Hen walks funny, seems weak?

[Eggcessive]

In the video it did appear that she was sitting on her hocks or elbows. I really hope it is just a riboflavin deficiency or a sprain. The sooner riboflavin deficiency is treated the more chances of recovery, but in longstanding cases it does not respond well. Mareks vaccines are not 100% successful, so watch her for any new signs, such as a paralysed leg or graying of the eyes or changes in the pupil shape.

 

[chickgirl12]

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CHICKEN. SHE'S LIMPING, SITTING IN GRASS, AND LAYING PROPERLY, JUST LIKE YOURS. MINE HAS ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS!

 

[Eggcessive]

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CHICKEN. SHE'S LIMPING, SITTING IN GRASS, AND LAYING PROPERLY, JUST LIKE YOURS. MINE HAS ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS!

Start some poultry vitamins very soon that include riboflavin (vitamin B2.) Did your get Mareks vaccines?

 

[AlletahG]

Thank you for looking at the video and photos. I will call around to feed stores tomorrow to make sure we get the right vitamins and will watch her for any other symptoms. I really appreciate the help!

 

[Eggcessive]

If you have a vitamin B complex tablet or PolyVisol without iron baby vitamins, you can give a crushed tablet in a quart of water or 3 drops orally to her. The only vitamin to avoid at the feed store is Poultry Nutri-Drench because it lacks riboflavin--otherwise it is a good product.

 

[AlletahG]

Thanks, I will keep it in mind. I don't have any vitamins in the house, but I'll look for those if the feed stores don't have the right kind.

 

[chickgirl12]

Start some poultry vitamins very soon that include riboflavin (vitamin B2.)  Did your get Mareks vaccines?

I don't know what vaccines they got. I got my chickens from Tractor Supply.

 

[AlletahG]

Just wanted to give a quick update -- our limping hen is still limping around. She is on vitamins but hasn't gotten any better or worse. She still gets around OK and is eating and laying, but no change in her legs. The only good thing is now we can easily tell her apart from the other hens.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry that she hasn't improved more. From what I have read about riboflavin deficiency is that it responds better to vitamins if noticed early on, but it seems not to have progressed any more, if that is what she has. In this link below it shows what severe riboflavin deficiency can look like if not treated: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency

 

[AlletahG]

Good news -- although we never figured out what was wrong with her, our limping chicken is no longer limping. A few weeks ago, she started to seem to be moving around better. Now, she runs around as well as the others. In fact, I can't even tell which one was the limper! I wish I could say I did something that worked, but whatever her ailment was just resolved itself.