Chicken leaning / lying still but no sign of injury

[marshajoy]

Hi chicken folks, this is my first post on the website.

We've got a chicken that is showing signs of illness and we can't seem to find a right diagnosis.

She is mostly sitting still and not standing / walking around, but she is awake and shows interest in eating. When she stands, she droops to one side and sort of stumbles over. I've felt around and beneath her wings and the legs, and nothing feels out of alignment; there is no visible injury, and she doesn't act like any area there is sensitive or painful.

Does anyone know what could be causing this, and what might be a solution?
The lead farmer here said that botulism caused paralysis in a few of his chickens in the past, so we wondered if it could be that. But she is not "paralyzed;" she moves around but can't stand without toppling.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Marsha

 

[seminolewind]

Welcome,Martha! It would be nice to have some more information, like the questions to answer in the "read this" at the top of the emergencies page.

 

[marshajoy]

Thanks for your helpful suggestion; here's my answers.

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)

Rhode Island Red hen (unsure of age). Weight feels normal.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

The chicken topples over to one side when she stands up. She has seemed a little steadier today than yesterday, but she has been fairly immobile for a number of days now. She is alert and interested in food, and there is no visible injury. When I feel under her wings and around her legs, she shows no signs of pain or discomfort.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

Almost a week

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?

No

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.

No

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.

Do not know... just noticed that she was no longer walking around like the other chickens

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.

Eating pellets and occasional (fresh) compost from organic garden.... drinking water....
I have introduced cider vinegar into the water yesterday, after researching natural remedies, and giving her drops of a mixture of: olive oil w/ honey, garlic and ginger in it (given twice so far: this morning and this evening)

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.

Normal.... maybe a little runny.
Doesn't seem like a lot of droppings in the crate she's being kept in.

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

Cider vinegar in water, drops of mix of olive oil/honey/garlic/ginger (only given as of today)

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?

Want to treat it ourselves.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

I have put her in a crate with some straw, and brown paper bag bedding on the bottom. When I arrived at the farm, the crate was outside overnight, and it was cold and rainy . I moved her into a warmer greenhouse-like structure (the weather has been cold) and put a sheet over the crate at night.


Thank you for your help! I hope I can get her back to herself again!
She does seem better to me than she was two days ago.... at least, I think she is in better spirits, and standing a little better.

Marsha

 

[seminolewind]

The most common thing would be an injury. It could be as high as the hip. So, with the one I had, I wrapped with a bandage -(not too tight) I went from her back above her leg, wrapped once around the back, , wrapped around going down her leg, back up, over her back, until it is immobile. I did more wrapping around the thigh and around the back. Stop when the hip/leg is fairly immobile. Then I took a kitchen towel and made 3 holes aligning them with the legs and for poop. Then I hung the towel by the corners inside a cage. Food and water was set so she could reach it. She was there for 5 weeks.

If she starts being unable to use some other limb or wing, it may be something else.