6 month old hen not walking, sudden onset with no apparent injury

[vrollo81]

Good morning, (or afternoon, evening, or night).
I have a six month old hen that was well and fine two days ago but later that evening she was found sitting in the middle of the yard. As I approached her, she got up, but not all the way, and walked. That's when I noticed she was limping on her left leg.

I brought her inside to examine her. Cleaned her legs and feet. Did the normal exam of feeling, bending, pressing, and she didn't move or make any notes to indicate hurt.

I have kept her inside at night and outside during the day. Today, she's staying inside because of what I found on her leg. **I'm not at home but want to get this thread going. I'll post a picture of her leg when I get home.

I've read another post with similar issues and started her on B Complex this morning. I crushed it and mixed it with some cooked oatmeal and some of her favorite fruit. She LOVED it!! She is eating and drinking and her poop looks good. I have added 'Strong Animals Chicken Elixer' to her water.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hen-not-walking.1500063/#post-25071013

 

[azygous]

Your photos don't really demonstrate her issues.

Is she weak?

Is she off balance? Trouble walking?

Is one leg usually out in front as she tries to walk or rest?

Please tell us where you're located. Has it been unseasonably hot?

Have you checked the feed for mold or contamination? It would have an unpleasant smell.

 

[vrollo81]

Your photos don't really demonstrate her issues.

Is she weak?

Is she off balance? Trouble walking?

Is one leg usually out in front as she tries to walk or rest?

Please tell us where you're located. Has it been unseasonably hot?

Have you checked the feed for mold or contamination? It would have an unpleasant smell.

 

[vrollo81]

I can't figure out how to post a video. I have one of her waddling.

She is weak. She is of balance and cannot lift herself up at all. She can waddle very short distances.

When she waddles, her feet don't touch the ground. She had been using her 'knees' (the hawk area).

I'm in north central Texas. Our heat spell is pretty much over. We'll the 100° weather anyway. But I didn't have her then.

I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with their feed. There was a spot in the yard that had molded scratch but it was under a stone and shouldn't have been accessible to her.


I posted more pictures in a reply just a bit ago.

 

[azygous]

It's sounding more like an avian virus. A video would be helpful. Post it to You Tube first, copy the URL, then paste that in a window here. Your video will embed automatically.

Give her some sugar water to drink as her only water source today. One teaspoon on one cup water. Let's see if it revives her. Sometimes lameness is due to low blood sugar.

 

[vrollo81]

 

[azygous]

Have you given her the sugar water yet? I'd sure love to rule out an avian virus. But it looks like it could be. Avian leucosis hits about this age if they were exposed as new chicks.

 

[vrollo81]

So she made it through the night but no change

Here are some videos and more pictures. She's not drinking so I'm making the oatmeal extra soupy. I have tried a dropper to give her water and that works well. I'm continuing the B Complex in her food and the sugar water.

Do yall leave your chickens in the sling unsupervised? Cause she flaps about and gets herself out of the holes.

 

[azygous]

No, we don't leave a chicken in a sling or chair because of what you are experiencing. It's rare that a chicken is content to hang there.

You might be interested in the thread I made about my three pullets who had these symptoms. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...update-now-another-pullet-going-lame.1432738/

It discusses all the various treatments I tried and also shows the chicken wheel chair I invented for them. Yes, they all managed to get themselves ot of it, but it was useful for allowing them to be upright in order to eat.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She's not drinking so I'm making the oatmeal extra soupy.

Sorry you both face this.

Is oatmeal her regular feed? That's not appropriate as a sole ration for any poultry, if so. And may not do much to help a down bird.

Has she had access to a formulated chicken ration?

Hope she recovers quickly!