Hip issues

[LizzyMayHarvey]

Hi guys! Im new here and I want to see if anyone knows what is wrong with my chicken? We have four chooks that are hand tamed and great pets but one of our girls hasn't been well. She has been hobbling around and acting very tired. She walks around like an old lady even though she is only two years old. She is still eating and drinking but won't come running for treats like the other girls anymore and has stopped laying eggs. This has been going on for over a month and it started with her not laying, then hobbling around, and now she spends most of the day in her house. She still seemed to be fairly happy so we decided to just keep an eye on her but it has gotten worse. We thought she had maybe damaged her hip or something? Our chooks a have a few places in their coop that are high so could she have injured herself from jumping off? But I was reading about Marek's thing and could that be the issue? This is our first flock of chickens so we are new to this kind of stuff. Since she was a chick she has breathed funny and when she rests you can see she is breathing hard and sometimes whistles. She also developed a few dark spots on her comb a while ago which is strange. She hasn't lost weight and actually seems to be getting bigger.
Would love to hear from a more experienced chicken keeper or someone who has a chook like this. Please help!

 

[Ebony Rose]

Pictures please, front face including nares, inside mouth, face from each side with eyes open, a picture of her standing and or eating, another of her walking, pictures of her vent, and her poop, a picture of her from the side (full bird in this photograph, prefer standing) to get a feel for her posture, and clear photographs of her legs and feet, top and bottom.

 

[Ebony Rose]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She has been hobbling around and acting very tired. She walks around like an old lady even though she is only two years old. She is still eating and drinking but won't come running for treats like the other girls anymore and has stopped laying eggs. This has been going on for over a month and it started with her not laying, then hobbling around, and now she spends most of the day in her house.

She also developed a few dark spots on her comb a while ago which is strange. She hasn't lost weight and actually seems to be getting bigger.

Welcome To BYC!

Can you post some photos of your hen and of her comb so we can see the spots you are concerned about?
Just to rule out an issue with the foot, have you checked her feet (bottom of them too) for any scabs or sores?

You mention that she's not lost weight and actually seems to be getting bigger. Feel of her abdomen below the vent between her legs - is there a feeling of bloat or fluid?

Not laying eggs, getting bigger and limping I would suspect a reproductive disorder. Internal Laying, Peritonitis, cancer, etc. can be common in laying hens. Hens with reproductive problems can develop a limp or have difficulty walking. They can also have some breathing problems due to fluid (Ascites) or masses inside the abdomen.

If there is fluid in the abdomen, sometimes that can be drained as a supportive care measure to make the hen more comfortable.
Unfortunately, if a reproductive disorder is causing her symptoms then realistically there's not a lot that can be done but make her comfortable. See that she's eating/drinking, stay on top of lice/mites/worms and ensure that her crop is emptying overnight.

It's possible that disease like Marek's could be playing a role, but with a development like this at 2yrs old, then I would lean heavily toward reproductive problems. If you lose her, a necropsy would offer a diagnosis and let you know the cause of her decline.

 

[LizzyMayHarvey]

Thanks for replying, I really appreciate the info. I will send in some pictures tomorrow so you can get a better idea of how she's doing.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with all of the points that @Wyorp Rock made. Ascites or reproductive problems, or Mareks would be possible. Unfortunately with chickens, we don’t always know what is wrong until we can do a necropsy after they die.

 

[LizzyMayHarvey]

Here are the pictures of our chicken. Btw her name is Maddie and we arent too sure of her breed.
The black spots on her comb and wattle have been getting progressively darker and when she breathes her "cheeks" suck in sometimes and if shes sleeping she will make a whistling sound.
Also her tail is droopy most of the time and I felt her abdomen and she doesn't seem to be full of fluid but then again I am not very experienced, and her feet are free from bumble foot or anything else.
Any info is very appreciated so we can try to make her more comfortable or make her better.

 

[LizzyMayHarvey]

I hope the photos are what you were looking for!

 

[Ebony Rose]

To the trained eye, they can shine a beacon at potential problems. Wyorp Rock and Eggcessive both have trained eyes.
Need a photograph of her vent please, preferably with the plumage pushed out of the way.

The black spots appear to be insect bite to me, they're not at the tips of the comb or waddles which is a favored spot for pecking injuries. Imagine mosquito bites that you've been scratching at, and how they get that bruised look to them; that's how those spots look to me.
Nares and inside of her mouth looks good, second guessing that under her tongue is a trick of lighting when you snapped the picture.
Poop looks fine, plenty of urates, is it warm where you are? It's hotter than a three-dollar pistol where I live, we're in the height of summer. The more water they drink, the more urates are in the poop.
Her eyes look clear, pupils appear equally dilated. Nothing 'off' with the coloring, no bubbling observed.
Her posture looks normal to me.

You know your girl, so you know when she's off... but she LOOKS good to me, a reproductive disorder or perhaps worms (some are microscopic) if she is sick.

Please post a photo of her vent.

 

[Eggcessive]

Her tail position does not look too bad. She may be a hatchery New Hampshere breed. I would watch her droppings for anything abnormal, and try to get her eating her chicken feed. Adding a bit of water and a spoonful of plain yogurt can make it more interesting. Worming her might be a good thing to do at this time. Valbazen or SafeGuard are very good ones.