4 mth old, sits all the time, lazy or sick?? Pic attached

[Oz Chook]

I'm not sure if I've put this query in the right section or not, but...

I have a 4 month old Rhode Island Red that I've had since she was 6 weeks old.

She seems to sit a lot and appears a little unsteady when she first gets up to walk. She never walks too far before she will sit again.

When she sits, she 'flops' down and either the rocks back and sits with her feet poking out in front or leans to the side (like she's riding side saddle).

The other chickens wll scratch around walking and pecking as they go, but this one will find a spot, flop and peck around her.

I've attached a photo which I hope helps some one out there...

 

[silkiechicken]

That's not right. Something is wrong with her. A sort of paralysis? Could be nutritoinal defficency or one common cause of paralysis is Mericks, which we hope you don't have. How long has this gone on for?

I'll put this in emergencies and diseases just in case.

 

[Oz Chook]

Thanks for moving my post

It's been gradually coming on for a couple of weeks or so, but it's been so gradual it has kind of snuck up on me. The other 2 babies seem perfectly ok, but my older chook passed away in her sleep last week, she was about 9 years old. She became unstable on her feet as well, but I just put it down to age.

Hopefully, it's not contagious, I'd hate them all to get sick

I'll take her to the vet tomorrow, thanks again for helping.

 

[ilovemychickies]

I had a hen who had something like that. Her legs were stuck WAY out to the side. Eventually she got better. When we would feed them we would hold her up on her legs for a few minutes. I'm not sure if that helps or not, but it doesn't hurt to try! I have also heard of people taping their legs together. I'm not sure if that works or not. It makes since that it would. I hope that she gets better soon!

 

[silkiechicken]

The taping of legs together is for splayed legs and it only works on baby chicks under a few days old until they gain strength in their leg muscles to hold them in the right place. Good luck.

 

[ilovemychickies]

Oh! Sorry about the wrong info. My bad. I'm fairly new to chickens so I still haven't learned much.

 

[ruth]

I would try feeding her extra vitamins and protein. There are liquid bird vitamins, for caged birds, that can usually be bought anywhere that sells pet supplies. Also try chopping up hot dogs, shredded cheese or cat food for protein sources. Between the protein and vitamins, if it's nutritional, it should clear up and if it's a disease it won't hurt and my actually help her system to become strong enough to fight it.

 

[sammi]

could be a case of rickets from growth spurt...
offer plain unsweetened yogurt and vitamins..
a crushed Tums might help also (for the calcium).

please say what all you feed your chickens..

 

[dlhunicorn]

what has her diet been before this happened? How did you change her diet after?
Has she laid?

 

[Oz Chook]

I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back on line, I have been on night shift!

I found a lovely vet who knows and loves everything bird - including chickens!

She has a vitamin deficiency, and was given a cocktail of vitamins while we were there and am now putting liquid vitamins in their drinking water along with lots of spinich. She has improved remarkably and is just about back to her old self.

The vet's only explanation why Lucy became deficient and not the other 2 babies was because she is a large breed and is going through a growth spurt... Just like kids!

So alls well that ends well

Thankyou again for all your help everybody!!