Chicken keeps sitting down

[Wyorp Rock]

I know this post was posted in 2017 but, my chicken has been acting the exact same. She is under a year old and has been laying since 16 weeks. She eats and drinks fine, but sits all day. Her wings seem unbalanced and she limps when she does walk. It has happened all winter and now it’s spring. There are no scabs or signs of Bumblefoot or mites on her feet and legs. She stills lays fine, and I got another chicken because she was getting lonely but she was limping before that. She was tested for Mareks which came out as negative (I had two previous chickens that were put down sadly due to Mareks) I’ve noticed recently that her droppings at night appear reddish in the urate bit that should be white, and her so called ‘cecal’ droppings appear runny-ish with a lighter yellow tinge than normal. I took her to the vet a few weeks ago and she said she couldn’t find anything physically wrong on the outside, gave me anti inflammatory, and suggested if she doesn’t react to the medicine then to get x Rays and blood samples. I’m really worried for what the future may bring for not only my poor chickens but my mom and I because we’ve become so emotionally attached.

I am really, really sorry about this long post but I am just so worried and can’t find any answers whatever this illness is.

You've received good advice from @Eggcessive
I'm just chiming in to say if you have any photos you wish to share, they may be helpful and that I'm sorry your hen is not well. Hopefully she will get better soon

 

[The_BirdNerd]

There is not a a lot of red in the urate and she has been treated for coccidiosis, her droppings only look like that at night but everything else appears normal. She was treated for tapeworms with a successful treatment but because my other two had Mareks before then this could be a possibility. And if I’ve got another one near her then she will have caught it too. I’m taking her to the vet soon for an x Ray or blood samples but I’m not expecting a good answer

Thanks for all the tips

 

[Debbie292d]

I just had a hen that was doing that pass away, now today find a rooster doing it. (Sitting on the ground as if laying an egg.) The rooster is silkie, only about a year old. She was silkie about 5 or so. There are 12 of them all free-range, so at first, I thought maybe she had gotten into something. But, whilst they don't all hang out together, they all venture the same places pretty much and there isn't anything around here that is poison. We raise bees too so are very careful about what we use. It's odd to see him doing it as he's usually prancing around. I could see nothing wrong with any of them.

 

[oldenglishrose]

Hello everyone,

My leghorn hen periodically sits down throughout the day, every day. She has been doing this for a couple weeks now. I am really worried and don't know what is wrong with her. She eats well, drinks well, poops well, yet randomly sits down multiple times during the day.

I haven't noticed any injuries on her feet, and when i pick her up she doesn't seem to be in any pain. However, lately i have noticed that she holds her wings quite low. This is not due to the weather. Her ear lobe also appears to be changing colour to white.

I would really appreciate any help as soon as possible.

I've heard of dunking them except for their head

Hello everyone,

My leghorn hen periodically sits down throughout the day, every day. She has been doing this for a couple weeks now. I am really worried and don't know what is wrong with her. She eats well, drinks well, poops well, yet randomly sits down multiple times during the day.

I haven't noticed any injuries on her feet, and when i pick her up she doesn't seem to be in any pain. However, lately i have noticed that she holds her wings quite low. This is not due to the weather. Her ear lobe also appears to be changing colour to white.

I would really appreciate any help as soon as possible.

I've heard that dinking them up to their neck in tepid water with a cup of Epsom salts for magnesium can make them perk up a bit. Is she otherwise the same ?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've heard of dunking them except for their head

I've heard that dinking them up to their neck in tepid water with a cup of Epsom salts for magnesium can make them perk up a bit. Is she otherwise the same ?

@oldenglishrose Welcome To BYC

This thread is 8years old, did you need some help with your own chicken?

 

[oldenglishrose]

@oldenglishrose Welcome To BYC

This thread is 8years old, did you need some help with your own chicken?

View attachment 4042107

Yes, a bit, you're quite receptive!

 

[oldenglishrose]

Yes, you're quite receptive!
I bought 2 old english game bantams a week ago, it's been hot here in Melbourne this week, up to 38C.
They seem a good weight, and are eating , but are sitting for most of the day on the cool bricks
Their droppings are compact dk green and white with no odour, they've got grass growing in the enclosure, but haven't eaten much.
I'm guessing they were fed on pellets and aren't used to the mixed grain I'm giving them with sorghum, wheat (they don't like that) sunflower seeds andcracked corn i believe, amonst other things, they've got hay down
Built a roost 1.2m high of fence palings

I've given them something to worm & coccidiosis an

d a little acv in their water. Do you think I'm maybe being too anxious?
BTW the woman who sold them doesn't seem keen on answering any questions
Ps the photos aren't that good a quality as I couldn't get close enough

 

[Eggcessive]

Changing their food could be a possibility. Do you have other chickens they might be a little afraid of? The heat could also be slowing them down. If I were you, I would put them back on a balanced chicken feed, crumbles or pellets, since it has all they need. It sounds like you are feeding them a scratch or grain feed, and that may lack protein and other nutrients they need. They also require granite poultry grit to digest the whole grains and any grasses or bugs they eat. What did you worm with and were you giving amprollium or coxoid for coccidiosis prevention?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Changing their food could be a possibility. Do you have other chickens they might be a little afraid of? The heat could also be slowing them down. If I were you, I would put them back on a balanced chicken feed, crumbles or pellets, since it has all they need. It sounds like you are feeding them a scratch or grain feed, and that may lack protein and other nutrients they need. They also require granite poultry grit to digest the whole grains and any grasses or bugs they eat. What did you worm with and were you giving amprollium or coxoid for coccidiosis prevention?

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