Chicken keeps falling over! Help!

[JCaseyHammond]

Also...I’m making myself crazy trying to research this... there were some wild birds (chickadee types) in the run this week due to cold and snow... could they have transmitted something to her? Other girls are fine and they free range all the time with same wild birds? I added a hay bale as well.. could that have poisoned her? I’m at such a loss...

You can post a pic of the hay if it makes you feel better. Doubt she ate moldy hay. Wild birds carry mites and again, you can put a sheet of white paper on the table and fluff her feathers over the paper, then look for tiny black or red specks crawling on the paper. But she has a bright red healthy comb so I doubt she has a heavy parasite load (would have a pale pink comb).

 

[JCaseyHammond]

I've been just popping the entire E capsule and the B tablet right into the beak. I'm getting very good results. No need to try to calculate a proper dose as B vitamins are water soluble and the excess just gets eliminated in the urates, but be ready for yellow tinged poop from them.

Well this is good to know! I’m afraid of overdosing with B vitamins.

 

[ANiceKaren]

You can post a pic of the hay if it makes you feel better. Doubt she ate moldy hay. Wild birds carry mites and again, you can put a sheet of white paper on the table and fluff her feathers over the paper, then look for tiny black or red specks crawling on the paper. But she has a bright red healthy comb so I doubt she has a heavy parasite load (would have a pale pink comb).

Thank you!! I’ll post a pic of hay! She doesn’t have any mites or anything I’ve looked. Thank you!!

 

[JCaseyHammond]

Hello, just checking in to see if Gertrude passed an egg? I was reviewing notes from helping my egg bound hen. She would go to lay and pant heavily, but lay nothing. I gave calcium and Epsom bath. No egg. ***Then dunked a wash cloth in hot water, rolled it and squeezed out some water. Then rolled it in a small dry towel. Made the hen sit down on this.*** The moist heat helped her muscle cramp stop and she laid her egg. The egg was much larger than normal for her.

 

[ANiceKaren]

Thank you!! I’ll post a pic of hay! She doesn’t have any mites or anything I’ve looked. Thank you!!

Here is the hay that I got... and she is doing so much better... not 100% by any means but walking wobbly!

 

[ANiceKaren]

Hello, just checking in to see if Gertrude passed an egg? I was reviewing notes from helping my egg bound hen. She would go to lay and pant heavily, but lay nothing. I gave calcium and Epsom bath. No egg. ***Then dunked a wash cloth in hot water, rolled it and squeezed out some water. Then rolled it in a small dry towel. Made the hen sit down on this.*** The moist heat helped her muscle cramp stop and she laid her egg. The egg was much larger than normal for her.

She has not layed an egg in two days... I did calcium yesterday and an Epsom bath but no egg... she is pooping normal...

 

[ANiceKaren]

She has not layed an egg in two days... I did calcium yesterday and an Epsom bath but no egg... she is pooping normal...

Maybe I should do another calcium today too... just in case

 

[JCaseyHammond]

Maybe I should do another calcium today too... just in case

Well hmmm. That looks like new fresh properly cured hay. It might be useful to spread some over any slippery surfaces since you’re dealing with snow and ice. Are you able to give her leg exercises? Glad she’s up and around. I’d continue with the calcium and vitamin B for today.
***Edited to add, your other hens look super healthy! Could be Gertrude slipped and needs time to heal her leg.

 

[ANiceKaren]

Well hmmm. That looks like new fresh properly cured hay. It might be useful to spread some over any slippery surfaces since you’re dealing with snow and ice. Are you able to give her leg exercises? Glad she’s up and around. I’d continue with the calcium and vitamin B for today.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[ANiceKaren]

Well hmmm. That looks like new fresh properly cured hay. It might be useful to spread some over any slippery surfaces since you’re dealing with snow and ice. Are you able to give her leg exercises? Glad she’s up and around. I’d continue with the calcium and vitamin B for today.
***Edited to add, your other hens look super healthy! Could be Gertrude slipped and needs time to heal her leg.

Hi there! Gertie is doing pretty well today too! She is walking around with a slight limp.. slower than other girls for sure but standing, eating, drinking, walking with the slightest wobble... I’m so confused on what happens but grateful for all your help!