HELP! MY CHICKEN CAN'T BALANCE!

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

HELP! MY HEN HAS LOST HER BALLENCE!
last night i found one of my silkie hens sitting on the ground outside the coop. Very unusual... since it was dark and all the rest of my chickens we inside sleeping. So i picked her up and brought her over to their food and water dish to make sure she ate something (i didn't know how long she had been outside without a drink). She right of way ate some food and drank water but kept losing her balance and falling over onto her side. Sometimes even falling forward into her face! I was confused, I've never seen a chicken do that before i had to hold her up while she ate because she couldn't herself. When she was done she tried to fly up onto the perch with the others but could barely get off the ground, resulting with her rolling on the ground.

This morning i came to check on her and she was stuck on her side, so i took her outside and speared her from the flock (i didn't want the others to pick on her). She seemed to be holding herself much better than last night. She could stand but was still leaning to the one side so i supported her while she ate amd drank lots of water. She can take a few steps on her own but still falls over.

Does anyone know what this could be? Is there anything that i should be doing or feeding her to help? She is not old only about 3 years. I would appreciate any advice anyone might be able to give

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. By any chance do you have chicks? If so and you're feeding them medicated feed it can block thiamine which can cause this issue if she ate it. It could be botulism, low vitamin E, or it could be Marek's. Have you checked for mites and lice?

 

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

Hi there. By any chance do you have chicks? If so and you're feeding them medicated feed it can block thiamine which can cause this issue if she ate it. It could be botulism, low vitamin E, or it could be Marek's. Have you checked for mites and lice?

A week ago i noticed some signs of poultry lice and mites so i checked my hens and found some. I dusted all my chickens with food grade diatomaceous earth and added it to their dust bath. I try and keep everything as natural as possible for them.

I was thinking my silkie might have a vitamin deficiency because she is lower on the pecking order... I've added vitamins and electrolytes to her water and she seems to be doing a bit better.

I've also soaked her legs in warm water with Epsom salt and dish soap, and coats them with petroleum jelly just in case of scaly mites.

I'm hoping it's just a vitamin deficiency and not anything serious... it's there anything else you think i can do for her? Or should i just keep doing what I'm doing and give her time to heal?

Thank you

 

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

Hi there. By any chance do you have chicks? If so and you're feeding them medicated feed it can block thiamine which can cause this issue if she ate it. It could be botulism, low vitamin E, or it could be Marek's. Have you checked for mites and lice?

Also i got this hen as a adult and don't know what she was fed as a chick... I've always feed my chicks non medicated feed. Always striving to feed them as natural as possible

 

[Mamatomany123]

A week ago i noticed some signs of poultry lice and mites so i checked my hens and found some. I dusted all my chickens with food grade diatomaceous earth and added it to their dust bath. I try and keep everything as natural as possible for them.

I was thinking my silkie might have a vitamin deficiency because she is lower on the pecking order... I've added vitamins and electrolytes to her water and she seems to be doing a bit better.

I've also soaked her legs in warm water with Epsom salt and dish soap, and coats them with petroleum jelly just in case of scaly mites.

I'm hoping it's just a vitamin deficiency and not anything serious... it's there anything else you think i can do for her? Or should i just keep doing what I'm doing and give her time to heal?

Thank you

Remove the diatomaceous earth and stop dusting them with it. it's very bad for anyone or anything that inhales it.

 

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

Remove the diatomaceous earth and stop dusting them with it. it's very bad for anyone or anything that inhales it.

I agree and disagree. The Diatomaceous earth that I use is fresh water 100% food grade (edible for both human and chickens). It is completly natural and a much better option than chemicals used to kill lice and mites, which can have extreme negative effects on chickens. I do agree with you that you should deffinitly not breath it in, myself or the chickens. When dusting them i made sure to do it outside on a non windy day and gave them the chance to shake it off before going back into the coop. I've never personally had a problem with DE but have only ever heard good things about it. Thank-you for your advice

 

[Mamatomany123]

I agree and disagree. The Diatomaceous earth that I use is fresh water 100% food grade (edible for both human and chickens). It is completly natural and a much better option than chemicals used to kill lice and mites, which can have extreme negative effects on chickens. I do agree with you that you should deffinitly not breath it in, myself or the chickens. When dusting them i made sure to do it outside on a non windy day and gave them the chance to shake it off before going back into the coop. I've never personally had a problem with DE but have only ever heard good things about it. Thank-you for your advice

You said you've added it to their dust bath but of course, you are allowed to do what you want. I've never seen it get rid of lice or mites though. But good luck.

 

[igorsMistress]

A week ago i noticed some signs of poultry lice and mites so i checked my hens and found some. I dusted all my chickens with food grade diatomaceous earth and added it to their dust bath. I try and keep everything as natural as possible for them.

I was thinking my silkie might have a vitamin deficiency because she is lower on the pecking order... I've added vitamins and electrolytes to her water and she seems to be doing a bit better.

I've also soaked her legs in warm water with Epsom salt and dish soap, and coats them with petroleum jelly just in case of scaly mites.

I'm hoping it's just a vitamin deficiency and not anything serious... it's there anything else you think i can do for her? Or should i just keep doing what I'm doing and give her time to heal?

Thank you

I understand trying to stay as natural as possible. DE is not really all that great TBH, it can scar the lungs of humans and animals. I spray my coop with permethrin a couple of times a year and my birds with it if they have mites or lice.

 

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

You said you've added it to their dust bath but of course, you are allowed to do what you want. I've never seen it get rid of lice or mites though. But good luck.

Yes it's mixed in their dust bath with peat moss. I've read that it won't get rid of them completly but enough that it will keep them at bay and the hens can manage the rest. Just curious, what do you use to manage lice and mites for your birds? Or what would you recommend i use instead? I'm open to other options

 

[Mamatomany123]

Yes it's mixed in their dust bath with peat moss. I've read that it won't get rid of them completly but enough that it will keep them at bay and the hens can manage the rest. Just curious, what do you use to manage lice and mites for your birds? Or what would you recommend i use instead? I'm open to other options

I've never had lice or mites but if I ever did I would use permethrin. The ladies and gentlemen that have been doing this much longer than I have recommend that. And you really dont want to just keep them at bay. If they get out of control it will be a horrible mess for you and your birds. They multiply fast. You'll have to treat the coop and birds completely.