anyone seen this before?

[jlbkinor]

Almost 7 year old hen started out a couple weeks ago stepping more carefully, progressing to lifting her legs up high and carefully setting them down to stumbling a little, then trouble jumping up on roost a few day ago to trouble keeping her balance, now barely able to stand. She has also lost interest in treats and food in general over those weeks to now not wanting anything. Her comb was just starting to redden up when this all started. Had not been laying because of molt then winter. Pooping slowly decreased also, of course, to watery, then diarrhea. In the last couple days I've tried many thing to try to help - abdominal massage, worming, checked for mites, ACV in water, crop massage, it wasn't full or swollen since she hadn't been eating much. She didn't come out of the coop today so I gave her a little water and cleaned out the diarrhea from yesterday - she ate a scrambled egg in olive oil I gave her and some water soaked bread and water soaked feed. So sad to lose this one, well, any one. Any ideas anyone?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

No real ideas except 7 is fairly old for a chicken, I would suspect something internal that she will eventually pass from. Sorry, maybe someone else will have something better to say.

 

[Eggcessive]

Has she lost weight in her breast area? Older hens are prone to internal laying problems and cancer. Internal layers often have problems walking, preferring to sit. They tend to not eat well, have runny droppings, may walk upright or like a penguin, and either don't lay or lay sporadically. How does her lower belly feel? Here is some reading about internal laying:
http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx
http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/tag/laying-issues/

 

[mg15]

and checked for an egg in the vent ?
More calcium and vitamins may also help.

 

[jlbkinor]

Yes, checked her vent. Surprisingly, she came out of coop by herself just now (11:00 a.m.). She didn't come out at all yesterday. Still moving very slow and not interested in food really. But sheesh! Surprised me. Gave her some water with gatorade. Now I wait and see. And worry some more.

 

[mg15]

Hoping she begins to recover !!!!

 

[jlbkinor]

Me too. Thank you!

 

[jlbkinor]

She stayed in coop all day. Poop (what little there was) looked normal, had some grass in it from what she ate yesterday while she was out. Her comb is still red. Her belly and feels fine, I massaged it again. Crop empty, of course she hadn't eaten all day. I gave her a little cooked rice which she liked and a little more water. She just can't seem to stand upright and walk well. Not well at all. As I said this started when I noticed her stepping higher than normal and carefully with both feet. She probably has a rare and strange disease of some kind that there is no cure for. If anyone would even know what it it. $67.50 for a vet visit that I just can't justify in a 7 year old hen. So frustrating!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have a few older hens who walk that way, I think it's arthritis, the swelling is more than likely some sort of organ failure, just my thoughts.

 

[jlbkinor]

Can I give her anything for arthritis? Aspirin or???