Ataxic pullet, help!

[Burbgardener]

Hi! First time chicken owner… and of course there aren’t any chicken vets in my area.

I have a pullet, whom I got at the end of January. Was told then she was around 4 months old. I don’t think that was accurate but that’s what she said. And I really wasn’t sure how to tell. I had her on a chick feed then since I was going off what the prev owner said I’d began switching her to layer. She’s been on layer for at least 2 months.

She has never laid yet and I don’t think she will quite yet. She is a small pullet, supposed to be a lavender Orpington. And for her “supposed age” I’d expected a bigger/fuller bird.

2 weeks ago I went to do my evening feed/walk through, she wasn’t really interested in food. Stood away with her head drawn in and ruffled looking. Never been a friendly bird and the fact she barely tried to escape me catching her is VERY odd.

Took her inside, tried to figure out the issue. I thought maybe egg bound but that’d be weird since I think it’s early for her to lay. But she tolerated her warm soak well enough, I separated her. She feels light and frail.

By next morning she could not stand. NOT PARALYZED but unable to stand. She just flops over on her side, would kick a little but that’s all. No appetite whatsoever. Silent as ever, not a peep to be heard. Though she is not a talkative bird to begin with.

Thought for sure she would pass away that’s how dull she looked. I’ve been googling like crazy.

I looked her over for injury didn’t find one but did find mites! Yuck! Treated for those as well as the coop/yard and other birds. So mad!

But that didn’t make her improve. she barely eats, drinks some. Nothing seemed to “fit” for a diagnosis on symptoms. No wheezing, no discharges, no sores, nothing wrong with her legs, not paralyzed just very ataxic. Pale-ish comb but she is young and I didn’t expect it to be bright yet.

2 days ago I saw a video on deficiencies. So as a last ditch effort I crushed up a multi vitamin and put it in her small water bowl she drinks from.

She has very small “improvements” if you wanna call them that. She attempts to groom now, though mostly unsuccessful. Moves her wings a little more than before, meaning she gave a weak flap a few times when I lifted her. She kicks vigorously, even finally lifted her foot to her face to attempt a scratch. But not able to sit upright nor can she stand. She will face plant without help. She can move her tail in fact can swish it well. I took her outside to a dirt pile and she seemed very happy to scratch her beak through it and vaguely resemble a “dirt bath” attempt. Today she started making noises. Im not sure if they are quite normal pullet sounds the first one I heard was a quick honk like she was surprised at something. Then tonight more like a honky-chittering noise every so often. Definitely doesn’t sound like the other chickens.

She is more interested in food but picks at it still. Only thing I can get her to take interest in is wet chick feed and a tiny amount of micro greens. She will drink the “vitamin water” I give her. And I still give a good soak/bath because she well can’t walk so I don’t want sores/nasty butt.

What’s wrong with my chicken? And how is it after 2 weeks she still can’t walk!?! I’d hoped she would have gotten better while I was on my 2 week vacation from work but now I have to go back. So she will be left alone for 10+ hours a day to fend for herself. She has to get better or… well you know.

No other birds have any sickness or any of the symptoms or issue. Only this single bird.

 

[nuthatched]

I'm sorry to hear about your pullet.
What is her diet, it sounds like vitamin and nutrition deficiency, ideally, she should be on chick feed until she starts laying or even as her everyday feed plus oyster shells.
Keep giving here the vitamins, specifically vitamin e and b complex if you can get it.

 

[Burbgardener]

I'm sorry to hear about your pullet.
What is her diet, it sounds like vitamin and nutrition deficiency, ideally, she should be on chick feed until she starts laying or even as her everyday feed plus oyster shells.
Keep giving here the vitamins, specifically vitamin e and b complex if you can get it.

She was on a layer feed, like all the other ladies. I’d get a huge bag and mix it with another smaller bag of scratch grains, and mealworms. The extras weren’t the bulk of it, just fun treats. They have grit and oyster shells they can freely access. Of course water.

I feel really bad if that’s what caused her issues. I was just going off the feed’s age recommendations and the age the previous owner said she was. I hope she can bounce back, she’s a pretty little one.

 

[nuthatched]

She was on a layer feed, like all the other ladies. I’d get a huge bag and mix it with another smaller bag of scratch grains, and mealworms. The extras weren’t the bulk of it, just fun treats. They have grit and oyster shells they can freely access. Of course water.

I feel really bad if that’s what caused her issues. I was just going off the feed’s age recommendations and the age the previous owner said she was. I hope she can bounce back, she’s a pretty little one.

The extras should only make up about 10% or less of their diet, usually only once or twice a week, and not mixed in with their real food or they'll just pick out the tasty things and leave the formulated feed like i suspect she might have done.
I doubt it's the layer but it might be all the treats. Give her 1 400i.u Vitamin E capsule and about a third of a B complex tablet every day for about two weeks.
Nor a big problem, it happens all the time. she'll likely be fine in a week or two. :]

 

[Burbgardener]

The extras should only make up about 10% or less of their diet, usually only once or twice a week, and not mixed in with their real food or they'll just pick out the tasty things and leave the formulated feed like i suspect she might have done.
I doubt it's the layer but it might be all the treats. Give her 1 400i.u Vitamin E capsule and about a third of a B complex tablet every day for about two weeks.
Nor a big problem, it happens all the time. she'll likely be fine in a week or two. :]

The extras should only make up about 10% or less of their diet, usually only once or twice a week, and not mixed in with their real food or they'll just pick out the tasty things and leave the formulated feed like i suspect she might have done.
I doubt it's the layer but it might be all the treats. Give her 1 400i.u Vitamin E capsule and about a third of a B complex tablet every day for about two weeks.
Nor a big problem, it happens all the time. she'll likely be fine in a week or two. :]

Thank you! I’ll go find those first thing in the morning for her

 

[Bertie-Merle]

Wishing you the best. It does sound encouraging that she improved some with the supplements. Keep us posted on how she does after following "nuthatched"'s recommendations!

 

[Burbgardener]

Wishing you the best. It does sound encouraging that she improved some with the supplements. Keep us posted on how she does after following "nuthatched"'s recommendations!

I went and found some of the recommended supplements this morning. So today is Day 1 on that regiment. This evening she is eating much more vigorously, though won’t touch any dry feed. I have to soak it. And manage to “scoot” herself around to get to the broccoli greens I had laying out. Ate some of those. Right now she is actually maintaining sitting in an upright position and not falling over on her side. Though she easily seems to lose balance. She is looking around more and seems more inquisitive than before.

Hope this is working!

 

[Bertie-Merle]

The extras should only make up about 10% or less of their diet, usually only once or twice a week, and not mixed in with their real food or they'll just pick out the tasty things and leave the formulated feed like i suspect she might have done.
I doubt it's the layer but it might be all the treats. Give her 1 400i.u Vitamin E capsule and about a third of a B complex tablet every day for about two weeks.
Nor a big problem, it happens all the time. she'll likely be fine in a week or two. :]

Thanks for jumping in here, nuthatched. I was trying to help as best as I could last night in the absence of more knowledgeable and experienced BYC folks. I'm glad to have y'all jumping in here, as I was running thin on ideas to help at a late hour. ; -)

 

[Bertie-Merle]

I went and found some of the recommended supplements this morning. So today is Day 1 on that regiment. This evening she is eating much more vigorously, though won’t touch any dry feed. I have to soak it. And manage to “scoot” herself around to get to the broccoli greens I had laying out. Ate some of those. Right now she is actually maintaining sitting in an upright position and not falling over on her side. Though she easily seems to lose balance. She is looking around more and seems more inquisitive than before.

Hope this is working!

That sounds like progress! Thanks for the update .... I was hoping today would be better!

It sounds like @nuthatched has you on a good course and with more experience than myself! ; -)

 

[Burbgardener]

Day 2. Still not on her feet. Mostly flopping over. Has better control over her feet I think. She’s managed to reach up and scratch her cheeks a few times now. But she is alert and curious. Has interest in food though I’m not sure she is eating enough yet. Today she was mostly left alone as I had to work. She needs a bath, again, since she can’t position herself correctly.