Hen walking funny after molting

[puzzlemasta]

Hi! I’ve only been keeping hens for 1.5 years so I’m still learning.

Our hen was broody for 6 weeks before we finally decided to break her. A couple days after breaking she started molting. Now after 3 or so days of molting, she is walking funny. It looks like she’s sort of stumbling, but we suspect she might just be uncomfortable while molting.

Any thoughts? Also should add it’s hot as heck here in the midwest. Getting up to about 90 during the day.

Video of her walking

Thanks for any help!

Erin

 

[nuthatched]

She's wiped out after everything.
Get her on a nice high protein feed if she isn't already, then give her a round of vitamins

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I agree with nuthatched. She is starving and depleted of nutrients after sitting on eggs twice as long as she would have if she’d hatched chicks and then going straight into molt. If you have any nutridrench I would get that into her right away and electrolytes wouldn’t hurt either in addition to high protein feed

 

[puzzlemasta]

Thank you! They’re already on feed with 20% protein content. I think they have a higher one at the store I can get though. And I just added Rooster Booster (vitamins, electrolytes, and lactobacillus) and some DMG to the water. Appreciate the help!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Keep us posted.

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you! They’re already on feed with 20% protein content. I think they have a higher one at the store I can get though. And I just added Rooster Booster (vitamins, electrolytes, and lactobacillus) and some DMG to the water. Appreciate the help!

That feed is perfect, just work on vitamins

 

[coach723]

A b complex or super b complex tablet or capsule once a day would be good. Human ones, any pharmacy or walmart has them, brand doesn't matter. The b's, thiamine and riboflavin in particular, can get low if they haven't been eating well, which happens when they are broody or when they feel lousy from molt. They can get clumsy, stumble, or walk like they are drunk. The b's are very safe, extra will be excreted. I've had more than one hen with similar issues, and the b's very often fixes it, sometimes in one or two doses, sometimes longer. Just put the tablet or capsule in her beak and push it back a little, she will swallow it.