- May 6, 2011
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I have a 1.5 year old red star (red sex-link) hen that needs some help.
She is from a flock of about 25 hens, we raised her from a day old. She was purchased via mail order from a large hatchery, and was vaccinated for Marek's.
She is very unsteady on her feet and uses her wings to help balance herself, but she can walk and will stand for long periods of time. She does sometimes just fall over. She is sternal or recumbent "sometimes", but actually stands more often than not. She's very alert and has an excellent appetite. She has eaten both a wet mash of layer crumbles, dry crumbles, moistened bread, and a whole pear (today!!).
I think the whole episode began about a week ago when she didn't return to the coop in the evening and got locked out. We found her later that night in the pouring rain and put her inside. The next day she was horribly bedraggled. Her feathers looked like they never dried. I kept waiting for her to preen herself out but she never did. She began lying around the run, but she left the coop every day and returned to the roost at night. I gave her a chance to come around, but finally decided intervention was necessary. I brought her inside yesterday and gave her a bath first off. She was much dirtier than I expected, and had apparently been lying in her own waste
. Once bathed and dried, I offered moistened bread and warm water, which she gobbled. Her poops are completely normal - mostly firm but a few sloppy (and really foul!) ones. Yesterday I gave a few drops of infant vitamins, and continued with them today. She's still eating really well and drinking well, too. She even gave me an egg today. She is in a laundry basket in the utility room. She doesn't seem stressed, is talkative and very bright - clear eyes, bright red comb, no nasal discharge.
Since she's (supposedly) been vaccinated, I have sort of ruled out Marek's, but it's still on my mind. None of the others are exhibiting any symptoms whatsoever. I am wondering about the possibility of an ear infection, and so I started her on tetracycline today. Otherwise, I am out of ideas. Sorry about the length of the post, but I wanted to cover all the bases.
I'd really appreciate any ideas.
Is it possible that she is not ill, but rather has a neurological "condition" of some sort? I mean, something like a bonk on the head? I have put her back with the flock at this point. The roosters still court her, she eats well, the other hens don't pay her any attention at all. Other than being unsteady on her feet, she acts perfectly normal. Still looking for some sort of answer. Thanks!!
She is from a flock of about 25 hens, we raised her from a day old. She was purchased via mail order from a large hatchery, and was vaccinated for Marek's.
She is very unsteady on her feet and uses her wings to help balance herself, but she can walk and will stand for long periods of time. She does sometimes just fall over. She is sternal or recumbent "sometimes", but actually stands more often than not. She's very alert and has an excellent appetite. She has eaten both a wet mash of layer crumbles, dry crumbles, moistened bread, and a whole pear (today!!).
I think the whole episode began about a week ago when she didn't return to the coop in the evening and got locked out. We found her later that night in the pouring rain and put her inside. The next day she was horribly bedraggled. Her feathers looked like they never dried. I kept waiting for her to preen herself out but she never did. She began lying around the run, but she left the coop every day and returned to the roost at night. I gave her a chance to come around, but finally decided intervention was necessary. I brought her inside yesterday and gave her a bath first off. She was much dirtier than I expected, and had apparently been lying in her own waste
Since she's (supposedly) been vaccinated, I have sort of ruled out Marek's, but it's still on my mind. None of the others are exhibiting any symptoms whatsoever. I am wondering about the possibility of an ear infection, and so I started her on tetracycline today. Otherwise, I am out of ideas. Sorry about the length of the post, but I wanted to cover all the bases.
I'd really appreciate any ideas.
Is it possible that she is not ill, but rather has a neurological "condition" of some sort? I mean, something like a bonk on the head? I have put her back with the flock at this point. The roosters still court her, she eats well, the other hens don't pay her any attention at all. Other than being unsteady on her feet, she acts perfectly normal. Still looking for some sort of answer. Thanks!!
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