Don't know what is wrong with my hen.

[desi1313s]

I am new to the chicken raising community and my husband and I have 3 Rhode Island Red hens and 1 Rhode Island Red rooster almost a year ago. This year we decided to diversify our flock and we bought 16 hens 2 each Black Giants, Buff Orpingtons, Partridge Rock, Black Australorp, Barred Rock, Columbian Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, and 1 rare exotic that we think is a rooster but not sure of what kind. These hens are about 8 weeks old and one of my black hens won't put any pressure on her legs. She sits and acts like they are hurt or something. I have picked her up and her legs look okay. I am not sure what to look for or do to help her. If anyone has any suggestions I would be very grateful. Thank you

 

[realsis]

It could be a few things first do the legs stick out in an un natural position? Do they look paralyzed? If not then it could be a vitamin defiency.I'd try vitamins and riboflavin for her legs and see if it helps
If they seem paralyzed and as I described above it could be a more serious condition like Marek's disease. Paralysis is a symptom of Marek's. But if her legs are not stiff and it just seems she's not using them and they don't look unusual it very well could be the defiency. I'd give the vitamins a try and see if they might help. If they don't you could be looking at something more serious like Marek's. I hope the vitamins help her out and she gets better soon!can you post a picture of her and we could get a better idea of what's going on with her legs then we can likely be of more help. Its difficult to make a guess without actually seeing her.I think a picture would help a lot. I hope this is helpful and I do wish you the best!

 

[desi1313s]

When I picked her up last night my husband touched her feet and she grabbed his finger. I took some pictures but now I can't find my phone to upload them. I will as soon as I find it. lol I appreciate the info. I am going to go get some vitamins and riboflavin tonight from tractor supply to see if that helps her. How long should I wait to see if it makes a difference?

 

[realsis]

Sometimes defiencies can take up to a month to cure
I just nursed one of mine back to health that had a E deficiency and that took about a full three weeks! Now I've got another with the same E deficiency
I've started nursing her three days ago
With deficiency you have to have some patients
With my girl I had no Improvements for.the first couple weeks then the third week she was healed thank God! The E deficiency gives them a wry neck
Its strange what vitamin deficiency can do in the form of symptoms
I really hope your bird gets well soon! Keep us posted
God bless

 

[desi1313s]

Thank you. I just didn't want to end up having her get worse and me not doing anything or stopping too soon or whatever. I went to Tractor supply but they were closed so I will go first thing in the morning and get the vitamins and riboflavin. I took her out of the cage with other chicks and put her in a container for the pics and it is hard to tell but she looks like she is sitting on her behind with her feet in front of her. posting pics.

 

[realsis]

Yes that could be classic signs of a riboflavin defiency I checked my chicken health books and it also confirmed that this could be a possibility. I do hope she gets better with the vitamins! Be patient it takes time. The way she is sitting on her hocks is another classic sign of the riboflavin defiency. So hopefully this treatment will work for her. If she develops any worse or paralysis then we have to look at something more serious. But start here. I pray she gets well soon!

 

[desi1313s]

Thank you so much for all your help. When she gets better I will post another pic I will post more pic of all my other ladies. I might also post a pic of my rooster and see if I can get help identifying what breed he is.

 

[Haunted55]

Do you have any human Super B Complex in the house? If you do, I would take 1 cap and crush it and add it to 1 gallon of water. All of your chickens will benfit from this, so if she isn't isolated, it's okay. If this is going to work, you should be seeing results in a few days. Not a cure as Realsis said, but noticable improvement. Another thing you can do is add a good probiotic to either her water or feed. there's a reason she isn't taking in the vitamins and this would her straighten out her gut if that's what the problem is.