Bantam Hen Suddenly Can't Stand/Walk

[Mama.Hen]

A few nights ago I found one of my bantam hens (around a year maybe two years old) sprawled out on the coop floor. Up on investigation I saw she was flopping around trying to get to the food. I brought her inside, with my other hen (5 year old Barred Rock) who also can't walk, but she can stand. I have been treating them with some Poultry Spray on their feet, thinking it might be bumble foot, but alas nothing as worked.
Everyday I seem to find a new possibility but nothing has helped much at all. Any ideas?

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Pictures of the hen and her feet would be helpful.

What is their diet? Do they free range?

I'm not sure what poultry spray is but advanced cases of bumblefoot require soaking and removing infected tissue and sometimes antibiotics. Other causes of difficulty walking that I would look into are dietary deficiencies if commercial chicken feed isn't their main food source or environmental toxins (moldy food, non-food material that chickens will eat anyway, etc).

 

[Mama.Hen]

Pictures of the hen and her feet would be helpful.

What is their diet? Do they free range?

I'm not sure what poultry spray is but advanced cases of bumblefoot require soaking and removing infected tissue and sometimes antibiotics. Other causes of difficulty walking that I would look into are dietary deficiencies if commercial chicken feed isn't their main food source or environmental toxins (moldy food, non-food material that chickens will eat anyway, etc).

They are free range. They get commercial food as well as snacks we may have for them. All the others seem okay currently, no issues walking or that I can otherwise see. Here are some pictures. The bantam Hen is sitting with her legs flat out in front. I can bend them back underneath her, but she flops back so they're sitting out. The Barred Rock appears to have some dark spots in her legs, although no swelled tissue or wounds I can see. She could just be getting old, she is out oldest hen afterall.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How old?

What is commercial feed - type and brand?

Do you have Marek's in your flock?

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

They are free range. They get commercial food as well as snacks we may have for them. All the others seem okay currently, no issues walking or that I can otherwise see. Here are some pictures. The bantam Hen is sitting with her legs flat out in front. I can bend them back underneath her, but she flops back so they're sitting out. The Barred Rock appears to have some dark spots in her legs, although no swelled tissue or wounds I can see. She could just be getting old, she is out oldest hen afterall.

It looks neurological to me rather than a foot problem, but I'd still check the bottom of their foot pads for any black scabs or other injuries and gently feel and maneuver the bantam's legs all the way up to her back to see if you can feel any differences between them or if anything seems to give her pain.

If you don't find any signs of injury (or even if you do) I would see if vitamin therapy helps either of your hens. For neurological issues people usually recommend a vitamin E pill (400 IU) and about 1/4 of a vitamin B-complex every day. I also give a little scrambled egg every day to make sure they are getting Selenium. If you don't see any improvement in a couple weeks, you might be dealing with Marek's though it's unusual for symptoms to appear in older birds.

 

[Mama.Hen]

How old?

What is commercial feed - type and brand?

Do you have Marek's in your flock?

I can't tell you the name of the brand off the top of my head. I buy it at runnings and it's about the only feed I see for chickens . I don't believe we have maerks, as the others are okay and most are older than a year. This appears to be sudden.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would try the vitamin support as suggested and see if it helps.

 

[Mama.Hen]

It looks neurological to me rather than a foot problem, but I'd still check the bottom of their foot pads for any black scabs or other injuries and gently feel and maneuver the bantam's legs all the way up to her back to see if you can feel any differences between them or if anything seems to give her pain.

If you don't find any signs of injury (or even if you do) I would see if vitamin therapy helps either of your hens. For neurological issues people usually recommend a vitamin E pill (400 IU) and about 1/4 of a vitamin B-complex every day. I also give a little scrambled egg every day to make sure they are getting Selenium. If you don't see any improvement in a couple weeks, you might be dealing with Marek's though it's unusual for symptoms to appear in older birds.

Thank you so much! I shall start the vitamin treatment and hope for the best!

It looks neurological to me rather than a foot problem, but I'd still check the bottom of their foot pads for any black scabs or other injuries and gently feel and maneuver the bantam's legs all the way up to her back to see if you can feel any differences between them or if anything seems to give her pain.

If you don't find any signs of injury (or even if you do) I would see if vitamin therapy helps either of your hens. For neurological issues people usually recommend a vitamin E pill (400 IU) and about 1/4 of a vitamin B-complex every day. I also give a little scrambled egg every day to make sure they are getting Selenium. If you don't see any improvement in a couple weeks, you might be dealing with Marek's though it's unusual for symptoms to appear in older birds.

Hello!

After two days of the vitamin treatment, when I feed her she appears to violently shake her head. I'm not sure if this is simply her trying to clean her beak off without having a place to wipe it, or if it is purely neurological. She also flaps one of her wings. Again I assume it's simply her trying to regain balance as she kind of tips off to one side.
She's having one of those fits right now actually. She just shook her head back and forth then flapped her wings and this time it looked like she was trying to get up. Maybe this is progress and not bad?! One can only hope for the best

 

[Mama.Hen]

Pictures of the hen and her feet would be helpful.

What is their diet? Do they free range?

I'm not sure what poultry spray is but advanced cases of bumblefoot require soaking and removing infected tissue and sometimes antibiotics. Other causes of difficulty walking that I would look into are dietary deficiencies if commercial chicken feed isn't their main food source or environmental toxins (moldy food, non-food material that chickens will eat anyway, etc).

Hi again! After starting the vitamin treatment I noticed a few things. When I move the hens legs, she appears to pant which I do not see her do when I am not touching her. She still cannot use her legs, she doesn't seem to even try. I can pull her legs underneath her and sit her down, but now one leg pops backwards and the other goes forward... She is eating and drinking normally, aside from her inability to move her legs. I'm not sure what else I can do. Her feet are perfect, no signs of bumble foot and her sisters are all doing great, so I don't think it's the feed at all. Honestly, I'm very stumped. This is the first time we have had an issue like this in YEARS. My other bantams had issues as well. One appears to be fine but then has symptoms of wry neck and walking in circles. Only the bantam hens...

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Hi again! After starting the vitamin treatment I noticed a few things. When I move the hens legs, she appears to pant which I do not see her do when I am not touching her. She still cannot use her legs, she doesn't seem to even try. I can pull her legs underneath her and sit her down, but now one leg pops backwards and the other goes forward... She is eating and drinking normally, aside from her inability to move her legs. I'm not sure what else I can do. Her feet are perfect, no signs of bumble foot and her sisters are all doing great, so I don't think it's the feed at all. Honestly, I'm very stumped. This is the first time we have had an issue like this in YEARS. My other bantams had issues as well. One appears to be fine but then has symptoms of wry neck and walking in circles. Only the bantam hens...

Sorry to hear she's not improving. The panting is from stress and/or pain so I'd let her lie how she likes. Unfortunately that split leg pose is most often associated with Marek's, which would be my best guess as to what is wrong. The symptom of wry neck can also occur with Mareks so it's possible that is the problem with your bantams. Maybe those chicks weren't vaccinated against Marek's and your others were? In any case I'd be sure any future birds you get have been vaccinated to be as safe as possible.