Illness or injury?

[Cwilkins711]

Came out this morning to feed and water my girls and my 6 fpossibly older) year old speckled Sussex hen is not able to walk very well. Her leg keeps getting stuck behind her and she puts her wing out to try and steady herself. When picked up she will curl her feet but is a little ataxic when attempting to move. Still very interested in eating, her comb is red, and her eyes are clear. I have her separate, gave her some nutri-drench in her water and also about 1ml orally for rapid response. She is in with a rooster who is OBSESSED with her so not sure if he jumped in her and hurt her back or if it’s an illness. Any help is appreciated. She stopped laying last year so she’s just living her best retired life with me.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you added any new birds to your flock recently who might be carrying Mareks disease. I would treat her daily with super B complex 1/2 tablet daily crushed into a bit of egg or mushy moist chicken feed. That has riboflavin and all other b vitamins that helps if there is a deficiency causing the curled toes and leg issues. She may have a back or leg injury from the rooster, or a mass pushing on her sciatic nerve. I would separate them during the day with a dog crate with food and water so that she could rest. Oh I see that she is separated already. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[azygous]

Where are you located? Is it summer or winter there?

The symptoms you described could be from heat sickness, moldy food or bedding, petroleum distillate poisoning, or an avian virus such as Marek's or leucosis.

 

[Cwilkins711]

Have you added any new birds to your flock recently who might be carrying Mareks disease. I would treat her daily with super B complex 1/2 tablet daily crushed into a bit of egg or mushy moist chicken feed. That has riboflavin and all other b vitamins that helps if there is a deficiency causing the curled toes and leg issues. She may have a back or leg injury from the rooster, or a mass pushing on her sciatic nerve. I would separate them during the day with a dog crate with food and water so that she could rest. Oh I see that she is separated already. Let us know how she gets along.

I did add some new pullets but they were quarantined prior to going in with my other hens and it was over a month ago.