HELP Possible egg bound hen

[s k y]

Here is her poo.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you know if she was vaccinated for Mareks disease? Mareks or a back/head injury might be possible. You may want to check into making an easy chicken sling or chair to get her upright in front of food and water. Some chickens do not tolerate them, so stay with her if you try one, just in case. Here is a list of pictures and a video:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[s k y]

All of my flock has been vaccinated for marek’s, and are completely isolated from any other chickens. They are all the same age and I got them all at the same time. She is able to eat from her current position so I don’t think that’s an issue.

 

[Eggcessive]

Well, it seems more like she has been injured. Some chickens can have lameness related to a stuck egg or a mass, such as a large lash egg or cancer. I suppose time will tell what is going on.

Has she been laying eggs regularly up till now? Egg binding can be due to low calcium levels, so you can supplement that if needed.

 

[s k y]

It’s cold here and I haven’t put a light in their coop yet so none of my hens are laying currently since they think it’s winter. I am just going to try to keep her comfortable and possibly take her to the vet if she worsens. Thank you so much for your help, Eggcessive.

 

[Eggcessive]

You’re welcome. I hope that she improves. Since Mareks vaccines are not always 100% effective, if you should lose her someday, a necropsy by your state vet or testing can rulle out Mareks.

 

[s k y]

I am wondering if anyone has ever experienced something like this? She’s acting like she has splay leg and is still having poor quality poops. Id prefer to try to figure out every possibility before jumping to Marek’s.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she still able to walk? Does she move her toes or legs at all when you touch or handle them? Do they seem flaccid and paralysed or spastic? I would also put on a disposable glove and lubricate it, and insert one finger into her vent to feel for some sort of blockage inside. That might include lash egg material, a tumor, or a stuck egg, that might be causing temporary lameness. After rereading your first post, it could be stuck lash material (from salpingitis) inside pressing on her sciatic nerves. Of course, hard to know for sure while she is alive. I really think a necropsy if you lose her would be very good to find out what was effecting her.

 

[s k y]

Sadly, she passed away in the night. We are having an avian veterinarian do a necropsy.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry for your loss. Ask your vet to look for enlarged sciatic nerves, as well as tumors that might be from Mareks disease. The state vets do necropsies and they can do testing of feather shafts and tumor tissue to rule out Mareks. There also could be a tumor or internal laying that has caused the lameness and death. Please let us know if you find out what was wrong.