Last chance for weird hen before I cull

[irf1983]

I've posted about this hen before, I've tried everything I can think of and it doesn't seem to help. I figured one more shot before i cull because it doesn't seem to be in pain or be suffering. All it does is awkwardly crouch down with it's head at weird angles. The comb is very pale, and it is about half the size of other hens from the same hatch. I've tried separating it. It will eat and drink on it's own. I've tried ACV in the water, SULMET, yougurt, checking the crop. No mites, no swollen areas, no discharge, no broken bones. I'm wondering if it's some kind of birth deficiency. It's been over a month now and no improvement, but it also doesn't seem to be deteriorating. It walks very awkwardly, always kind of hunched down, and seems to have very poor balance. It crouches in such strange positions. It's inactive, but will flap about like crazy if i pick it up.

Here is the sick bird. She's a marans probably around 4 months old. This is how she sits all the time.

Just for reference this is another marans from the same hatch. It's about twice as big and you can see how much redder the comb is.

Any advice would be great. I hate to put this bird down just because it's goofy, but I can't imagine it's living a particularly enjoyable life either. Thanks!

 

[hinkjc]

She looks like she has kinky back. I would cull as well. I'm so sorry.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Oh, poor thing! Sadly these things happen, and in the wild a predator would have picked it off pretty quickly. It is sad, cause we want to help them so much, but sometimes things just dont line up the way they should!

She is going to keep on surviving in her quasi existence, until either something gets her, or you cull her. if she could tell you, she would probably tell you she would rather live a meager existence, than no existence. But ultimately you are the one to decide.

personally, if she is not in pain, and not being picked on, I would leave her. If she can eat, and drink, and roost at night, well then she is content. If she is a burden, or in pain, cull.

She may turn out to be the sweetest goof ball in your yard? But you would have to work on that if she flaps about when you touch her.

Please keep in mind that this advise comes from a softy with a particular fondness for the underdogs. I have a horribly deformed crossbill who gets a special mash every day, and is one of my favorite birds. Probably never get an egg from her, but she is my best gardening companion.

Good luck, which ever way you go.
A~

 

[irf1983]

Thank you both. She can't roost, at least I've never seen her doing it. I'm pretty sure she can't fly, she looks like she can hardly walk. If I don't cull her, I think she will just sit in the corner of the coop for the rest of her life unless there is something I can do to help her.

 

[chickenzoo]

If you hold her and stretch her body out, is her neck or Spine crooked? Have you ever treated her for coccidia?...............

 

[purpletree23]

Before you cull try vitamins. Poly Vi Sol liquid baby vitamins WITHOUT IRON. Give three drops by mouth in the morning and three drops by mouth at night. Do this for a week and then drop down to two drops for another week. She could have a vitamin deficiency or rickets.

Was she this way as a chick

You can get the vitamins at any pharmacy or walmart. Please give it a try and keep us posted.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

If it were my bird I would cull her for sure.

So sorry!

 

[Nif]

How old is she? I agree with giving her a week or two on the vitamins. I had a Cochin roo(he was about 3 weeks old when it happened) who's legs grew too fast for his body...suspected he may be getting too much calcium...took him off layena, put him on Chick feed and gave him lots of grass clippings, made him some hobbles, and in about 8 days he was back to normal...his legs would actually bend backwards at the hock, I thought for sure I would have to cull him. But he turned out to be a totally normal chicken. I just lost him recently to a hawk attack...he died defending his hens. He was a GREAT rooster.
If she isn't in pain then give her a fighting chance, and maybe some others would have some more tips to get her back on her feet.

 

[blueskylen]

poor girl! I had a hen that was absorbing the calcium from the eggs and forming a large tumor - she didn't seem sick at all until the mass got large,and then it was a fast downhill for her. I sure hated to let her go, but I could see she was in pain and it was for the best. the same for your sick little girl.

 

[thecochincoop]

I'm sorry but looking at the pictures she looks deformed slightly probably the skull and brain. I think I would cull. She doesnt' look right and I personally don't think she will ever be. Unless she seems to be happy then put her out of her misery. I know it is a hard decision but you know your bird the best.