Is my chicken sick?

[Brandy Hurley]

A few days ago I noticed one of our older hens acting really weird. She was having a very hard time walking and would limp and fall a lot. We figured she was egg bound and soaked her in warm water for about 30 minutes but she still past nothing. The next day her condition got worse and she could not walk at all. I gave her two baths that day, one with epsom salt but still she past no egg, although she did poop and it was very abnormally colored, nothing like usual. Today she is in the same condition. She’s been eating very well and I’m pretty sure drinking too but she still can’t stand. Does anyone know what’s wrong or how to help her? It’s been 3 days and I’m afraid if I wait too long I might lose her.

 

[Eggcessive]

An injury to her legs might be a possibility, but some chickens with internal laying or some other reproductive disorders may have trouble walking, waddle, or rest a lot between trips. Has she laid eggs recently? Is her lower belly between her legs enlarged or tight? Have you inserted a finger into her vent to check for an egg? Pictures or descriptions of poops can be helpful. Look at her footpasds for scabs, at her feet and legs for swelling, redness, or bruising. Make sure that she is close enough to reach her food and water. She may be picked on or hurt by other chickens, so separate her if that happens. A dog crate with food/water, but kept with the chickens is ideal.

 

[annaBsChick]

It sounds like something is wrong. Have you tried using the chicken symptom checker tool to get an idea of the possibilities? http://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php

 

[Brandy Hurley]

An injury to her legs might be a possibility, but some chickens with internal laying or some other reproductive disorders may have trouble walking, waddle, or rest a lot between trips. Has she laid eggs recently? Is her lower belly between her legs enlarged or tight? Have you inserted a finger into her vent to check for an egg? Pictures or descriptions of poops can be helpful. Look at her footpasds for scabs, at her feet and legs for swelling, redness, or bruising. Make sure that she is close enough to reach her food and water. She may be picked on or hurt by other chickens, so separate her if that happens. A dog crate with food/water, but kept with the chickens is ideal.

Nothing looks wrong with her legs at all, they look perfectly normal. She’s never acted like this ever, neither have my other chickens. As for the poops, they’re nothing like usual. Yellow, runny, and very foul smelling. As far as I know she hasn’t laid any eggs recently and her lower belly is perfectly fine.

 

[Brandy Hurley]

It sounds like something is wrong. Have you tried using the chicken symptom checker tool to get an idea of the possibilities? http://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php

No I haven’t yet, thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Do her poops look like they contain egg matter? If you hold her up, will she move her legs or toes? Have you added any new chickens to your flock recently?

 

[Brandy Hurley]

Do her poops look like they contain egg matter? If you hold her up, will she move her legs or toes? Have you added any new chickens to your flock recently?

They don’t appear to contain any egg matter. Actually they are kind of greenish. When I hold her up she doesn’t move her legs at all and no I haven’t added any new chickens since last year.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds very grave if she doesn’t move her legs. It might be Mareks disease, infection, reproductive disorder, or injury. She may need to be positioned with towels, or with a chicken sling to get her upright for short periods of time. If you should lose her, you can get a necropsy from your state vet to find out what was wrong. Here is a list of state vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Brandy Hurley]

It sounds very grave if she doesn’t move her legs. It might be Mareks disease, infection, reproductive disorder, or injury. She may need to be positioned with towels, or with a chicken sling to get her upright for short periods of time. If you should lose her, you can get a necropsy from your state vet to find out what was wrong. Here is a list of state vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

I have her positioned with towels now and we’re going to be taking her to a vet later today so hopefully we will find out what’s wrong