"crabwalking" hen

[justuschickens59]

I have a hen who is walking funny...almost like she is "crabwalking" or "duckwalking." She squats all the way down to the ground and walks. She is laying, eating, poo is fine, comb and wattles are bright red. NO other signs of anything weird or strange. When she decides to run, she stands up and runs normally.

Any ideas? THanks !

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Bizarre! Typically when people describe their hen as walking like a duck or penguin, I immediately think eggbound or internal layer....but if she's laying fine....hmmmm....

ETA: When did this start? Is there any limping associated with it that might suggest a leg injury or something?

 

[speckledhen]

Check her abdomen. It could be full of fluid/infection/egg yolk.

 

[mypicklebird]

Second to that last post- if she is swinging her legs out sideways when she walks- likely they are being pushed there by a distended abdomen. Fluid build up, tumors, or extreme obesity can do this. Feel her 'belly' and compare to some normal hens if you do not know what a normal hen belly feels like.

 

[justuschickens59]

She actually did this same thing about a month ago for a day and then stopped until she started doing it again yesterday. There is no limping whatsoever. She is not swinging her legs out to the side at all. I felt her abdomen yesterday, but did not feel anything, but I will definitely go check again. I also felt her abdomen a month ago when she did this and didn't feel anything then.

Anything in particular or a certain way that I can "feel" her abdomen to see if anything is going on?

Oh, and her eggs are perfectly clean when she lays them.

Thanks so much for the replies.

 

[mypicklebird]

hmm- I am having trouble imagining a squatting hen walking unless the legs are moving out to the sides. I can't think how the legs would work that way- just like if I am squatting- can't move unless....

 

[EweSheep]

Did she have any spinal injuries? Or some deformity? I had a friend whose chicken walked like a peguin and she lays just fine. Later they butchered her, found a deformed spine or had fractured it and healed over as a chick.

My first hunch would be egg bound.

 

[crj]

Before any over reaction think MOLTING?
I have seen chickens walk sideways and in circles during a hard molt.
Its a little odd but it happens.