Hen can't stand up today!

[allaboutdemchicks]

This afternoon the hubby and I discussed the cause being the perch to high! They all scramble for the highest perch which is about 4' from the ground. These big girls fall hard, hit the adjasent wall when doing it too! This definately is something we will be altering in the coop tomorrow.

 

[lds_horselover2005]

I had a problem like this before. I brought the girl in and put her under a heat lamp. I made sure she moved some so that she wasn't laying the same way all day. I also gave some injectable penicillin (under the skin) so that it would hopefully help her. After about 2 to 3 weeks, she was walking around and doing her chicken things. Now she is smaller than all the rest but gets around just as good as the rest of them. I hope you alls chickens get better!!!

 

[sammi]

just so all of you know..the "rickets recipe" will not hurt them, if they don't have rickets..so, if you have a bird that's down..try it.

sometimes a 1/2 teaspoon of Cod Liver Oil mixed in feed to be shared with others) can help since it gives Vitamin D which helps metabolize vitamins and other nutrients...including calcium.
normally, they synthesize Vit. D from the sun..
but it's possible that in the shorter darker days of winter, and being in a coop in bad weather, they might be lacking.
be careful using Cod Liver Oil..do not give too much..a very small amount goes a long way..it also gives Vitamin A..
and you don't want to overdose Vitamin A..

but the recipe I posted has all of these nutrients.
plus the addition of vitamins..either poultry vitamins or Poly-vi-sol ..
as posted.

also consider that sometimes worms can cause them to "lose their legs"..

and that usually a pullet has been on grower feed and might not have been getting the calcium in layer feed, or oyster shell.
sometimes in the hot summer, hens need more calcium also..
older hens especially.
and this recipe will help.

to poster who's hen just layed an egg..continue giving the mix for the 5 days....

 

[newclucker]

Just a followup from here from Newclucker. It has been 8 days since she was injured overnight in the coop. She is now standing most of the time and walking fine in her small 2 x 3 pen. I tried letting her outside yesterday with the others, but she was limping after 15 minutes, so in she came again. I think in another week she will be fine. She continues to lay eggs and is eating well. We added a thicker layer of shavings on the floor in the main coop and changed the perch to a 2x4 with very rounded edges and it is mounted only 12" from the floor. The other 5 hens use it just fine this way. If someone gets knocked off, it's a short fall onto cushy ground! ;o) Hope the other hens are doing well too.

 

[jhmoore]

This thread has been very helpful to me. I am at a loss for what to do about my hen. She is going on two weeks in isolation (we call it the infirmary). All along, she has eaten and drank wonderfully. I've been sure to give her a balanced diet in addition to her regular feed. She gobbles food, drinks well, talks up a storm, has bright eyes. I have been doing my "chicken physical therapy" with each day and night- exercising her legs. Since being in isolation, she has laid her first three eggs. So, I have to believe she is healthy and feeling pretty well.

Yesterday was beautiful here- almost 45 degrees and sunny. So, I brought Barbie the hen outside and let her get some fresh air and pick in the grass, and hear her old chicken buddies talk. She loved it. She spent about an hour out there, and would take a few steps to move herself around. She can walk, but it's very stiff and uncoordinated. So, i just don't know...how long do I give her before she's just existing? I have a hard time giving up on her or saying she's not going to get better when she's still behaving so happily. Any advice here would be wonderful!

 

[lilchick]

Taking her outside and letting her see the other birds is a great idea.. That gives her an incentive to start walking more and get the strength built back up in her legs.
Just like us after an illness where we are down for awhile we need to build up the leg muscles again.
If you are giving her quality of life and she seems happy why not give her more time? You have done wonders with her so far....good luck

 

[Louisesmom]

Hi I'm new here but I have a hen that just had her first hatch of one egg and he's doing well but she seems to be cramped up and unable to walk on one hind leg. She's been brooding for a while and thought that maybe she is cramped up or no? Is this normal or no after setting for a while? She also has had two major poo's that were very smelly and liquidy. I put her on the floor of my barn to see if she would walk around and she just leaves that foot up in the air. Of course, once the chick comes around she just sits so I'm not sure what to do. She's a young golden laced cochin about 8 months old. Any ehlp would be appreciated!

Thanks.