Alert, egg laying hen can't stand up. What could be wrong?

[JessicaThistle]

Hello,

I have a roughly 7 month old hen that I found sitting on her butt with her feet in front of her. I grabbed her up and took her to my chicken hospital in the garage. She eats, drinks, poo is normal and even lays eggs. She is extremely alert and talks to me a lot every time I see her. The problem is that she can't support her own weight. She can move her legs and toes. She can grip my finger with her toes. She can't can't push herself into a standing position and stay balanced.

I have been giving her vitamins and electrolytes in her water for 4 days and no improvement but no change in her demeanor.

So my question: Am I dealing with a case of Marek's? She has a flock of 100 and no others show any signs of illness or sitting on their bottoms and I have watching closely for a week now.

I have 316 other chickens on the property as well, all healthy, and am worried if she has something contagious.

I hate to cull an alert, egg laying hen if she could be treated and get well. Any ideas?

 

[JessicaThistle]

Nobody has any suggestions?

 

[JRNash]

Jessica, animals get the same ailments as humans albeit in their own forms. I would put her down. If she is contagious she is a risk. If not, she is not able to experience the quality of life due to some other reason. Set the emotional response aside. I know you are a great person with a good heart. You can't save them all. I wish you the best.

 

[enola]

If she was my hen, I would contact a University and have a necropsy done on her. If you find it difficult to put her down, they will do it for you if you can deliver her.

 

[1zooman12]

Hello Jessica,
The symptoms you describe, while very clear cut, are tough to define since we have not one clue as to the cause. Many states, and counties therein, have an agricultural research laboratory strictly for barnyard fowl. Also there is usually an Agricultural Extension Service especially prominent in states that have a college or university directly descendant from a land grant college. These too, usually have a laboratory system which will evaluate your bird's acute problem generally at no cost to you as this is generally a tax supported system. Call your veterinarian or local agricultural college system for particulars. Then there are commercial poultry houses and producers of eggs and meat who have seen it all. Very likely one of these just might have an answer as to what ails your bird. The larger poultry producers maintain a staff of geneticists and veterinarians who might be quite interested in your particular case. There is some likelihood that one of the professionals employed by such an industry might know what is going on with your bird. As long as she is not apparently suffering I would call around to any or all of these before doing anything drastic. And for heaven's sake until this is long settled please do not go any where near holders of poultry lest you transmit some weird and dangerous pathogen to their enterprise. Please let us know how you case is resolved. For myself, I wish you and your bird the very best of outcomes!
Neal, the Zooman

 

[JRNash]

THAT'S good advice and even better information.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Hubby did finally call it and put her down when I wasn't looking. However, he was right.

After my careful observation and treatment, my findings dictate that she was NOT sick. She did not suffer from Marek's or any vitamin deficiency. She had some kind of neurological defect. She never became lethargic or stopped eating or drinking. She could move her legs and feet, thus not paralyzed, but could not support her weight on her own. It was much like working with someone with Multiple Sclerosis or other types of Neurological disorders that causes inability to stand and support weight as well as foot spasm and possible tremors. I was a Nurse's Assistant working with eldery, disabled, post surgical and mental health for 10 years so have considerable experience in this area. I think she may have sustained some type of injury that damaged her spinal cord, although I saw no signs of it, or it was genetic. All the more reason to not use the hatchery that I know she came from. I think that she may have had intermittent nerve pain from my observations and as I said, hubby knew the answer even though I couldn't make the call. However, I was using her condition as a learning situation and I believe that I learned some very important things from her. Keeping her as long as I did was really just part of my growth and helping me reach my goal to become the best chicken farmer that I can be!

Oh and too late Zooman. Don't you remember from my Cornish Cross thread that I have 800 + chickens because of an egg business? While we practice the best biosecurity measures that we can, they are all on the same property. This is why I am trying to learn, learn, learn what I can from every sick chicken that I can!

 

[JRNash]

Jessica Thistle, I'm sorry for your loss.I know it comes as no suprise to you with your background but alot of people DON'T realize just how similar we and our animals are. Most animals are prone to the exact same maladies that effect us. Sometimes they present differently and can be impossible for the layman to understand. It was a learning experience. For you but also for those of us following this thread. I'm checking into wether our local college has any agg. Programs and I will be doing more to find out about our county agent and what he/she can offer. I am sorry you went through this.Thank you for sharing it,and allowing us to learn with you.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Thank you JR!

 

[grace dane]

Hi Jessica. I had an 8 year old Langshan rooster who had similar symptoms. He started with weakness and lying down a lot, but could walk around when he wanted to. My vet thinks he suffered an injury, possibly to his spine, and he eventually couldn't support any of his weight or stand on his own. I moved him indoors and braced him with towels to prop him up. He continued to eat, drink and poop. He would flip himself around and end up lying on his side, so I would prop him back up. We treated him with Meloxicam (an NSAID) for 2 weeks, but it didn't help him and after many tears we euthanized him.