Immobile hen

[Potbelly]

Hi All,

I'm new to raising chickens and have become quite attached to our first few. I was de-miting one of our hens when she started to flap around so I gently threw her away, expecting her to right herself as she normally would, but she just landed on her side (I have since been told not to do this at night.) This was the night before we went on holiday. We came back a week later she was walking slightly funny, but it was hard to say how, just slightly dis-oriented. A week later and one leg just completed stopped working and she got about by using the wing. A week or so after that and now she cant move at all and can only just move a wing slightly.

Now she is completely immobile and has got very thin. We have her separated from the others with food and water and she looks healthy, but we picked her up to clean her and dry her and she did not make any effort to struggle at all, except for the occasional peck, but no noise, which is unlike her.

I'm reluctant to put her down if she can be saved, but am not sure whats for the best for her.

Thanks

 

[earlybird10842]

Hi and

I'm just bumping this post so other people notice it. Good luck!

 

[seminolewind]

Hi. It may be a vitamin deficiency. But my first thought would be Marek's, but I don't know your flock history, like have new chickens been added since her?
I would be watching to see if anyone else starts doing that.
The paralysis, and weight loss have me wondering Marek's. How is her neck control?

 

[Potbelly]

Thanks

Her neck control looks fine, occasionally she looks up and around and can move her head to feed and drink.

We only have two hens and have had them both for a year now. They were both innoculated before we got them. They are around 18 months and there has been no new introductions. The other one is perfectly fine.

Thanks

 

[leadwolf1]

My first thought is Marek's also but, the age and no new introductions is all wrong. What were you using to treat the mites? Have you used it before? Could you have overdosed her? Sounds like a neurological problem of some sort that may be a reaction to the insecticide.

 

[Potbelly]

It was A powder you sprinkle on, but I don't have it anymore so can't be sure of the brand. I didn't realise you could overdose so we may well have put too much on. Could this explain the progressive detoriation ? We have used this particular powder before with no problems and it was also applied to the other hen in the same dose.

Thanks

 

[leadwolf1]

Just as one person is fine with a certain medication and another is allergic, each animal can have a different reaction. However, it would be hard to OD on powder.

Has she been laying? She could be suffering from EYP.

 

[chickenzoo]

I am thinking that if she fell on her side, then after started having problems....it may be something neurological . She may have hit her head or her spine and pinched on a nerve. I would put her in a small area, or build her a sling. Give her scrambled egg and warm mushy canned dog food or baby parrot food... Close where she can reach it. A shallow bowl of vitamin water, I use poultry nutri drench... You should give some vitamin E gel caps, pierced and dripped one in her beak twice daily. Vitamin E helps with the injury. If no improvement then it may be from illness.

 

[seminolewind]

Is there any Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in your area? By mosquitos.
Other than that, sometimes you just never know. She could have a brain or spinal tumor-neuro.

If you got them 12 months ago, and they are 18 months old, I can't discount Marek's. They were 6 months old when you got them. If they had exposure to other chickens prior to vaccine, the vaccine won't help. And the stress from heat can bring it out. I think you may have to wait this out and see what the other one does. Is the other one really thin too?

With the first one, watch closely if she is pecking at the food or actually swallowing it. See if her crop is ever full. Check her eyes for cloudiness or odd shaped pupils, and wait to see if she progresses to non-control of neck.

 

[leadwolf1]

I have reread your thread and I missed the part that they were 6 months old when you acquired them. Anything could have happened in that 6 months. They could have survived a Marek's outbreak. I am finding out that not only is Marek's a disease in young birds but, older birds are very susceptible during high temps and around molting. Stress is Marek's life blood. My group was fine, they turned 13 months old, the heat hit and they started dropping one by one. Just when I thought I was safe. Marek's just does not follow any rules

I would recommend euthanizing your hen and have a necropsy performed. Or, you can just wait and see if she passes. It is the only way that you will know for sure what you are dealing with. Even if the other hen never shows symptoms, you need to know if it is Marek's you are dealing with...for your sake and for the sake of your other chickens now and in the future.