Help- Adult Female Suddenly Can’t Walk

[Shmegel]

How is she now? Are you able to get any pictures of her? That may help us determine what's wrong.

Still no eggs, still lying on her side all day, eating and drinking just fine. I don’t see any abnormal poop around her. It’s always the same side so I really think it must be a problem with her right leg. I can’t get a picture of her right now, but maybe tomorrow afternoon. Her feathers are still sparse but no different- probably just molting so I gave her tons of mealworms (which she’s eating happily) and calcium. I’m letting her partner stay with her for now (just him, no other birds) since he’s keeping her warm and not picking on her at all.

 

[Shmegel]

Forgot to take a pic today- she’s doing the same. Eating a lot, no eggs. I gave her a bath to get poop off from lying on her side all day- some sores from that but no active blood or anything major. I wish I could help her stand up. It’s definitely her right leg. She’s able to move her right leg, but can’t seem to put weight on it. Left leg is fine, but she can’t support her own weight with just one leg. Still can’t find any anatomical issues on the outside. Would a splint or something help that? I have no idea how to make one. Wish I could make her a tiny wheelchair or something. What can I do so she can at least sit or stand upright so she stops hurting her side that she’s lying on?

 

[maadroj]

Can you make a towel nest to support her upright? I tried it once and my bird just kept crawling out of it, but it's worth a try--as long as the position wouldn't aggravate her leg condition further.

 

[Nabiki]

At this point, it sounds like it's either time for a vet or to cull.

 

[Shmegel]

Her enclosure smells really bad. I’m wondering if that’s diarrhea? I took a picture of where she sat all night on paper towels so that should be poop. Still eating a ton. Can’t cull, she’s a pet.

 

[Nabiki]

If you can't cull, it's definitely time for a vet.

 

[FloorCandy]

@azygous tagging you because you were helpful with my situation that was similar.

 

[azygous]

It sounds like multiple issues. Life can dump a full load sometimes, and you have no choice but to deal with it.

Lameness is one of the most perplexing issues, having multiple possible causes. Sometimes it's neurological so vitamin E might help. Sometimes it's a vitamin B deficiency so B-complex might help. Giving these vitamins can't hurt, and it's worth a shot.

The "really bad smell" from her bedding is concerning. That can be caused by a stuck egg or an egg broken inside. When I suspect this, I give calcium citrate and an antibiotic. The calcium will cause contractions and help to expel an egg or broken remains. The antibiotic is necessary to fight the almost certain reproductive tract infection that comes with yolk breaking inside. Giving calcium can't hurt, but it's a judgement call on your part to treat her with an antibiotic. Getting the antibiotic may prove challenging to impossible, but I recommend it if you can find one. I use Fish Mox (amoxicillin).

https://www.kvsupply.com/item/aqua-mox-250mg-capsules-100-count/P06184/

 

[Shmegel]

I don’t understand how to dose the bird with these things

 

[azygous]

The same way you would take vitamins or an antibiotic pill. Stick it in her mouth and she will swallow. One at a time. Chickens have no problem lettin a pill slide down their throat.

Vitamin E 400iu one whole capsule a day
B-complex break a pill in half and give her the half once a day
Calcium citrate one whole pill a day
These are all the same vitamins you would take

The amoxicillin is 250 mg capsule per day for ten days