it reversed, if that's what it is. That commonly can cause curled toe paralysis and hock sitting, which is kind of what I'm seeing in the videos. It can also sometimes take a bit of time. I prefer to use human supplements, b complex or super b complex tablets or capsules, as they tend to contain more, and get the levels up faster. The B's are very safe, extra will be excreted. I just give one, once a day. She may be low in pecking order and not getting as much access to feed, she may have started deficient while developing in the egg, it can be passed from the parent stock. Usually feed (if it's not too old) will supply enough to maintain normal levels, but if they get deficient then it takes more to get it reversed, then they can usually maintain it after that.

Hi again, I have another lady presenting with similar symptoms as the first. The first gal, Yellowlegs, is getting better slowly able to start standing. Today I noticed another gal who seemed off balance I watched her and she did stumble and splayed her legs out in front of her. I immediately gave her B Complex and isolated her with Yellowlegs.

Is it time to consider something else since there is now a Second Lady or no because the first he. Is responding to the vitamin b?

 

[coach723]

There are multiple possibilities. Since the first bird seems to be responding to vitamin therapy, it seems that is the issue, so I would do that with the second as well. If you were to see no improvement then Marek's disease would be a possibility, but that does not respond to vitamins and usually doesn't get better. Depending on how many birds you have, how much space, and how many feeders and waterers, you might want to add a couple more, spread out. That way if feed access is an issue (more dominant birds guarding them and keeping the lower ranking birds away) they will have more chances to access the feeders. Lastly, you might consider switching your feed brand or source, see if that makes a difference. I have had feeds in the past that certain birds had trouble digesting, and switching solved the problem.

 

[ChickenB12]

There are multiple possibilities. Since the first bird seems to be responding to vitamin therapy, it seems that is the issue, so I would do that with the second as well. If you were to see no improvement then Marek's disease would be a possibility, but that does not respond to vitamins and usually doesn't get better. Depending on how many birds you have, how much space, and how many feeders and waterers, you might want to add a couple more, spread out. That way if feed access is an issue (more dominant birds guarding them and keeping the lower ranking birds away) they will have more chances to access the feeders. Lastly, you might consider switching your feed brand or source, see if that makes a difference. I have had feeds in the past that certain birds had trouble digesting, and switching solved the problem.

Thank you!!! We have 14 birds, 3 feeders with 4 holes each, and their yard is almost 500sqft. I need to buy feed so I might switch anyway. Thank you again for your help