Is she going to die?

[Mintatheena]

I have an Ameraucana hen that is suddenly limping. I've had two chickens in the past suddenly begin to limp, as well as lose weight. They both died within a week of their limp. Now another one of my hens is limping, although she hasn't seemed to loose any weight. In the first two situations I did everything I could to try and get them to eat and drink, such as force feeding and mashing up their food. Not only does she have a limp/loss of coordination, but she sits there gasping for air. She is still hobbling around and she constantly tries to get to the nest box (on the second floor of the coop). Does anyone have any idea what disease this could be or what I could do? I've been told in the past mereks but the other two cases happened pretty far apart from each other, the last one being more than 3 months ago. I also have 20 little chicks right now all vaccinated against mereks. Any ideas what I can do? Any help will be greatly appreciated

 

[Mintatheena]

A video for your convienenice. She still hobbles around to some extent but she mostly lies down and pants, occasionally taking a few disoriented steps

 

[chicapee]

A video for your convienenice. She still hobbles around to some extent but she mostly lies down and pants, occasionally taking a few disoriented steps

I am sorry that she is sick. But I am fairly new to chickens too. I hope that someone with more experience can help. I will try and look up what this might be.

 

[chicapee]

Can you isolate her from the rest of your flock?
She maybe too far gone to treat. From your description,it does sound like a disease that affects the nervous system like botulism or mareks.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

When a hen falls ill there are a multitude of secondary or opportunistic infections or diseases that are all looking for a new home. Unfortunately that home is inside your poultry's body. I always advise against treating sick hens, believing that it is better for the flock if the sick ones are culled.

A shot of LA-50 or LA-200 antibiotic is probably the best treatment, that is if you want to go ahead and treat her.

 

[Mintatheena]

So I have an update on the situation. She had been limping for about a week before I posted this. Not a bad limp just a slight fumble every now and then in her gait. I didn't think much of it until she grounded herself and started panting. I have no injectable antibiotics on me, I used oral antibiotics on her and seperated her from the flock as best as I could. Well, lo-and behold I come home and she had been let out of her seperationq cage by someone in my family!! I look for the "limping chicken" in the flock and I spot her....but she's walkimg just fine!! I don't think the antibiotics could've done THAT much so soon? Maybe she wasn't hurt so bad afterall. I have no idea how, but I'll keep an eye on her.

 

[Shabana]

Great news ! Hope she goes from strength to strength.

Best wishes to you all x

 

[Mintatheena]

Update...and with very bad news! She went from walking perfectly fine to no use of her legs at ALL. She has trouble eating and drinking on her own, she cannot stand up at ALL and she barely has any mobility (she flaps around a bit and that's all). She's livigg inside the house for now but I think it's about time we call it. I don't think she has much time left but I'm going to try and make her as comfy as possible before she does.

 

[chicapee]

Sorry to hear that you have been fighting very hard for her.

 

[Shabana]

I'm glad she's had you.
I had a hen who we think had a stroke and ended up with no use in her legs. She flapped from one place to the other. She was isolated at home. In the end we culled her, whilst do-able in the summer she would have struggled in the winter and become lonely and probably depressed.

It became clear after several weeks that there was no improvement so we made the call. I think your right to start considering it. It's heartbreaking especially when you have gotten attached after trying to care for them, but it's about quality of life.

I hope things get better for her, or at least you have a bit of time x