chickenrunsquad
In the Brooder
- Aug 3, 2025
- 19
- 45
- 49
Came to tell my story of our little Sapphire Gem. She started to lay early, about 4 months old. First egg was no problem, but on her 2nd egg we noticed that she began to stumble. On the 2nd day, she couldn't even get up.
We brought her to the vet and they said it was most likely a neurological issue or lead poisoning. They suggested that we put her down because neither had high recovery rates.
We just couldn't do it. She was very affectionate, unlike some of our birds and continued to lay, even at the vet's when they said to put her down.
So, over the past 2 months, we have fed her by hand, packed her food with crushed Vitamin B and Calcium pills we bought from Costco and carried her around the yard when she makes distress noises from loneliness.
Here, at month 6, she is back to walking. It is stilted and slow, but when all the other girls come running, she is limping behind. Also, she is back to climbing and finding a roost. Also, she continues to lay almost every other day.
It's not perfect, but I want people to know that your chicken can recover mobility and still be part of the flock.
We brought her to the vet and they said it was most likely a neurological issue or lead poisoning. They suggested that we put her down because neither had high recovery rates.
We just couldn't do it. She was very affectionate, unlike some of our birds and continued to lay, even at the vet's when they said to put her down.
So, over the past 2 months, we have fed her by hand, packed her food with crushed Vitamin B and Calcium pills we bought from Costco and carried her around the yard when she makes distress noises from loneliness.
Here, at month 6, she is back to walking. It is stilted and slow, but when all the other girls come running, she is limping behind. Also, she is back to climbing and finding a roost. Also, she continues to lay almost every other day.
It's not perfect, but I want people to know that your chicken can recover mobility and still be part of the flock.
