Gloria wont stand up!

[Hassett chickens]

Gloria is about 4 years old.

We went on our honeymoon last week. We had some people by the house that said Gloria was looking a bit sickly. Over the last week she has deteriorated. She can no longer stand or use her legs as of yesterday.

Yesterday she was panting quite a bit but today that seems better.

She did have small red mites which we discovered at her vent. Also some maggots around the vent which likely were surviving off the poop. Treating for flystrike we cleaned her back side of all poop and treated her with permetherin from feed store. Im applying betadine daily to the back side of her.

No longer any mites or maggots visible x 2 days. I also dont see any wounds. Her vent pulses when I look at it but that might be normal? I dont see maggots in her poop.

I do not see any other wounds on her body.

I noticed her water bucket had some black mold on the inside. I cleaned it really well and put in fresh water with probiotics and vitamin packet both made for chickens.

She readily eats and drinks. She eats everything I put in front of her!

I crushed up a vitamin B12 tablet and put it on a tomato because I read vitamin B deficiency can cause this.

I also put some erythromycin powder (about 200mg) on the tomato so she ate that too. I plan to do this twice a day.

Anything else I can do for her? Its sad to see her just laying there. It seems to be a slow process. Got worse over the course of a week.

The other chickens are doing just fine. Running around as normal.

 

[azygous]

It's not too late, hopefully, to treat with activated charcoal to neutralize any mold she may have in her system. Get it anywhere they sell vitamins.

 

[Hassett chickens]

It's not too late, hopefully, to treat with activated charcoal to neutralize any mold she may have in her system. Get it anywhere they sell vitamins.

Thanks for the reply

You think the mold is what did it?

She does not like being picked up. I think she is in pain. I looked at her back side and its quite runny poop as of now. More liquid than solid.
Yesterday her poop was all solid.

 

[Hassett chickens]

She seems to be doing a little better. Yesterday she was on her side. Now shes at least sitting upright. Still cant stand.

 

[Hassett chickens]

Shes trying to stand but still cant stand up. Eats and drinks. Looks and acts fine with the big exception that she cant stand (but at least now tries to).

My concern is she has not laid an egg in at least a week (possibly more).

Do they stop laying when sick?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Does she have any fluid/bloat in her abdomen below the vent between her legs?

Her not laying eggs, she may be suffering from a reproductive disorder.
Sometimes this can cause difficulty walking.

Is her crop emptying? I'd make sure she's staying hydrated and eating. Get a fecal float to rule out worms as part of the issue.

Frustratingly, reproductive problems are the main cause of decline in laying hens. If you do happen to lose her, then having a necropsy through your state lab will hopefully give you some answers. Doing one at home yourself is another option.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Gloria is about 4 years old.

We went on our honeymoon last week. We had some people by the house that said Gloria was looking a bit sickly. Over the last week she has deteriorated. She can no longer stand or use her legs as of yesterday.

Yesterday she was panting quite a bit but today that seems better.

She did have small red mites which we discovered at her vent. Also some maggots around the vent which likely were surviving off the poop. Treating for flystrike we cleaned her back side of all poop and treated her with permetherin from feed store. Im applying betadine daily to the back side of her.

No longer any mites or maggots visible x 2 days. I also dont see any wounds. Her vent pulses when I look at it but that might be normal? I dont see maggots in her poop.

I do not see any other wounds on her body.

I noticed her water bucket had some black mold on the inside. I cleaned it really well and put in fresh water with probiotics and vitamin packet both made for chickens.

She readily eats and drinks. She eats everything I put in front of her!

I crushed up a vitamin B12 tablet and put it on a tomato because I read vitamin B deficiency can cause this.

I also put some erythromycin powder (about 200mg) on the tomato so she ate that too. I plan to do this twice a day.

Anything else I can do for her? Its sad to see her just laying there. It seems to be a slow process. Got worse over the course of a week.

The other chickens are doing just fine. Running around as normal.

You could make her a sling stand or be in a better position, did the people that took care of her care or been around any other flock?

 

[Hassett chickens]

Does she have any fluid/bloat in her abdomen below the vent between her legs?

Her not laying eggs, she may be suffering from a reproductive disorder.
Sometimes this can cause difficulty walking.

Is her crop emptying? I'd make sure she's staying hydrated and eating. Get a fecal float to rule out worms as part of the issue.

Frustratingly, reproductive problems are the main cause of decline in laying hens. If you do happen to lose her, then having a necropsy through your state lab will hopefully give you some answers. Doing one at home yourself is another option.

I did not feel any fluid or bloat around her abdomen below the vent. Felt thin and bony if anything. Crop feels empty to me. (First time attempting both - no experience in normal).

It seemed to happen so slowly then one day she couldnt stand anymore. She looks better from 3ish days ago. At least wants to stand and moves her wings. 3 days ago she just laid on her side and panted.

 

[Hassett chickens]

You could make her a sling stand or be in a better position, did the people that took care of her care or been around any other flock?

My neighbor who does have 10ish chickens. I dont think he went into the coop but recommended i start vitamin water.

We "free range" the ladies all day in a 20x20 enclosure. Wild birds are commonly flying in to get the chicken feed. Its possible she picked something up from a wild bird.

Im more fearful its an egg issue. But I dont know much at all about chickens.

I like the slingstand idea. Old t shirt with holes in it to support her. Might try that tomorrow morning or at lunch hour.

 

[Hassett chickens]

Sadly she died today. She was looking much better yesterday. Today she just couldnt pull through.