3-year-old golden comet can't walk

[drtfrazier]

My 3-year-old golden comet is the last of 3 (1 unexpectedly/suddenly passed a few months ago and the other was too sick, last year, after various treatments/had to be put down). I don't have pictures as there is nothing to see. I came back from vacation and my daughter indicated that one of my chickens hadn't come out of the coop in 1-2 days. So I didn't see the onset of whatever-is-going-on. The short story is - she can't walk. She rarely tries and, if she does, she ends up putting out her wing to prevent herself from face-planting. It's not successful. She otherwise seems healthy and no injuries, etc. I'm flummoxed as to what to try next. I've been back several days...

I did an internal exam and external exam and I don't think she is egg bound. This was my first guess. She doesn't seem to have any sensitive spots. And is not swollen. I think she is a little light and she is rather docile with respect to being handled (more so than "normal"). She doesn't struggle against my prodding. Comb and alertness are all good. Crop seems good. Poop seems good (some a little loose but most are not). I've been putting food and water right within her reach. And I've given her calcium citrate 2 days in a row now (just in case). She is not laying, but had been - regularly, daily or close to daily. I gave her a good soaking bath yesterday and I've cleaned and inspected everywhere, especially her legs and feet. I consider myself maybe slightly better than a novice chicken keeper?

She currently seems a tiny bit improved? (Crouches some, occasional attempts to move). I don't know what to do except try to keep her clean (since she is pooping where she is sitting) and keep access to food and water going and hope for improvement? Btw - if one leg is the problem I speculate it is the left one but I honestly can't figure it out. Any thoughts? I'm loathe to do more invasive things like deworming when she seems, well, healthy.

 

[Eggcessive]

Had she been able to get food and water in the coop when she didn’t come out of the coop for 2 days? Did she check on her? She could be very dehydrated and weak. Is there any sign that she is molting or losing feathers? Has she been laying eggs recently? She may be experiencing a reproductive disorder. Cancer, worms, and water belly are some other things that may affect her. Since she is pooping, she is not egg bound. I would check her crop first thing tomorrow am before she eats or drinks when her crop should feel empty and flat. Let us know if it is full or empty. Sometimes poop pictures may be helpful. Let us know about her crop and if she seems to walk better after getting food andnwater. Poultry NutriDrench or Pouktry Cell 2 ml orally, or electrolytes and vitamins might be good for a couple of days as a drench. If she has not been wormed recently you may want to worm her with SafeGuard liquid goat wormer or horse paste 1.25 ml orally for 5 consecutive days. Shake the liquid wormer well. If she will tolerate a chicken sling, it may be good to get her upright and in front of food. Here are some good examples in post 5, 11-14, and 31:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[drtfrazier]

My daughter believed it was just 1 day - the Saturday I was traveling back home (she works during the week but took care of the chickens before and after). But she was a tiny bit unsure because 1 of my Buffs went broody at the exact same time (breaking that is going well). I do think she was hungry and a bit dehydrated and all the modest improvement I see may be because of that. It's been 3 days now (Tuesday). I've been checking her crop and that seems good. Empty and flat when I take her out of the coop in the morning. (Sour crop is one of the few things I have modest experience with).. Poop is good. Feathers are fine. But the walking/attempts at walking have not improved (tiny bit?) She is maybe trying more often, is what I've seen. She's been doing great eating and drinking from the bowls I've been putting right in front of her. Would the sling be to help her recover from an injury perhaps?? It's such a puzzle.

 

[Eggcessive]

If she is attempting to walk around, I would not try the sling. But if she becomes more disabled she might be able to eat more easily. She could use the sling for meals and then be let out. Some hens fight slings and don’t tolerate them. Some cooked egg or a bit of tuna, and some mushy wet chicken feed would be good things to offer. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[Ecarroll]

I am having a very similar situation, healthy seeming chicken limping, then can’t walk only stand, then couldn’t stand for a few days. This had been going on for a while with mine, she now can walk again, with quite the limp though. The thing that has helped her the most is vitamin B supplements, mixed with oatmeal (she wasn’t eating normal food for a while so anything that will tempt her), egg is good to offer as well, or you could do in the food if she’s still eating that. Isolate her in something like a dog crate, but take her out at least once a day to make sure she eats and gets the vitamins.
When she couldn’t stand we would give our girl a bath daily or every other day to get the poop off her butt (prevent maggots and burn)/the soaking may help her legs.
Also supporting her weight with a hand or sling and helping her walk can be good to keep her from still being unable even if whatever is wrong gets better.
Now that she can walk around a bit we but her in an enclosure outside during the day with food and water to let her walk more and eat grass/bugs.
Good luck!

 

[Ecarroll]

I am having a very similar situation, healthy seeming chicken limping, then can’t walk only stand, then couldn’t stand for a few days. This had been going on for a while with mine, she now can walk again, with quite the limp though. The thing that has helped her the most is vitamin B supplements, mixed with oatmeal (she wasn’t eating normal food for a while so anything that will tempt her), egg is good to offer as well, or you could do in the food if she’s still eating that. Isolate her in something like a dog crate, but take her out at least once a day to make sure she eats and gets the vitamins.
When she couldn’t stand we would give our girl a bath daily or every other day to get the poop off her butt (prevent maggots and burn)/the soaking may help her legs.
Also supporting her weight with a hand or sling and helping her walk can be good to keep her from still being unable even if whatever is wrong gets better.
Now that she can walk around a bit we but her in an enclosure outside during the day with food and water to let her walk more and eat grass/bugs.
Good luck!

Dog crate separation example (I found that putting her feeder next to the normal feeder encourages eating)

Outdoor enclosure (only during the day, the raccoons would get her in a heartbeat)

 

[Eggcessive]

Mushy chicken feed is more balanced than mushy oatmeal, and my chickens always were excited to eat the chicken feed in a pan mixed with water.

 

[Ecarroll]

Mushy chicken feed is more balanced than mushy oatmeal, and my chickens always were excited to eat the chicken feed in a pan mixed with water.

Chicken feed is always better, as it is formulated for them with the Vito and and nutrients they need, but sometimes it is down to what they will eat to keep them fed/hydrated and get the supplements into them.