Injured Brahma - was recovering, but now can't walk

[pmottshaw]

Hello Everyone,

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this situation.

About 3 weeks ago when I was putting my chickens to bed (I close their door at night), I noticed that my Brahma (4 years old) hen was injured. She had a huge gash on the top of her head. The weather was still cold (I'm in Rhode Island) so I took her inside into the basement. We have a heated basement; I set up a spot for her. She was eating, drinking and walking just fine. I fed her layer pellets and a treat every morning (a piece of cheese, piece of hard boiled egg, etc).

She was progressing nicely. Her would was healing nicely. Then, about a week ago, she stopped walking. She spends her day under my husband's table saw. She does still eat, but only specific things. She will peck at her pellets occasionally; eats little pieces of cheese, little pieces of egg salad. She is drinking very little.

She manages to move herself around because when I check on her I notice that she has moved around (her head is facing a different direction). But, she stays within a 2-foot area.

I spoke to a physician I work with who has had experience with chickens and he suggested that maybe my hen has a calcium deficiency. That's why I started trying giving the hen little pieces of egg and cheese.

When I pick her up, I can see that the hen's feet are a little curled up.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[d.k]

* Start with these-- Immediately add electrolytes to the water-- poultry version are best due to salt content of many others, but you can use Pedialyte until you get poultry lytes. ALSO--Add 1 crushed TUMS tablet to feed for emergency calcium boost. Next, 3 DROPS daily of POLY-VI-SOL (human infant) vitamins given by mouth for 1 week and tapering off by 1 drop each week thereafter. Usually suspected to be calcium deficiency-- but magnesium and riboflavin may be possibles as well. There is magnesium in the electrolytes. To add extra riboflavin, you can try some Room Temp. milk w/bread FROM A MILK *CARTON* as light destroys the B-2 in plastic jug storage.

 

[petlove]

Was the wound near her neck, at all? Maybe her spinal cord is affected.

 

[pmottshaw]

I appreciate the quick replies. Thank you so very much.

I will try your suggestions.

When she was first injured, she was walking just fine for about 3 weeks. So, that makes me think that her spinal cord probably isn't the issue.

 

[d.k]

*Hoping for the best, P.