HEN STANDING/ACTING WEIRD

[stephcraig78]

Noticed our 3 yr old black sex link hen standing very strangely yesterday. She is sort of crouching down with her body almost upright. Her tail feathers are on the ground and drag when she walks. She stumbled a couple times over some rocks and used her wings to balance. She’s eating and drinking normal as far as I can tell. She did have a little crusty poo on her feathers so I cleaned them off. I did a thorough exam and the only thing that seemed odd was some mild swelling in her lower abdomin like between her legs but a bit farther back like almost to her vent. I separated her from the flock and gave a dose of amoxicillin in her water. She hasn’t been laying any eggs for months now. In fact none of our hens her age are laying this summer. Not sure what’s going on. Our silkie and frizzle hens that are the same age are still laying. I just went out and checked on her and she is standing normal but was holding one foot curled up. She did put it down when I petted her but seemed sort of weak. She had pooped a few times and it seems normal just slightly runny. Here’s pics of her last night. Any ideas what could be going on?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Possibly Egg Yolk Peritonitis, ascites, or internal laying... would be the first things I would research... if you haven't already looked into them.

Sex links are unfortunately known to suffer reproductive issues (sometimes including cancer) earlier than other breeds.

Sorry for your trouble... hope she recovers quickly.

 

[Saaniya]

Noticed our 3 yr old black sex link hen standing very strangely yesterday. She is sort of crouching down with her body almost upright. Her tail feathers are on the ground and drag when she walks. She stumbled a couple times over some rocks and used her wings to balance. She’s eating and drinking normal as far as I can tell. She did have a little crusty poo on her feathers so I cleaned them off. I did a thorough exam and the only thing that seemed odd was some mild swelling in her lower abdomin like between her legs but a bit farther back like almost to her vent. I separated her from the flock and gave a dose of amoxicillin in her water. She hasn’t been laying any eggs for months now. In fact none of our hens her age are laying this summer. Not sure what’s going on. Our silkie and frizzle hens that are the same age are still laying. I just went out and checked on her and she is standing normal but was holding one foot curled up. She did put it down when I petted her but seemed sort of weak. She had pooped a few times and it seems normal just slightly runny. Here’s pics of her last night. Any ideas what could be going on?
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She looks unwell by posture of sitting
I'm no expert in hen let's everyone advise hope she get well
I think u should check for egg bound ..
And send her poo pic

 

[stephcraig78]

Thanks for the suggestions I’ll look up info on the other possible ailments. I thought possibly egg bound but since she hasn’t laid in awhile figured it may be something else. And yes I can post poo pic shortly.

 

[rebrascora]

That swelling below her vent her posture and the fact that she hasn't laid eggs for a long while and yet her comb is quite red suggests she has had a reproductive ailment going on for some time and it may be coming to a head. Unfortunately the outcome will probably not be a happy one. My guess would be that there is a mass (either an infected egg mass known as lash egg caused by salpingitis or a tumour) which is putting pressure on her sciatic nerves and causing her strange posture and leg lifting.
Have you tried to do an internal exam? ie insert a lubed finger into her vent. What does it feel like and what does the swelling feel like? How is her body condition.... checked by feeling her breast bone...... does it feel sharp under the skin or is she reasonably well covered..... compare with other healthy chickens.

Unfortunately if I am right, there is not a lot to be done for her, except to end her suffering when quality of life becomes untenable. If you are interested I can probably find some videos which show necropsies of chickens with what I believe your chicken has. They are quite graphic, so not for anyone who is squeamish but may help you to figure out if this is in fact the problem and I would say that it can help to make the decision to end it for her less difficult, when you see what can build up inside them and the hopelessness of it. I can think of a particular video where the hen necropsied was displaying very similar symptoms.

I am sorry that I am painting such a bleak picture of her prospects but sometimes there is no way to pussy foot around it.

Of course, I may be wrong ( I really like to be wrong in such cases) and I would encourage you to consider other opinions before taking drastic action.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thanks for the suggestions I’ll look up info on the other possible ailments. I thought possibly egg bound but since she hasn’t laid in awhile figured it may be something else. And yes I can post poo pic shortly.

I considered egg binding a possibility as my very first thought... even though she hasn't laid in a bit... could be a double or triple yolker trying to come out...

But in my experience egg bound hens are often in the lay box, not eating or drinking as this bird was said to been... is the main reason I didn't suggest it.

But ALL birds and situations CAN present differently.. so it is worth consideration.

 

[stephcraig78]

Thank you for the great info. I love my birds but also accept the circle of life and know that these things happen. I would rather be told the truth about the possible outcome so I am prepared for whatever may happen. When I get back home I will do an internal exam and check the breast bone like you said. Over all she seems happy and otherwise normal acting. Her feathers are clean and shine like normal and her comb is bright red. Her eyes are bright and alert and she roams the yard with the others, scratching and eating and laying in her favorite dust spot. I’ll get some better pics and let you know the results of further examination. Thanks so much for all your help.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

her comb is bright red

That's the part that makes me wish I disagreed about prognosis. I try not to jump to conclusions though, and still hopeful for the beauty.

Are you fairly sure she doesn't have a hidden nest anywhere?

 

[stephcraig78]

Well seems like she feels some better. I’ve had her in a cage by herself since the other night and she’s eating, drinking, standing up normal, and walking normal. I didn’t get a chance to do internal exam yet but I her breast bone is slightly different than the big buff orp hen we have so think her overall condition hasn’t deteriorated much at all. Here’s a pic of the swelling. I’ll mark it so it’s easier to see. It’s not hard really. You can sort of squish it with your fingers but she does act like it’s slightly painful and makes a little crying sound. I read that this may be able to be drained with syringe? Also in the pics my daughter was holding her tilted back and was cleaning a bit of poo off her tail feathers.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that it looks like internal laying with her posture and symptoms. Some of these chickens can get around fairly well for months or a year or two, but some may start to fail and stop eating. Antibiotics are usually not effective, but might extend her life. Her chest may have a breast blister from pressure, and those can abscess. If lanced, squeeze out any pus, and clean with betadine or similar.