Hen having a hard time walking

[Chickens4Dayz]

Hey all,

A couple days ago I noticed one of my hens didn’t get on the roost at night. The next day she was walking (not 100%, but not visibly limping), then yesterday morning she was outside the coop just laying on the ground barely able to walk.

I brought her into the barn to Separate her from the others. She’s eating (mostly just wants treats), drinking and still seems to have plenty of energy. I’ve checked her feet and legs and don’t see any signs of trauma. Not sure what is going on with her. Hoping somebody here with a little more experience can help point me in the right direction? She’s about 18 months old.

Attached are a few videos of her attempting to walk.

Thanks
Brian

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hey all,

A couple days ago I noticed one of my hens didn’t get on the roost at night. The next day she was walking (not 100%, but not visibly limping), then yesterday morning she was outside the coop just laying on the ground barely able to walk.

I brought her into the barn to Separate her from the others. She’s eating (mostly just wants treats), drinking and still seems to have plenty of energy. I’ve checked her feet and legs and don’t see any signs of trauma. Not sure what is going on with her. Hoping somebody here with a little more experience can help point me in the right direction? She’s about 18 months old.

Attached are a few videos of her attempting to walk.

Thanks
Brian

How long have you had her?
What do you feed?

By any chance is it the same hen you asked about last month that passed lash material?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...g-and-lash-salpingitis.1365788/#post-22499043

Feel below her vent between the legs - any swelling, bloat or feeling of fluid?

I would make sure she can get to food/water easily. That her crop is empty in the morning and I would also get some B vitamins into her. You can use B-Complex - 1/2 tablet a day for 3-5 days.

 

[Chickens4Dayz]

How long have you had her?
What do you feed?

By any chance is it the same hen you asked about last month that passed lash material?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...g-and-lash-salpingitis.1365788/#post-22499043

Feel below her vent between the legs - any swelling, bloat or feeling of fluid?

I would make sure she can get to food/water easily. That her crop is empty in the morning and I would also get some B vitamins into her. You can use B-Complex - 1/2 tablet a day for 3-5 days.

Hey Wyrop Rock

Thanks for the reply!

I’ve had this one for about 3 months. It’s a different one than the one that had salpingitis. Unfortunately it was too late for her by the time we caught it. She took a turn very quickly and the Baytril had not arrived yet.

Below her vent feels normal. It does seem that she’s being weighed down by her crop or her crop is throwing her out of balance. It definitely feels full currently and she hasn’t eaten much today. All I’ve gotten her to eat was some oat pellet mash this morning and some applesauce this afternoon. I’ll check in the morning to see where it’s at. She has been pooping so I’m guessing some food is being digested? Also, I’ll get some B vitamins in her.

 

[Chickens4Dayz]

Hey Wyrop Rock

Thanks for the reply!

I’ve had this one for about 3 months. It’s a different one than the one that had salpingitis. Unfortunately it was too late for her by the time we caught it. She took a turn very quickly and the Baytril had not arrived yet.

Below her vent feels normal. It does seem that she’s being weighed down by her crop or her crop is throwing her out of balance. It definitely feels full currently and she hasn’t eaten much today. All I’ve gotten her to eat was some oat pellet mash this morning and some applesauce this afternoon. I’ll check in the morning to see where it’s at. She has been pooping so I’m guessing some food is being digested? Also, I’ll get some B vitamins in her.

The past two mornings her crop has been slightly hard but doesn’t seem to have much if anything in it, so not sure if that’s it. She’s eating a little bit and pooping as well. Although she hasn’t been eating a ton. Had some oat and pellet mash a couple times through the day yesterday.

I did notice she has a slightly hard spot on one of her feet that looks like it was possibly a scratch or cut, see photos attached. Not sure if this could have anything to do with it, but looking for anything at this point.

 

[Chickens4Dayz]

Hey all,

A couple days ago I noticed one of my hens didn’t get on the roost at night. The next day she was walking (not 100%, but not visibly limping), then yesterday morning she was outside the coop just laying on the ground barely able to walk.

I brought her into the barn to Separate her from the others. She’s eating (mostly just wants treats), drinking and still seems to have plenty of energy. I’ve checked her feet and legs and don’t see any signs of trauma. Not sure what is going on with her. Hoping somebody here with a little more experience can help point me in the right direction? She’s about 18 months old.

Attached are a few videos of her attempting to walk.

Thanks
Brian

Although on second thought it does seem that her crop or something around her crop is pulling her down and out of balance whenever she tries to stand. Now she’s not even standing at all. Every time she attempts she hurls forward and does a nosedive

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Any chance she ate anything moldy or rotten? What does her poop look like?

If the crop is hard in the morning before she eats/drinks it may be impacted. Let us know how it feels again. The article is helpful.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

The not being able to walk now is very concerning. Have you felt inside her vent just to make sure no egg is stuck. No swelling or fluid in the abdomen?

I would try to get some B-Complex into her. She may have more than one thing going on, but giving her supportive care sometimes is all you can do.

 

[Chickens4Dayz]

Any chance she ate anything moldy or rotten? What does her poop look like?

If the crop is hard in the morning before she eats/drinks it may be impacted. Let us know how it feels again. The article is helpful.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

The not being able to walk now is very concerning. Have you felt inside her vent just to make sure no egg is stuck. No swelling or fluid in the abdomen?

I would try to get some B-Complex into her. She may have more than one thing going on, but giving her supportive care sometimes is all you can do.

I guess there is a possibility she got it to something. They all free range and have access to and roam over a few acres, mostly wooded. They tend to split there days between the woods and pasture. Her poop was looking normal until I put her in isolation and she stopped eating as much. Haven’t seen anything really out of the normal there.

No swelling or fluid in her abdomen that I can feel and didn’t feel an egg bound when I checked her vent. And her crop feels empty these days. She still perks up when she sees me and wants a little food and water.

I started her on B Vitamin complex yesterday. I’m out pretty far and was having a hard time finding it locally, so I had to order it. She seems to be up trying to stand a bit more, but she’s favoring her right leg and seems to be having a hard time putting much weight on the left. Gonna give her a few more days and see if anything changes. Thanks so much for the help!!