Chicken doesn’t want to move?

[Encourage]

I have a nearly 3-year-old Rhode Island hen who was laying down frequently in the coop/run for a few weeks. Finally one day when I let the girls out, she just stayed in the coop lying down.

I took her inside… we’ve had terribly cold temperatures the past couple weeks. Gave her vitamins, probiotics, and some high protein and fresh foods along with her feed. She eats, drinks, and poops fine. But she spends most of her time lying down. She has been inside a week and hasn’t gotten any worse or significantly better. When she does walk around, she looks like a toddler… as if she’s afraid she’ll topple over.

I’m really not sure what else to do. Any ideas? We had $1500 in vet bills last week, so I’m trying not to call the farm vet in again if possible.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[dawg53]

Closely inspect your hen for lice/mites especially around the vent area where it's warm and moist.
External parasites can eventually bring down a chicken.

If you havnt done so, worm her with Valbazen or Safeguard liquid goat wormer. It would be best to worm all your birds.

Finally, it's possible that she might be eggbound. Soak her in a container of warm water up to her sides. Then slide your hand under her while she is soaking and gently massage her underside front to rear for about 20 minutes.
The warm water will relax and expand her innards, massaging will encourage her to move the egg along. If it's a stuck egg, sometimes they will lay an egg in the water. Otherwise after 20 minutes of massaging, wear a disposable glove and place a small amount of olive oil or vegetable oil just inside her vent. The oil will make it easier for her to lay the stuck egg, if that's the case. Repeat the soaking and massaging a few more times as needed.

 

[Encourage]

Closely inspect your hen for lice/mites especially around the vent area where it's warm and moist.
External parasites can eventually bring down a chicken.

If you havnt done so, worm her with Valbazen or Safeguard liquid goat wormer. It would be best to worm all your birds.

Finally, it's possible that she might be eggbound. Soak her in a container of warm water up to her sides. Then slide your hand under her while she is soaking and gently massage her underside front to rear for about 20 minutes.
The warm water will relax and expand her innards, massaging will encourage her to move the egg along. If it's a stuck egg, sometimes they will lay an egg in the water. Otherwise after 20 minutes of massaging, wear a disposable glove and place a small amount of olive oil or vegetable oil just inside her vent. The oil will make it easier for her to lay the stuck egg, if that's the case. Repeat the soaking and massaging a few more times as needed.

Thanks so much. I will do all of this today.

 

[Eggcessive]

Give her a human calcium tablet with vitamin D orally, which can help her pass an egg or a lash egg that she might be trying to lay. Is her tail position down? Do her leg joints look normal or swollen? Does she have any scab on her breast bone from lying around lately? Reproductive disorders such as salpingitis can make them look like they are egg bound with a penguin walk. What do her normal poops look like? Pictures are welcome.

 

[Encourage]

Give her a human calcium tablet with vitamin D orally, which can help her pass an egg or a lash egg that she might be trying to lay. Is her tail position down? Do her leg joints look normal or swollen? Does she have any scab on her breast bone from lying around lately? Reproductive disorders such as salpingitis can make them look like they are egg bound with a penguin walk. What do her normal poops look like? Pictures are welcome.

Hi. No, her tail position isn’t down. Leg joints look normal. No scans on breast bone. Her poop look like they always have. It’s frustrating.

I have her an epson salt bath today and wormed her. I will try the calcium tablet, thank you!!