Hen can't stand or walk well, backside is messy, grainy buildup

[Buff Orp Mom]

Hi, Y'all--

We have a three year old Buff Orpington who went very quiet yesterday and spent most of the afternoon sleeping in a warm corner of the outdoor pen. This morning, she didn't want to go outside, and when I picked her up and set her on the ground she fell over then balanced herself up on her butt and legs. Her backside under her feathers was wadded up with grainy balls of hard-ish grainy poop. I cleaned it all away and she pooped a little bit--a moist little green dot. Got her to eat about 1T of tomato. No lesions, injuries of any kind. Eyes are clear. Everything else looks normal except that she is very shaky on her feet. Have 7 other hens that look fine. Have had chickens here for 20 years and have never had this problem. Any ideas? I scanned through here for a while, but didn't find anything helpful.

 

[Eggcessive]

What do you feed her? Chickens can have lameness from injuries, vitamin deficiencies, egg binding, and in certain diseases such as botulism or Mareks disease. Place her close to her own food and water in a dog crate or pen. Start some poultry vitamins and check her for a stuck egg by inserting a finger into her vent 1-2 inches. Has she been laying eggs recently? Have you added any new birds in the last couple of months?

 

[Buff Orp Mom]

They get: Layeena Crumbles, cracked or whole corn, calcium chips, and meal worms. Fresh water several times a day; one waterer is heated due to below freezing conditions here. Special treats are tomatoes, watermelon. With the extreme cold here (Connecticut), our eight girls are laying three eggs a day; we don't know who is laying and who isn't. We also let them free range (we don't use ANY chemicals on our property) when we are outside ourselves. There isn't anything on our land that has caused any reaction for other hens. No new birds--this crew came from the same breeder at the same time three years ago and have been completely healthy till this.. Will get the vitamins today and will check for binding. Thank you so far for your help! Our girls were raised by hand and are part of our family.

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

Hi, Y'all--

We have a three year old Buff Orpington who went very quiet yesterday and spent most of the afternoon sleeping in a warm corner of the outdoor pen. This morning, she didn't want to go outside, and when I picked her up and set her on the ground she fell over then balanced herself up on her butt and legs. Her backside under her feathers was wadded up with grainy balls of hard-ish grainy poop. I cleaned it all away and she pooped a little bit--a moist little green dot. Got her to eat about 1T of tomato. No lesions, injuries of any kind. Eyes are clear. Everything else looks normal except that she is very shaky on her feet. Have 7 other hens that look fine. Have had chickens here for 20 years and have never had this problem. Any ideas? I scanned through here for a while, but didn't find anything helpful.

Check Newcastle Disease

 

[Buff Orp Mom]

Thanks so much to the two folks who gave us good advice. She started to get better, but her right leg remained paralyzed. Was able to give her water and then crushed meal worms in warm water for two days. She became very alert and we thought she just might make it, but on the morning of the third day, she wouldn't take water, finally fell into a relaxed sleep and slept for a few hours before she passed away. The rest of the flock is fine at this point. Searched their stall and pen and found nothing out of the ordinary. Thanks again so much for the support you two folks kindly gave us.

 

[LittleCheepers]

I am SO sorry for your loss and my heart hurts for you. I know she felt your love and gentle kindness and I’m sure it was a comfort to her.

 

[Buff Orp Mom]

Thank you for your thoughts. It was heartbreaking when we isolated her in a crate in the barn and we could hear her crying even inside the house. What I was afraid to post at first was that, since I was sick at the same time, we camped out together on the couch--and she watched TV with me, the fear all gone. When she passed, she was warm and comfortable and surrounded by love. The cat is still looking for her. Thank you so much.

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry to hear that you lost her, but glad she died with her giving comfort.

 

[Racy454]

Hello, my hen has these exact same symptoms but also looks like she's pushing down as if she's trying to lay an egg. I checked to see if she was eggbound and also sat her in warm water and syringed some olive oil inside for lubrication but there is no egg in there as far as I can tell. I was very thorough. Her poop is quite smelly and caked up. If someone knows what this may be I would be grateful for any advice. I'm a newbie at this really, even though my dad always had chooks.
Thankyou,
Rachel

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Hi Rachel,
Sorry to hear you are in a similar situation!
If you post a new thread you will get more replies Rachel as this will appear as an old thread, with lots of responses, so 'the experts' may not look at it.
I would post a new thread, outlining all the symptoms you are seeing in your chicken, how old she is, what she eats on a daily basis, is she eating and drinking, when she last laid, and photos too are always helpful!

For now, I would give your chicken a calcium supplement, human caltrate is fine! You can do this for 3 days in a row. This will help a lot if she is trying to pass an egg and won't hurt her. If you don't have any, crush up some eggshell for her. Give her a nice warm 20 minute epsom salt soak, Make sure to keep her hydrated and if you have B Complex pills I would also give her quarter one of those a day.

You are doing everything right, if she has an egg stuck somewhere hopefully she will pass it. It could also be a reproductive disorder such as internal laying. But let her soak, get the calcium into her, and then keep her in a warm, darkened room to see if she passes an egg. Best of luck and let us know how that goes!