Help - hen unable to walk.

[Taylor s]

I have a 9 month old hen that quit laying about five weeks ago. She has acted normally outside of that. This morning she was laying under the roosting perches and didn’t come out to free range with the rest of the flock. She is trying but can barely walk and seems extremely weak. She is drinking a lot of water with electrolytes and is eating if we hold it up to her. Can you please help me know where to begin in helping her? The rest of the flock seems fine. It seems to be mostly an issue of her energy and ability to walk.

 

[ChicNmom]

Hi and welcome to BYC!

There are a couple of possibilities. The first thing I would do is give her a human calcium tablet directly in her beak. Calcium citrate with vitamin D is best as it absorbs better. But even Tums will do. In case she is egg bound. This also helps with muscle contractions.

Have you felt her abdomen? Is it firm or swollen in any way?
Can you feel anything hard like an egg that could be stuck?

How does her crop feel? Agin, empty, watery or hard and full?

How does her poop look?
Have you noticed any mites or lice on her? Check around the base of her tail by parting the feathers.

Have you ever de wormed the flock?

 

[Taylor s]

Thank you so much for your help!!!
My husband says her crop does feel swollen but soft.
We have never dewormed!
One of our hens had lice about two months and we treated her entire and the coop. It seems like the lice has been gone for about six weeks or so - none of the hens have them.

She did just stand to drink after my husband massaged her crop. But she is laying down again now.

 

[Taylor s]

I just checked my other chickens and her crop does feel very full but soft

 

[oneandacrumb]

I just checked my other chickens and her crop does feel very full but soft

Did you have any luck helping your young hen? I have a very similar situation. I've been trying everything and I thought she was getting a little better because she was perking up over the last couple of days and wanted to go outside today. I let her out for a bit and she almost seemed like a normal chicken but she got really exhausted and now she's in a terrible state. She tries to walk but falls on her chest and now she's breathing fast with her beak open. She won't eat or drink now either. Anyways, I'm trying amoxicillin as a last ditch attempt but I'm feeling hopeless and wanted to see if you were able to help your girl.

 

[Eggcessive]

@Taylor s how is you hen doing?

 

[Taylor s]

Did you have any luck helping your young hen? I have a very similar situation. I've been trying everything and I thought she was getting a little better because she was perking up over the last couple of days and wanted to go outside today. I let her out for a bit and she almost seemed like a normal chicken but she got really exhausted and now she's in a terrible state. She tries to walk but falls on her chest and now she's breathing fast with her beak open. She won't eat or drink now either. Anyways, I'm trying amoxicillin as a last ditch attempt but I'm feeling hopeless and wanted to see if you were able to help your girl.

We had a vet appointment the next day (since it was the weekend) but she didn’t make it through the night :,(

 

[oneandacrumb]

We had a vet appointment the next day (since it was the weekend) but she didn’t make it through the night :,(

I’m so sorry. When I see an animal suffering so badly I do wish them a hasty a/ recovery or b/ passing. It’s really hard to see them that way.