Hen with mobility/balance/coordination issues

[Weeg]

Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed one of my older RIR cross hens, probably about 7-9 years old, has been having balance/mobility issues. It’s gotten progressively worse. Originally I thought it was cold related since all my older birds seemed to hunker down more/have mobility issues in the cold, but it’s starting to warm up and it’s not getting any better. I’ve checked her over multiple times and I can’t find anything obviously wrong. No bumble foot, injuries, parasites, reproductive issues. I can’t find anything that would normally relate to her issues.
Exact symptoms are:
Laying down quite often. She spends a lot of time laying down, I’ve watched her get up to go eat, then lay down in front of the feeder to eat.

Balance issues. She doesn’t move quickly and when she does she teeters quite a bit. If I pick her up and set her down, she spreads her wings and is wobbly before regaining balance.

She doesn’t try to run from me. She is typically a very flighty girl.

Today I was filling up feed and she was the only bird that stayed put in the coop while I did so. I checked on her again and she was panting. Definitely not because of heat, it’s been holding at 40ish degrees here. She has had her tail down but I think that is balance related.
She is eating and drinking, and like I said I can’t find any else noticeably wrong. She can walk and get around just fine, but she moves rather slowly and “stiffly” almost. And not very often. Thoughts?
Should I rule out ALV as a cause to this? Not only would I expect her to be immune, but I would think it would progress much quicker than this. Though I’m not entirely certain.
Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[ChickNanny13]

ALV?
When was the last time she laid?
She's eating/drinking, have you seen her pooping?
Although she's eating, has she lost any weight, check her keel?
It's possible due to her age, maybe?

 

[Eggcessive]

Why do think about avian lymphoid leukosis virus? Have you have a chicken diagnosed with that before? I think with her age, she could have some arthritis, and possibly some internally laid masses of egg matter in her abdomen. Does there seem to be any fullness in her lower belly, that seem hard or like ascites fluid? What do her poops look like? Is she eating and drinking? How does her crop feel early in the morning? It is always hard to diagnose a hen whenshe is alive without expensive lab work or xrays from a vet. I have never seen a vet for a chicken, because I usually try to help them myself or put them down if they seem to be suffering.

 

[Weeg]

Why do think about avian lymphoid leukosis virus? Have you have a chicken diagnosed with that before? I think with her age, she could have some arthritis, and possibly some internally laid masses of egg matter in her abdomen. Does there seem to be any fullness in her lower belly, that seem hard or like ascites fluid? What do her poops look like? Is she eating and drinking? How does her crop feel early in the morning? It is always hard to diagnose a hen whenshe is alive without expensive lab work or xrays from a vet. I have never seen a vet for a chicken, because I usually try to help them myself or put them down if they seem to be suffering.

Yes, my flock has been a carrier of that virus for going on three years now. I’ve posted about it multiple times before, I found out after doing a necropsy on Smudge, my pet Cornish X. A lot of members know my flock carry’s it but I forget not everyone does. Apologies for the confusion.

No fullness in her abdomen, I have checked multiple times for that since I was concerned about it with her age. Her abdomen is completely normal.

She is eating, drinking, and pooping like normal.

I haven’t felt her crop early morning yet but I can do that tomorrow. During the day it seems somewhat small though I do see her eating. She had a relatively good weight but I think she’s on the thin side.

I was wondering about arthritis as well.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Weeg]

ALV?
When was the last time she laid?
She's eating/drinking, have you seen her pooping?
Although she's eating, has she lost any weight, check her keel?
It's possible due to her age, maybe?

Avian Leukosis Virus. It was diagnosed in one of my hens about three years ago and my flock will carry it for life. Has symptoms similar to Mareks disease, though it’s milder.

She has not laid recently. Because of the weather and light at the moment none of the birds in that pen have been laying.

Eating, drinking, pooping, is all normal.

She does seem a bit thin, though her weight it relatively normal.

Likely due to her age, and like @Eggcessive mentioned I was also wondering about arthritis.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Mareks came to mind but ALV is new to me but now I'll learn