Chicken walking in constant squat-help!

[tweetzone86]

If you've ever seen a dog crawling across the floor, that would be what my 16 month old RIR hen is doing. They're molting something fierce, due to the season I'm sure, but opened the door this morning and she's literally army crawling across the floor with her legs nearly horizontal and moving a bit slowly as well.

I'm going to isolate her before we leave, but does anyone have an idea of what is wrong?

 

[kerbotx]

Since she's molting, it could be due to discomfort from the pin feathers growing in - they are fragile, yet also kind of pokey. Would you say it's like a penguin stance? Because that could be indicative of a more serious egg-laying issue, like internal laying or a stuck egg.

 

[PirateGirl]

Here is a photo I grabbed from the web of how an eggbound chicken (or one with severe reproductive problems) typically stands. They may be off balance as well, hesitant to move, and lie down a lot all fluffed up.

If this is what your chicken looks like, read the following two articles. They are both extremely helpful in diagnosing and attempting to treat an eggbound hen. If she is in fact egg bound, time is of the essence. If she is not, then unfortunately, it may be something even more serious.

Here's a good article for you to read:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms/

Another from TwoCrows https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-binding-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention.66978/

 

[coach723]

Can you post a video to youtube and put the link here? Even a still picture may help, so people can see what position she is in. A riboflavin deficiency can cause hock-sitting, and also curly toes, so supplementing that may help. Either a chicken supplement with riboflavin (B2) or a human B complex tablet ground up and mixed in her food daily. B's are water soluble so no risk of overdosing those. There are also other possibilities if she's having leg paralysis, like Mareks disease, or an injury.

 

[Ms Clucky]

I had a hen do that. It is most likely an egg thing or she ate a really dried worm. You might want to look ate her vent. Don't pick her up or you might crush an egg if there is one inside.

 

[Eggcessive]

Are her toes curled under? I would get some human vitamin B complex tablets (not B12 but B complex,) and crush or grate 1/4 tablet onto some cooked egg or her feed every day. Here is some reading about riboflavin (B2) deficiency:
https://thepoultrysite.com/publications/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency

Hopefully, it is just a vitamin deficiency or something weird that has been caused by molting or possibly from another chicken jumping onto her back.