Hen unable to walk. Help please!

[chickieshib]

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous

I dont' have to much experience with this specific issue, but the above members will hopefully be able to help more.
I'm sorry about your hen, if it were me, the first thing I would do is start tube feeding. If she isn't eating, no matter what it is she isn't going to make it. Tube feeding sounds intimidating, but it isn't as bad as it seems once you figure it out.
This article gives good info on tube feeding- Article 'Crop Feeding'
When was the last time your lady laid an egg? How does her abdomen feel? Squishy, doughy, hard, enlarged? Can you weigh her? Photos of her poop may help, green is usually from lack of food, but it might help other members. What do the bottoms of her feet look like? Any signs of bumble foot?
I hope the other members can take some answers of these questions and help you. I also hope we can figure out what is wrong with your lady. Like mentioned above, ISA browns are high production breeds, and sadly don't live too long. Your lucky to get them past 5, I'm so so impressed that you got her to this age, your odiously a great chicken momma. I'd start with crop/tube feeding and go from there. Getting food in her is going to be most important at this point.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I will try as you suggested and see how I go. It was just over 12 months ago she laid an egg, her abdomen is warm and a little squishy but she has lost a bit of weight, so hard to tell. It is definitely not enlarged and there is nothing in her crop. Her legs and feet look fine, no sign of bumblefoot or mites of any kind. She is not totally paralysed, as she moves her legs to shuffle around on her hocks and if I stretch her legs and feet out, she pulls them back in. As other have suggested, she is an old girl and this just may be her time But I will keep trying my best to give her a longer life. She (Sheila) has been a good chooken. Thanks again. Just an edit, I read the article about Crop Feeding and it initially says "Crop feeding should only be administered to well hydrated, normothermic birds that are able to stand on their own." As such, I don't think I should be doing this with her. I will just try and persist with the syringe feeding and see how things go. Thanks.

 

[SapphireHill]

All great suggestions for your sweet ol’ chook!

Hopefully it’s not this…
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/02/avian-flu-scan-feb-28-2022

It’s here in the US as of February 2022 and spreading fast.

 

[chickieshib]

All great suggestions for your sweet ol’ chook!

Hopefully it’s not this…
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/02/avian-flu-scan-feb-28-2022

It’s here in the US as of February 2022 and spreading fast.

Hi, thanks for reply. But no, fairly certain it's not this. I'm in Australia, no notifications that I'm aware of here. Not sure what the symptoms are? but my old girl doesn't have any respiratory problems which I imagine would be a factor in an Avian flu disease. Thanks again.

 

[Weeg]

I guess I'll just keep persisting with what I'm doing and hope she pulls through but as she is an old girl, this may just be her time Thought I would just try for a longer life for her. Thanks again.

Honestly, I don't think it is. Yes, older hens are more suseptable to diseases, but hens can live to 13 years old, ISA's are far less likley, but that doesn't mean they can't. I don't think you should give up, I think there may be something else going on here that you may very well be able to treat. Follow @azygous's advice, and you never know, maybe you'll have her for more years to come.

 

[Weeg]

Just an edit, I read the article about Crop Feeding and it initially says "Crop feeding should only be administered to well hydrated, normothermic birds that are able to stand on their own." As such, I don't think I should be doing this with her. I will just try and persist with the syringe feeding and see how things go. Thanks.

This means you should not crop feed birds who are lethargic, or can't hold up their head. Not necessarily birds who can't stand correctly if that makes cense. This is implied because birds who can't hold themselves correctly are more at risk to aspiration. I don't think that your girl falls under that catagory. She can still hold herself upright, and is not letharic. You need to get some feed in her, and crop feeding is the most affective, and easiest way to do that. I hope this helps.

 

[Weeg]

Hi, thanks for reply. But no, fairly certain it's not this. I'm in Australia, no notifications that I'm aware of here. Not sure what the symptoms are? but my old girl doesn't have any respiratory problems which I imagine would be a factor in an Avian flu disease. Thanks again.

I don't think Avian Flu is the cause here. Paralysis is not a symptom, and the rest of the symptoms don't relate to this issue.

 

[Chicken lover1980]

Hi, thanks for reply. If you could post a video of how to syringe feed that would be great. I have been trying with mushed up pellets mixed with water to syringe into her but she only takes a small amount. Maybe I could do with some help on how to syringe feed her more efficiently. And yes, she (Sheila) has been lonely since her Isa friend (Shirley) died, as she constantly follows us around the backyard and comes to our back door to look for us, if we're not outside. Her abdomen is warm and a little squishy but she has lost a lot of weight, so hard to tell. Her crop has been empty since this all happened, even with the little bit of food I'm getting into her. She has been drinking a little of the water with the multi-vitamins in it, but not drinking a lot. As others have suggested, as she is an old girl this may just be her time I will keep trying though and see how things go. But if you could post that syringe feeding video, that would be much appreciated. Thanks again.

So it looks like I can’t post a vid but I can try sending you the link via a YouTube vid.

It’s not the best vid so sorry about that, it’s the best I had on hand at the moment.


Poor shelia seems like she desperately needs a friend.

Because she is also not drinking a lot of water you can syringe feed her some water to. Make sure you are giving her breaks to swallow tho. I really hope she pulls through!

Besides the layer pellets you can give her fish oil if you have any and try enticing her with scrambled or raw eggs.

Also i hope we didn’t bring your spirits down! Shelia is a strong hen and it’s really a low chance it’s her time to leave. It could be something else and maybe even depression. If she gets better is there a way you can get her a new hen friend?

 

[Weeg]

So it looks like I can’t post a vid but I can try sending you the link via a YouTube vid.

It’s not the best vid so sorry about that, it’s the best I had on hand at the moment.


Poor shelia seems like she desperately needs a friend.

Because she is also not drinking a lot of water you can syringe feed her some water to. Make sure you are giving her breaks to swallow tho. I really hope she pulls through!

Besides the layer pellets you can give her fish oil if you have any and try enticing her with scrambled or raw eggs.

Also i hope we didn’t bring your spirits down! Shelia is a strong hen and it’s really a low chance it’s her time to leave. It could be something else and maybe even depression. If she gets better is there a way you can get her a new hen friend?

Syringe feeding is a good option, though this video doesn't give a ton of information. When syringe feeding, the biggest concern is aspiration. If a chicken aspirates, its very unlikely you will be abel to treat them. Aspiration is when liquid is forced into the lungs, they can't breath and usually die. When syringe feeding, you HAVE to pay very close attention to this and keep in mind that it a major concern.
To prevent aspiration, you ALWAYS need to syringe the mixture into the RIGHT side of their beak. To do this, I like to use a bulb syringe, doesn't work for feed but does work for water, since its very long and skinny. Place the syringe towards the back of the beak up agains the RIGHT side. This prevents aspiration, and makes it far less likely you will force liquid into the crop. This photo shows how-

Good post @Chicken Vet Of Our Flock, just make sure to include a bit more info next time. No problem what so ever, but I do hope this photo/info can help you help others in the future.