Hen unable/unwilling in to walk???? Please help!!

cochinfan05

Songster
6 Years
Jun 14, 2013
286
37
109
LaFargeville NY
"Thumper" is a 2 year old standard cochin hen. When I went out to feed and water this morning I noticed her just laying in the yard. I was instantly suspicious and went over and picked her up. She simply stood then walked about a foot and remained standing. At this point I thought maybe I was over reacting and finished up and went to work. When I came home from work I instantly went out and checked on her. I found her in the coop laying down and panting. She had laid an egg. I removed her from the coop and she instantly just laid on the ground. She drank a ton of water and nibbled a little scrambled egg but didn't seem overly interested in food. Her crop was very full and hard this AM but seemed only a little full tonight a pliable. I checked her feet and legs and I don't see anything alarming at this point and she can stand for a few seconds but then just lays down. She does seem to have some loose frothy stool? Just a little more info on her she recently brooded and raised 12 chicks that are 6 weeks old and eating chick starter with oyster shells free choice. All my birds free range during the day and sleep in the coop at night. Although she did start laying about a week ago she still allows all the chicks to pile on and under her at night. At the moment I've separated her from the flock in a dog crate with food and water. Please any advise would be greatly appreciated.
 
I would not know to do any more than you are doing. Get her cooled down, hydrated and then fed. See how she starts out in the morning with her crop. She should be processing the food overnight. If her crop doesn't go down some overnight I would take the grain or regular feed away and look up how to deal with crop issues. She could have just gotten too hot today. They are weaker after being broody for so long. Good luck!
 
Not much progress through out the day. She still continues to eat and drink just to weak to stand for long or walk for any distance. She did lay another egg today though. How can a bird in this condition continue to lay?
 
So "Thumper" is continuing to hold in there. She eats and drinks well. Doesn't even stand though. Today while giving her a bit of a bath I did notice a wound near her vent. The vent itself is intake but the wound looks infected. Could this be the case of all this? It doesn't look so bad that it would make her unable to walk. I cleaned the area. Should I give antibiotic? I can get injectable baytril if anyone knows the dose for a chicken. I work at a vet office but we only see cats and dogs.
 
Well my girl is still hanging in there. She's set up in the house do to a little issue with maggots. I've started baytril Monday evening. I'm giving her the injectable orally. She still is unable to walk but she is putting up more of a fight when it comes to giving her the meds. It's been a week ago since yesterday. I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing her any favors prolonging this. Has anyone ever had a bird recover after this long? She continues to eat and drink. I just don't know. I want to help her and see her recover.:(
 
Is her crop empty in the morning? It should completely empty by morning and if it isn't, as others have suggested, it's time to look at crop issues contributing. There are some GI infections that could cause both lethargy and different stools like you talked about earlier. Is her stool still "loose and frothy"?

Pictures and even videos if possible will be helpful. Particularly the wound.
 
The crop is empty in the morning and the stools have firmed up since she's been in the house. I believe the wound is more of a cellulitis than any actual wound. Perhaps from the stool just sitting on the skin? I'll try to get a pic when I get home after work today. Thank you.
 

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