Chicken fell ill?

[chiki1]

We have a house chicken named Kevin that we got in around July 2021. She's inside due to a leg injury in November, and we're not sure what caused it. 2 other birds fell ill at the same time with a limp and ended up passing. Kevin is the only one alive, and her leg issue hasn't gone away. She's become antisocial and doesn't like other birds, only taking a liking to people. On Monday this week, I noticed it seemed like she was ill. Her comb is floppy and hasn't grown to be as big as our others but that could just be her. She also stopped producing eggs, and can't really stand properly. Her crop has completely deflated, and her head sits on her back looking up. When her head isn't like that her neck shakes violently. Her poop is discolored yellow liquid. Not sure the breed of her. We want to catch an illness in the earliest stages so we can try to save them. Something like this happened a few months ago with one of our other hens named Meat Chicken, who we had to put down. Is there anything we could do to prevent this getting worse or spreading? The only other chicken she has been around is one of our roosters, John, but he doesn't hurt her or ride her and we've been watching them closely.

 

[Myrshine]

Sounds like either something neurological or a vitamin deficiency. You can try giving her some vitamins and see if she’ll improve, but if it’s a neurological disease, then it could be Marek’s Disease or Avian Leukosis Virus (ALV).

 

[chiki1]

Sounds like either something neurological or a vitamin deficiency. You can try giving her some vitamins and see if she’ll improve, but if it’s a neurological disease, then it could be Marek’s Disease or Avian Leukosis Virus (ALV).

Thank you, we're trying to feet her eggs and water just to get something in her right now, I'll make sure to put some vitamins in her food later.

 

[azygous]

I concur with @Myrshine that the hen has a neurological issue, likely from a vitamin E deficiency. You have to use vitamin E 400iu capsules, same kind humans use, and give her one capsule directly into her beak. Pry open the beak and just push the pill inside. Do not mix with food or it will do no good. Keep feeding her egg each day to maximize absorption.

The death of your other chickens and their symptoms does point to an avian virus, although this hens' symptoms are not consistent with what your other chickens had, although in time, she may show them, as well.

 

[chiki1]

I concur with @Myrshine that the hen has a neurological issue, likely from a vitamin E deficiency. You have to use vitamin E 400iu capsules, same kind humans use, and give her one capsule directly into her beak. Pry open the beak and just push the pill inside. Do not mix with food or it will do no good. Keep feeding her egg each day to maximize absorption.

The death of your other chickens and their symptoms does point to an avian virus, although this hens' symptoms are not consistent with what your other chickens had, although in time, she may show them, as well.

She ended up passing around 3 hours after I posted this by a seizure. they do have somewhat consistent symptoms. It starts with a neck issue, then they lose the ability to walk, and we either have to put them down or they end up having seizures. Before she passed we cut a vitamin e capsule open and gave her the liquid alone.

 

[azygous]

I'm sorry you lost your hen. It appears she may have had something far more serious than a vitamin E deficiency. It could have been something toxic she consumed. It would cause those symptoms. It might be a good idea to police your premises to be sure there isn't something such as paint thinner, hydraulic fluid, radiator fluid, rodent baits, etc, in the area where your chickens are coming into contact with it.

There may be poisonous plants or mushrooms or a compost pile where botulism and mold resides. All produce these symptoms.

 

[IowaClucker]

I’m so sorry you lost your girl.