- May 16, 2010
- 28
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Hi
We have two hybrid hens, nearly 4 years old. They were from a reputable breeder (I say reputable - I mean that as in they're not ex-batt. or anything).
We used to have another one but she died nearly a year ago from a blocked egg that broke and got very nasty.
Apart from that, we've not had any major problems - the remaining two stopped laying about 10-12 months ago, (when they were about 3yrs, which I'm told is the sort of age hybrids usually stop). But we kept them on more as 'pets', and they've both been generally healthy - every now and then one of them would look a bit glum, but only for a day or two (usually when the weather was bad - live in UK!)
Our black one though has been very wobbly on her feet for the last week or so, and is just very under the weather looking. She is still eating and drinking, but has been finding it quite difficult to walk. She stands or sits, blinking slowly, all puffed and tucked in. Today, I went up to find her lying on the floor like she had fallen on one side. My mum was wondering if maybe she's had some sort of stroke (can chickens get strokes?), as our dog had a stroke once and the behavious seems pretty similar - walking wobbly and off centre, falling over and seeming pretty unresponsive and not very alert.
Of course, it could just be because she is old (is 4 old for a hybrid?) and on her way out, but I'm wondering if there is anything I can do?
She doesn't appear to be in any pain - not in the sort of way our one who died was like. I tried to help her up, and when I brought the food and water to her, she ate and drank with ease, and she does try and make an effort to get up but just topples to one side. I got her to walk around a bit by supporting both sides of her, and it didn't seem to be hurting her legs and they weren't giving way (which is why I don't think it's her legs), she was just wobbling.
I've checked her legs and they don't appear to be broken or anything, and I can't think of a situation where they would get hurt (they're in an enclosed outdoor area so nothing can get at them).
I fear it is probably just her age, but I've attached some photos if they're any help. I just want to make sure there's nothing like an illness or something else? What I am quite worried about though is that we're having pretty rotten weather at the moment, and I'm worried that she'll get cold if she's not moving around?
Also, I saw online that it could be a protein deficiancy, so gave her some marmite (widely recommended on the web?) which she ate some of. However, I would've thought something like that would effect both of them, not just one?
Please help asap, not sure if she'll make it through the night. Also, I'm a 15 year old girl, so I can't exactly rush her off to the vets (and our vets aren't very good with chickens - one had worms when we first got them and the vet didn't know what to do so gave us a small dosage of horse wormer!)
Thanks!
We have two hybrid hens, nearly 4 years old. They were from a reputable breeder (I say reputable - I mean that as in they're not ex-batt. or anything).
We used to have another one but she died nearly a year ago from a blocked egg that broke and got very nasty.
Apart from that, we've not had any major problems - the remaining two stopped laying about 10-12 months ago, (when they were about 3yrs, which I'm told is the sort of age hybrids usually stop). But we kept them on more as 'pets', and they've both been generally healthy - every now and then one of them would look a bit glum, but only for a day or two (usually when the weather was bad - live in UK!)
Our black one though has been very wobbly on her feet for the last week or so, and is just very under the weather looking. She is still eating and drinking, but has been finding it quite difficult to walk. She stands or sits, blinking slowly, all puffed and tucked in. Today, I went up to find her lying on the floor like she had fallen on one side. My mum was wondering if maybe she's had some sort of stroke (can chickens get strokes?), as our dog had a stroke once and the behavious seems pretty similar - walking wobbly and off centre, falling over and seeming pretty unresponsive and not very alert.
Of course, it could just be because she is old (is 4 old for a hybrid?) and on her way out, but I'm wondering if there is anything I can do?
She doesn't appear to be in any pain - not in the sort of way our one who died was like. I tried to help her up, and when I brought the food and water to her, she ate and drank with ease, and she does try and make an effort to get up but just topples to one side. I got her to walk around a bit by supporting both sides of her, and it didn't seem to be hurting her legs and they weren't giving way (which is why I don't think it's her legs), she was just wobbling.
I've checked her legs and they don't appear to be broken or anything, and I can't think of a situation where they would get hurt (they're in an enclosed outdoor area so nothing can get at them).
I fear it is probably just her age, but I've attached some photos if they're any help. I just want to make sure there's nothing like an illness or something else? What I am quite worried about though is that we're having pretty rotten weather at the moment, and I'm worried that she'll get cold if she's not moving around?
Also, I saw online that it could be a protein deficiancy, so gave her some marmite (widely recommended on the web?) which she ate some of. However, I would've thought something like that would effect both of them, not just one?
Please help asap, not sure if she'll make it through the night. Also, I'm a 15 year old girl, so I can't exactly rush her off to the vets (and our vets aren't very good with chickens - one had worms when we first got them and the vet didn't know what to do so gave us a small dosage of horse wormer!)
Thanks!
