Hello all, I've got a 22 week old hen that hasn't started laying yet (Barred Rock) and just yesterday started acting really strange. She was sitting down while eating a cucumber we provided to her with her legs sticking out. Then as she tried to get up, would fall over and I noticed she can't stand at all. I had some stuff going on last night that required me to be away from home, so I left and when I came back, she managed to make it into the coop, just not up on the roosting bars. But definitely wanted to figure her out more this morning.
Well this morning I checked her bottom for a blockage and her vent is completely open. She does have some poop further down in her feathers since she's been laying down constantly. I took a glove with some vaseline and put my pinky in her about an inch or so and didn't feel any egg inside, but there was some more poop and it came out when I took my finger out. I would say usual coloring. White and black goopy, no blood. But when I put her down, she can't stand up and struggles with her legs. I did check for bumblefoot and I don't see anything on her at all. We also noticed one of her pupils is stranger than the other. It's like not dilated as much and further forward. I don't have a picture right now, but will try to take one and post an update.
These 4 hens we have were all vaccinated for Mareks from the hatchery, but I've heard that in rare cases it seems they can possibly still get it? They're completely caged hens, as we live in a subdivision that requires them to be in a coop/run at all times. The 3 other hens are great and showing no signs of anything. They lay an egg every day. The one sick hen does seem to eat decently, especially treats that I had feed her. Water seems to be a different story. She does take it, but since she has such a hard time moving, it limits how much water/food she can get. We currently have her in a dog kennel by herself with the water and food dishes we used to use when they were chicks.
I bought some Hydro Hen and added that to her water thinking some electrolytes and vitamins would help. As long as she drinks it of course. It's been pretty mild weather wise lately. Getting to be fall, so only mid 70s as a high, with yesterday being much cooler and windier. We did have one day on Wednesday, so almost 3 days before she started exhibiting symptoms, where it was upper 90s and with the humidity felt like 110, so we definitely provided a ton of frozen watermelon, cucumbers fresh from the garden, and ice in their water dish a few times during the day. She's lowest on the pecking order, so maybe she just didn't get enough water and is overstressed? Or she's sick with something. This is my first year with chickens, so new to this all of course. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Well this morning I checked her bottom for a blockage and her vent is completely open. She does have some poop further down in her feathers since she's been laying down constantly. I took a glove with some vaseline and put my pinky in her about an inch or so and didn't feel any egg inside, but there was some more poop and it came out when I took my finger out. I would say usual coloring. White and black goopy, no blood. But when I put her down, she can't stand up and struggles with her legs. I did check for bumblefoot and I don't see anything on her at all. We also noticed one of her pupils is stranger than the other. It's like not dilated as much and further forward. I don't have a picture right now, but will try to take one and post an update.
These 4 hens we have were all vaccinated for Mareks from the hatchery, but I've heard that in rare cases it seems they can possibly still get it? They're completely caged hens, as we live in a subdivision that requires them to be in a coop/run at all times. The 3 other hens are great and showing no signs of anything. They lay an egg every day. The one sick hen does seem to eat decently, especially treats that I had feed her. Water seems to be a different story. She does take it, but since she has such a hard time moving, it limits how much water/food she can get. We currently have her in a dog kennel by herself with the water and food dishes we used to use when they were chicks.
I bought some Hydro Hen and added that to her water thinking some electrolytes and vitamins would help. As long as she drinks it of course. It's been pretty mild weather wise lately. Getting to be fall, so only mid 70s as a high, with yesterday being much cooler and windier. We did have one day on Wednesday, so almost 3 days before she started exhibiting symptoms, where it was upper 90s and with the humidity felt like 110, so we definitely provided a ton of frozen watermelon, cucumbers fresh from the garden, and ice in their water dish a few times during the day. She's lowest on the pecking order, so maybe she just didn't get enough water and is overstressed? Or she's sick with something. This is my first year with chickens, so new to this all of course. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
