Does this happen with the molt too?? Hen walking crouched!!

[sallihennipenni]

I posted this earlier in Behaviors & Egg laying forum and didn't get any help. This forum is probably where I should have started. Hope someone has an idea of what's going on. Please read:

I have a 1/12 yr old RIR hen that is going through a heavy molt. A few days ago I noticed she was walking in a crouched position. She doesn't do it all the time. She CAN run and walk upright, however she seems to be in this crouched position most of the time. Sometimes I SEE HER STAGGER AS THOUGH SHE WERE DRUNK! I read that it may be a Vit B deficiency, so I isolated her in the run and gave her a treat with a Vit B formula in it. She ate just a little and then spent the rest of the time worrying that she wasn't able to be out with her friends.....pacing back and forth in the run like a completely normal hen. I don't understand why she sometimes acts normal and other times walks crouched. I would think the crouching would be an indication that she's weak....so I wouldn't expect her to be able to run and walk normally. What gives??? Any advice will be appreciated!! Here's a picture of her. Her feet aren't curled. Her comb is red. Does this have something to do with the molt?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I don't know what the staggering is about but you might want to give your girl some extra protein, such as scrambled eggs or unmedicated chick starter temporarily to help with feather growth.

Make sure you give oyster shells on the side for egglaying for your layers if you feed starter (20 % protein, and layer is only 16% protein).

 

[sallihennipenni]

Thanks for your suggestions "ChickensAreSweet". At the advice of another member....given to help them with the molt and low-egg production, I've been feeding my girls a game bird feed that is high in protein. I believe this feed is 24% protein. I've almost wondered if this change in feed has anything to do with this hen's strange walking!?? It couldn't be....or could it?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://en.engormix.com/MA-poultry-i.../avian-gout-causes-treatment-t1246/165-p0.htm
according to this link the protein level would have to be greater than 30% to induce gout

I have no experience with poultry gout. The above link mentions the joints being swollen and warm. So if her joints aren't swollen and warm then I'd assume it has nothing to do with the feed.

The other thing to check is - has the feed become moldy?

 

[5BeachHens]

Hello - my hen is doing the same thing during a heavy molt. What happened with your hen? Did you figure out the cause?

Thank you!

 

[song of joy]

My 1 1/2 year old hen is in a very heavy molt and is acting the same way. Does anyone have an explanation or treatment for this?

 

[5BeachHens]

We chalked it up to malnutrition since she was barely eating. We force fed her (did not crop feed, but would have now that we know how)... We'd offer her treats/food literally every 20 minutes to try to get her to have some nourishment. We did put water down her throat using a syringe. She improved after about 10 days inside with lots of TLC.

I think if we would have crop fed her she would have improved a lot faster but are thankful she got through it.

 

[song of joy]

Thank you. I'm offering her scrambled eggs, flock raiser pellets, scratch, and water. She's seems chilled and lethargic, probably because she's covered in pin feathers and it's only in the 30's outside. I'm thinking it may be helpful to put a thermal heater panel in the coop.