8yo Australorp Hen Unbalanced & Weak Legs

[Bagel17]

Our 8yo Black Australorp hen, Pengu, can't keep her balance and her legs seem weak.

She seems to angle her left foot inward and positions it back.

She's been eating and drinking.
Her weight is normal, not lethargic, and she isn't bony.

She rests on her hocks a lot and hunches like an old lady. She's been hunchy for months, so I've been assuming it's because of her age (shes the oldest chicken we've had so it's the first time we are dealing with old birds/old age symptoms). She's only had balance problems today, however. She's also using her wings and tail a lot more than normal and tends to keep her tail more erect.

Vent looks normal, and she isn't penguin sitting like with egg binding.

What is wrong with her? Is she nutrient/mineral deficient? What food should old, non-laying hens be on?
Is hunched posture / lack of balance normal for old hens?
And finally, does her left leg look injured/splayed/dislocated? I tried to look it over but I couldn't tell anything and she doesn't seem to really be in pain.

I've attached photos and video along with a link to her Facebook post (if the videos dont work here and for more footage).
Link: Facebook Post with Videos

 

[Wyorp Rock]

8yo Black Australorp hen, Pengu, can't keep her balance and her legs seem weak.

She's been hunchy for months, so I've been assuming it's because of her age (shes the oldest chicken we've had so it's the first time we are dealing with old birds/old age symptoms). She's only had balance problems today, however. She's also using her wings and tail a lot more than normal and tends to keep her tail more erect.

When was her last egg? Is she should have laid an egg and hasn't, I'd start her on Extra Calcium asap. You can give 1 Calcium Citrate+D3 tablet now, then once daily for 5 days. If you don't have that give her 1 TUMS now, then once daily for 5 days.

It wouldn't hurt to give her vitamin support of 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4tablet B-Complex daily for a couple of week. Offer her a treat of egg or tuna daily to help with the uptake of E.

Could be it's her age, if she's been hunched and showing some of these symptoms for a months, she may be having some reproductive problems like cancer, eyp, etc. With her age, her system may be slowing down a bit, it's hard to know.

If possible take a sample of poop to your vet to rule out worms as part of the problem.

For video, upload to YouTube and provide a link. Your FB group is private and most here on BYC do not use FB at all.

Example of Calcium Citrate+D3

 

[Bagel17]

When was her last egg? Is she should have laid an egg and hasn't, I'd start her on Extra Calcium asap. You can give 1 Calcium Citrate+D3 tablet now, then once daily for 5 days. If you don't have that give her 1 TUMS now, then once daily for 5 days.

It wouldn't hurt to give her vitamin support of 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4tablet B-Complex daily for a couple of week. Offer her a treat of egg or tuna daily to help with the uptake of E.

Could be it's her age, if she's been hunched and showing some of these symptoms for a months, she may be having some reproductive problems like cancer, eyp, etc. With her age, her system may be slowing down a bit, it's hard to know.

If possible take a sample of poop to your vet to rule out worms as part of the problem.

For video, upload to YouTube and provide a link. Your FB group is private and most here on BYC do not use FB at all.

Thank you for the quick reply!
I'll see what supplements I can get my hands on, and treat her to some egg and tuna.

She hasn't laid eggs in a really long time, so I don't expect them from her. They're usually very oblong and pointy when she does (like every 3-4 months). I offer oyster shell in a dish all the time; I'll look for calcium D3 tablets, too.
I didn't even think of cancer or eyp, and suppose i shouldn't completely rule out egg binding either. Pengu's holding her rear a lot lower today than yesterday. She has been sitting on her butt/rear hocks/shanks more, too. Her tail and rear are droopy and she isn't holding her tail as erect.

This with her "hunchiness," where she holds her head really close to her shoulders and doesn't really extend her neck.

Unfortunately I won't be able to test poop, but I'll keep an eye out for any more observable/behavioral symptoms of worms.

Thanks for the heads-up about the videos. I'll see if I can upload to YouTube and get the link on here.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the quick reply!
I'll see what supplements I can get my hands on, and treat her to some egg and tuna.

She hasn't laid eggs in a really long time, so I don't expect them from her. They're usually very oblong and pointy when she does (like every 3-4 months). I offer oyster shell in a dish all the time; I'll look for calcium D3 tablets, too.
I didn't even think of cancer or eyp, and suppose i shouldn't completely rule out egg binding either. Pengu's holding her rear a lot lower today than yesterday. She has been sitting on her butt/rear hocks/shanks more, too. Her tail and rear are droopy and she isn't holding her tail as erect.

This with her "hunchiness," where she holds her head really close to her shoulders and doesn't really extend her neck.

Unfortunately I won't be able to test poop, but I'll keep an eye out for any more observable/behavioral symptoms of worms.

Thanks for the heads-up about the videos. I'll see if I can upload to YouTube and get the link on here.

Is her crop emptying?

More than likely it's age and something reproductive, but you never know. It sure won't hurt to give supportive care for a while to see if it helps.

 

[Bagel17]

Is her crop emptying?

More than likely it's age and something reproductive, but you never know. It sure won't hurt to give supportive care for a while to see if it helps.

Her crop was emptying. I've been giving her extra care for the past few days and there hasn't been any improvement.

She was in a lot of discomfort, hasn't been at her best for the past year, and didn't seem like she was going to get better from this. I put her down this evening.

I didn't do an autopsy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her crop was emptying. I've been giving her extra care for the past few days and there hasn't been any improvement.

She was in a lot of discomfort, hasn't been at her best for the past year, and didn't seem like she was going to get better from this. I put her down this evening.

I didn't do an autopsy.

I'm sorry