Help! Hen has lost the use of her legs :(

[Chookachook]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice before our vets appointment, maybe even a checklist to run through with them?

So, we have a 5-year old ex battery hen McQueen who free ranges in the garden with the other 3 girls. She's been looking a bit miserable these last few weeks but has always been the bullied, skinny one and doesn't molt well so we have just been monitoring her.

One morning she didn't come down from the coop, I brought her down after she freaked a little at the top of the ramp. She was out all day, eating and scratching about a little but not as much as usual. Later on she wobbled a bit and toppled onto her side and the others started attacking her so we brought her inside and took her to the vets.

They checked for broken bones, impacted crop, stuck egg, mites and came across a respiratory issue in her right lung. The missing/pecked feathers were just superficial and the other girls are all fine. We were advised against antibiotics due to her age and potential underlying issues.

Didn't think she'd make it through the night but she's still with us over a week later, eating and drinking with help, pooping but just not using her legs.

Thoughts or advice please? She's part of the family and with fight left in her, we'll fight with her but don't want her suffering.


Thanks

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about McQueen.

With chickens it can be hard to know what's going on with them.

From your description and her age, she might have a reproductive problem like Egg Yolk Peritonitis, Internal laying, Ascites, cancer or tumors. When the vet examines her, I'm sure they will feel the abdomen for bloat/swelling or fluid.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice before our vets appointment, maybe even a checklist to run through with them?

So, we have a 5-year old ex battery hen McQueen who free ranges in the garden with the other 3 girls. She's been looking a bit miserable these last few weeks but has always been the bullied, skinny one and doesn't molt well so we have just been monitoring her.

One morning she didn't come down from the coop, I brought her down after she freaked a little at the top of the ramp. She was out all day, eating and scratching about a little but not as much as usual. Later on she wobbled a bit and toppled onto her side and the others started attacking her so we brought her inside and took her to the vets.

They checked for broken bones, impacted crop, stuck egg, mites and came across a respiratory issue in her right lung. The missing/pecked feathers were just superficial and the other girls are all fine. We were advised against antibiotics due to her age and potential underlying issues.

Didn't think she'd make it through the night but she's still with us over a week later, eating and drinking with help, pooping but just not using her legs.

Thoughts or advice please? She's part of the family and with fight left in her, we'll fight with her but don't want her suffering.


Thanks

http://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php

 

[Chookachook]

Thanks both for your help. The symptom checker is very useful, I'll show that to the vet too. Turns out only an external examination was done so I'll ask the specialist to check internally too. Here she is with a much better appetite today at least <3