Chicken unable to walk properly - eggs with thin shells - seems confused

[MJmaharry]

We have a 3-year-old Calico Princess who has had very thin-shelled eggs for the last month or so. Then she got locked out of the coop on a very cold night and I found her in the morning crumpled at the bottom of the ladder into the coop.

I brought her inside and gave her electrolytes (pediacare) and lots of extra food and water. She also had a lot of poop stuck to her butt feathers - which I gently washed and blew dry.

She stayed inside one night but then we put her back outside for the following nights. We did bring her inside during the day.

But she doesn't seem to be able to walk very well - and when she does she walks like a duck or penguin. And she seems very slow to move and is confused. She couldn't make it back into the coop yesterday after the girls roamed the yard. She just stood in the middle of the backyard in the snow for about 30 min - not moving.

I'm wondering if she has a vitamin deficiency - or if she's just dehydrated?
The rest of the girls (3 others) seem fine. Eggs are good and they are not exhibiting any of the same symptoms.

Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she is sick with a reproductive infection or disease. The cold night outside probably made her worse. Waddling like a duck can sometimes be a sign of egg yolk peritonitis or internal laying, but sometimes can be a sign of egg binding. Have you tried to insert a clean finger into her vent 2 inches to check for an egg? What do her droppings look like? Is her tail pointed sown? Have you seen any droppings that look like egg white or yolk? Thin shells can easily break inside, or become shell-less with only a membrane. You could try treating with some human calcium and vitamin D 1 tablet daily given orally for several days. Amoxicillin or Aqua Mox could be given in case of an infection, 250 mg twice a day for 10 days. Check her lower belly between the legs to see if it is enlarged. Can you try to give her food and water and perhaps 2 ml of Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell for a boost for a few days? I would bring her inside to treat her. Then let her out for some supervised time with the others daily.

 

[MJmaharry]

Oh! I have not tried to see if there is anything in her vent. Her tail is pointed down when she walks - although she seemed a little more normal today.

And her poops have been pretty normal - although maybe a bit liquid.

I can try calcium and vitamin D - and I've seen people who have soaked their chicken in a warm epsom salt bath. Would that also be something to try?