4.5 yo Orpington Still Struggling

[Painted Calls]

Might be good to get her a sling made and start some PT.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Might be good to get her a sling made and start some PT.

I'll do that.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'll do that.

I'm working on the sling. I'll have her in it for a while this afternoon and see how it goes.

1763 today, so going back up again. She's eating mash right now, too, but still reluctant to drink. C'mo, Poppy! You can do it!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Working and feeding her hasbeen a struggle. I woke her up late to feed her a 4th time. But I only fed her 3x yesterday, and she didn't gain much. I hope that's ok.

She spent about an hour in the sling chair. I also stretched her legs a bit.not sure it'll do any good, but it made me feel like I was helping - lol!

 

[Painted Calls]

Working and feeding her hasbeen a struggle. I woke her up late to feed her a 4th time. But I only fed her 3x yesterday, and she didn't gain much. I hope that's ok.

She spent about an hour in the sling chair. I also stretched her legs a bit.not sure it'll do any good, but it made me feel like I was helping - lol!

I'm really not sure why she's not walking. I'm sorry it's becoming a struggle.

How did her lameness start?

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm really not sure why she's not walking. I'm sorry it's becoming a struggle.

How did her lameness start?

It was gradual. I thought she was just Getting older and slowing down. She went broody earlier this year, and I had a tough time breaking her. Then immediately after that, she went through a very hard molt. She lost weight, but seemed fine otherwise. Then I noticed she was sitting more than usual. It became really obvious something was wrong when I went out one morning and she was lying on the coop floor getting seriously pecked by another hen. I thought she was dead, but it was just that she couldn't walk anymore. She can take a few steps. And she sometimes uses her wings like crutches. For the most part, though, she just sits there.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Brought Miss Iris in to visit. That seems to be giving her more energy.

 

[micstrachan]

Brought Miss Iris in to visit. That seems to be giving her more energy.

Sorry, I lost track if sweet Poppy. I’m glad to hear a friend has perked her up. Keep up the good work! Are you offering extra protein to help her build muscle? My chickens go crazy for a cooked beef liver or sardines. Egg is always hit, as well, but it has more fat. As you know, I have had a fat problem in my flock, so I’m more wary of eggs than I used to be.

 

[micstrachan]

It was gradual. I thought she was just Getting older and slowing down. She went broody earlier this year, and I had a tough time breaking her. Then immediately after that, she went through a very hard molt. She lost weight, but seemed fine otherwise. Then I noticed she was sitting more than usual. It became really obvious something was wrong when I went out one morning and she was lying on the coop floor getting seriously pecked by another hen. I thought she was dead, but it was just that she couldn't walk anymore. She can take a few steps. And she sometimes uses her wings like crutches. For the most part, though, she just sits there.

Could she be in pain? My Little Mill has had a limp for about five years, and it’s getting worse as she ages. Little Mill sits a lot, too, and I’m considering pain meds for her. Or even red light therapy.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Could she be in pain? My Little Mill has had a limp for about five years, and it’s getting worse as she ages. Little Mill sits a lot, too, and I’m considering pain meds for her. Or even red light therapy.

Maybe. It is hard to detect pain in chickens. What pain meds are you considering? Meloxicam, maybe?

She's welcome to sit in the chicken coop forever, but I don't know how happy she will be.