Hen can barely walk - bum scraping ground

[ooper]

Up to this point, her diet has been crushed grain and water, with an occasional (once or twice a week) 3 hour stroll on fenced 1/4 acre and once or twice a week bird seed. The other 20 hens are fine, but maybe as you suggest this one needed something more in her diet??

 

[Eggcessive]

How does her lower belly feel? Does it feel full like it might be swollen from tissue or fluid? The downturned tail, problems walking, and using wings to balance can be a really bad sign. I lost a hen just last week who was showing that. When I did a necropsy, I found she had a pint of amber fluid in her lower abdomen from ascites. That can occur from egg yolk peritonitis, or heart or liver failure.

Keep her near her food and water in a basket or a dog crate. Feel inside her vent an inch or two with one finger, to check for a stuck egg. Shell-less eggs can be harder to pass than hard ones. But I wonder if she has something more serious than egg binding. Can you tell if either leg seems paralyzed?Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease?

 

[ooper]

How does her lower belly feel? Does it feel full like it might be swollen from tissue or fluid? The downturned tail, problems walking, and using wings to balance can be a really bad sign. I lost a hen just last week who was showing that. When I did a necropsy, I found she had a pint of amber fluid in her lower abdomen from ascites. That can occur from egg yolk peritonitis, or heart or liver failure.

Keep her near her food and water in a basket or a dog crate. Feel inside her vent an inch or two with one finger, to check for a stuck egg. Shell-less eggs can be harder to pass than hard ones. But I wonder if she has something more serious than egg binding. Can you tell if either leg seems paralyzed?Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease?

Yes, one leg seems paralyzed. Her toes are curled up on one foot. She was never vaccinated for anything that I am aware of. I bought her from a local IFA when she was a few weeks old.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m so sorry. I’m on vacation with my family and haven’t been checking in as much. How is your girl? Like
@staceyj I’m concerned about the possibility of internal laying if she is not egg bound. Has she laid an egg? Is her belly swollen? Is she still with us? Is an avian vet an option?

 

[micstrachan]

If it is ascites, you may be able to drain her yourself and administer antibiotics. If the cause is organ failure, unfortunately there is not much you can do. I’m so sorry.

 

[micstrachan]

If it is ascites, you may be able to drain her yourself and administer antibiotics. If the cause is organ failure, unfortunately there is not much you can do. I’m so sorry.

 

[Eggcessive]

It does sound like it could possibly be Mareks. But I would give her a poultry vitamin that contains B 1 (thiamine.) make sure that she is close to food and water. If you lose her I would get a necropsy to look for Mareks and other possible problems. Sorry that I cannot help more.

 

[junebuggena]

Up to this point, her diet has been crushed grain and water, with an occasional (once or twice a week) 3 hour stroll on fenced 1/4 acre and once or twice a week bird seed. The other 20 hens are fine, but maybe as you suggest this one needed something more in her diet??

Grains are inadequate for a primary diet. All of your hens need access to a calcium source and a properly formulated feed. She's definitely egg bound, and since you haven't supplement her diet with the calcium she needs, it's very likely you can't feel the egg because it is shell-less. Dissolve the tums or rolaids in her drinking water. She needs calcium for her muscles to contract and move that egg out.

 

[micstrachan]

I didn’t realize Marek’s could manifest with the extreme penguin walk. Which form could that be?

 

[Eggcessive]

You said she has one leg that seems paralyzed. That can be a sign of Mareks. The curled toe may also be a sign, or can be a sign of vitamin B 2 (riboflavin) deficiency. We cannot diagnose anything as well as a vet, but just give suggestions of what it might be, and things to rule out.
Since she also could have a reproductive disorder, I would insert a finger inside her vent an inch or two, just to rule out egg binding. Your flock does need to be on a layer feed with access to crushed oyster shell. I am tending to think this is not egg binding, but it could be a possibility.