Hen sick 2 days before knee replacement surgery

[huntersmoon]

Hi,

I've got a black wyandotte, at least five years old, and am not sure what her ailment is. I'm also having a knee replacement surgery in two days (Thursday) so I'm feeling the pressure of getting her well or euthanizing her before then, as I'm the chicken person in our family.

Yesterday I noticed her sitting on the floor of the coop as if on an egg. I lifted her up to get it, but there was no egg, and as she moved away she was kind of crouch walking. Not penguin waddling, not straining. She was alert and looking around, rather than some hens I've had who withdraw into themselves as they decline, but was not interested in food.

I quarantined her in a crate and I saw no obvious injuries. Her comb is red, her vent looks normal. This morning I gave her an epsom salt soak and checked to see if she was egg bound. I did not feel an egg, but it did feel like my gloved finger was reaching into liquid and when I withdrew it there was a foul odor. I did not feel any shell pieces. This afternoon, I noticed that she was not opening her left eye but the right one is. I attached a photo (the white on her cheek in the "good eye" side is some of the calcium water that got on her).

No one else in the coop is sick.

This afternoon I dissolved a calcium citrate pill and syringe fed her that plus some water and yogurt. She drank all of it when I put the dropper to her beak, but when presented with a bowl of water and food, did not get it.

I tested her feet and she gripped my hand with each foot, however when I put her on the ground she does not splay her feet to stand. She is still engaged, pecked her shavings in the crate to fluff them around herself.

I bought her as a chick from my local feed store, so I assume she was vaccinated for Mareks, but am going to call in the morning to verify.

The coop is an open air coop on three sides, with a flock of a dozen including a rooster. I use shavings as bedding and the run is dirt. I attached an old photo of the coop that shows the coop portion leading out to the run. This photo is several years old; I now have the nipple water cups mounted on the left side of the coop wall.



Thanks for any help.

Shannon

 

[thecatumbrella]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

My knowledge is limited (hopefully one of the above members can help), but it sounds like you're doing everything right to try and help her, including the epsom soak and calcium citrate. I would keep giving her calcium once a day just in case it's egg-related.

I'm sorry you're going through this right before a major surgery. How stressful. I hope Thursday goes well and your recovery and swift and uneventful!

 

[huntersmoon]

Thanks, there is no change this morning - she is still alert and looking around, fluffing her shavings.

I was thinking about the fluid I encountered inside her vent. I have not seen her poop and she's been in the crate -1/2 days now. I suspect she is unable to void if she can't stand up and assume the position, so it may not be a broken egg at all.

I imagine if she has not improved in her ability to stand up by tomorrow, she's not going to and I need to euthanize her and get the state lab to check for Marek's.