Chicken Scooting Backwards!

[Amanda4TCU]

Can someone please help?!
I have an approx 8-10 month old bantam cochin hen. She has been doing wonderful...she lives on my back porch in a small carrier and then free ranges all day close to the house. I still feed chick starter, treats, corn, fresh water and she gets lots of worms, bugs and grass. Everything was fine until yesterday...I noticed she wasn't walking around much (but I had noticed her not moving a lot a day or so before) so I picked her up and she didn't move. She had a difficult time getting back to her carrier - I had to assist. I noticed her crop was still full this morning too so I have her a bit of oil and massaged her crop..it seems a bit smaller now. But as of this morning, she cannot even walk! She can only scoot backwards and her legs are very unstable....she cannot even stand...literally only scoot backwards! I don't have any idea what's wrong with her - - please help..... Also, I checked for bumblefoot, stickers, bites, broken bones, etc and nothing! It's like she's paralyzed or something...
She has a strong appetite still....and drinking water.

 

[welasharon]

Could she have gotten into something moldy? Do a search on here for eating moldy food....it has similar symptoms
sharon

 

[Amanda4TCU]

Well I don't think so really - the only thing I thought of is a low area by the house where she hangs out at.....the sprinkler needs adjusting so it creates a small pool of water underneath a shrub..and it gets green and stinky sometimes. I noticed her hinney had a bit of runny green poo on it...but I was hoping the green was just from all the grass she eats...
If it is from moldy food....will she get better? Thx...

 

[welasharon]

I found this........

It's highly possible, yes. Do you think she got to it?

If you do, just give her a gentle cleansing mash first thing tomorrow and take precautions the following week. Mash ingredients are below.

I wouldn't wait for symptoms. But definitely if you see the following she's gotten into soured feed:

diarrhea
ataxia (walking like drunk)
neurological signs: weak wing, limping, weak neck
vomiting (sometimes)


To help her, as soon as you can I'd offer her the following mash.

The goodies:
1 teaspoon of yogurt (replaces good bacteria)
1/2 teaspoon of baby food applesauce (cleanses the gut)
1/8th teaspoon of molasses (flushes toxins)

The base (which ever you think she's more likely to eat - I put them in most-likely order):

The yolk of a boiled egg, mashed.
Cooked oatmeal.
Crumbles moistened with water.

Mix The Goodies in with the base til damp, not wet (unless she likes wet). Take her feed up 30 minutes before - then give her this. She'll be more likely to eat it.

If you see any symptoms, you m ight want to do a stronger flush; update THIS thread as you'll have subscribers (including me) looking for updates.

Otherwise, just watch her. let us know how she does, please. Also if the feed was in your bin, replace all the feed. Before you put the new feed in, white the bin's interior with white vinegar. Let dry. Then replace the feed. That kills spores to prevent risk of mildew/fungi/aflatoxins.


and there were also some posts saying it could be a B vitamin deficiency. Guess you could try. Good luck!

 

[Amanda4TCU]

Thank you - Thank you.

Here's a new thing I thought of: She free ranges by a lot of wild bird feeders I have out....we got a lot of rain a few days ago and I am wondering if she ate on some of the wet/moldy/soured bird seed?

She is exhibiting NO neck problems but acts as though she is "front" heavy....if she attempts to walk forward she just tips over onto her beak. She cannot stand or walk forward. However, she scoots backwards ...and can go a few feet fairly quickly. She had to scoot backwards to get inside her carrier tonight....and she turned herself around inside of it.

No vomiting (that I have seen) but maybe a hint of diarrhea (and it was tinged green).

She is still eating and drinking fully.
I took up her food and water for the night.

I will try your goodie & base mash first thing in the morning....but I have no molasses....I do have light and regular Karo syrup, pure maple syrup, agave and pure honey......can I use any of these instead of the molasses?
I am also adding electrolytes to her water incase of a vitamin deficiency....

I wonder how long this could take?

Thanks so very much again.....I really appreciate it.....and I will definitely be posting updates starting tomorrow right here!

 

[welasharon]

Amanda I am not sure. I found this in a link here on BYC. I remembered reading something about it and that is what I found. At least it gives you a starting point. Was there a reference in there to epsom salts? You may want to try that since you don't have the molasses. It is really frustrating not knowing what is wrong or what to do but this, at least, doesn't seem as though it would do more harm.
sharon

 

[Amanda4TCU]

Hi WelaSharon - -

~Just wanted to let you know that I have started "Dora" on her mash and she does like it! I also am giving it to my other hen, Peaches, who recently suffered sour crop and she is gobbling it up and doing great now.
I also got Dora (the one who's acting paralyzed) vit b complex and the polyvisol. Started it today....hopefully it helps soon.

Have you read anything on crop problems leading to leg paralysis/lameness?

 

[rhs7111]

Quote:
Yikes...please don't use epsom salts. They aren't an equivalent and can be very, very harsh on the system and will dehydrate a bird super fast. That will add to your problems. Molasses is best, really, it acts as a laxative and helps to quickly pass toxins.

 

[welasharon]

Quote:
No I haven't. Keep us posted on how they do. Good luck!

 

[welasharon]

Quote:
Yikes...please don't use epsom salts. They aren't an equivalent and can be very, very harsh on the system and will dehydrate a bird super fast. That will add to your problems. Molasses is best, really, it acts as a laxative and helps to quickly pass toxins.

Thanks! It can be dicey finding good info and sorting it out.
sharon