Leg or spinal injury? Hen with trouble walking and standing.

[Janet Pesaturo]

I'd give it a few days longer, at least. I don't know what the timetable is, especially since we aren't sure of the cause, but I've been impressed with their abilities to recover, at least partly, from a variety of problems. Some have surprised me by living years longer, perhaps mildly compromised in one way or another, but still with good quality of life, after I had thought they had just days to live. See if she improves or worsens over the next few days, and then decide what to do.

 

[Eggcessive]

If she dies or you put her down, I would contact your state vet to see about getting a necropsy to look for a cause of death, in case there is something infectious going on. Sorry that she is not getting better.

 

[arrowti]

Just an update: I took her out and let her out on the grass so I could change her bedding. Fortunately her digestive system is working because I found she was lying in her own poo and lots of it was also buried - I saw none the past few days so I was worried she wasn't able to.

Her 'condition' seems very strange and may have worsened. When I approach her, touch her, or she is otherwise stressed or scared, her neck and back convulse, her body spasms, and her legs flail, sending her flying over end, usually landing on her neck and head. The 'fits' as quick and she is fully awake and doesn't seem too bothered by them, as she goes back to eating when she's done. She ended up landing on her side in some mud which is why she will look dirty in the little video I got trying to show the tremors in her legs. I wasn't able to get one of these 'fits' on the video though, but a few minutes later she had another, small one, as she tried to flip herself over.

I saw her preening herself, but also ripping out her own feathers and eating them. I instantly wondered about her protein levels, so I scrambled an egg and gave her a few pieces, relieved that she was able to eat them. She was quite happy to eat them, too.

Out of curiosity I found this article about vitamin deficiencies in poultry: http://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/9#49

There are neurological symptoms similar to what our hen has, such as Convulsions with hyperexcitability, characteristic fright reaction with tetanic spasms, bottoms of feet rough and calloused with hemorrhagic cracks.

It may be coincidental but I will keep feeding her eggs to see if there is any improvement, and will try to find a poultry mineral and vitamin booster for her to see is that helps as well. It won't hurt her if it doesn't. Would nutri-drench be recommended? Psycho is not interested in any way in drinking water. She dipped her beak, shook her head, and did so twice before turning away. I don't know why she doesn't want to drink. Hopefully she was able to get liquid in the watermelon and grapes I've been giving her, as she refuses to drink her water.

Our chickens have been on the same feed for the 4 years we've had them, the Extra Egg Blue Seal poultry feed, and have never shown many signs of trouble. But she no longer lays and her dietary needs may have changed. We have had chickens eating eggs in the coops as well.

I couldn't add an attachment so I uploaded it to youtube as a private video. Not the best video, unfortunately. I'm not too great at handling a camera.

 

[arrowti]

Well, Psycho's gone.

She ended up with a mass on the back of her neck, under the skin. When pressed on her body would seize and twitch and her eyes would close and she's practically have a full blown seizure. Without pressure she was fine.

Her other conditions did not improve, and only got worse. Her convulsions got more frequent, longer, and more violent. She always ended up on her side and her side was beginning to get painful from laying on it. She no longer ate or drank and refused any treats. She hadn't been able to stand at all for more than a week, and her condition was deteriorating quickly. We decided it would be best to put her down rather than suffer in a crate alone.

It was likely a brain tumour in the end, maybe even cancer, but we don't know for sure if the tumour was cancerous. She was always a strange bird.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.

The rest of the flock is healthy and fine. The ducks are healthy. Although Psycho is gone, we did have 12 healthy piglets born overnight, so there is that to look forward to.

If anyone else has symptoms like these in their chickens, and has access to a veterinarian who can check them, send me a message with what they find.

 

[Eggcessive]

Arrowti, so sorry about losing Psycho. You did everything possible to help her, and I'm glad that she is not suffering. A necropsy by the state vet might give you a cause if the body is refrigerated and shipped or taken in. There looks to be labs in Orono and Augusta. Here are 2 links that might help:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

 

[Wiccadwitch]

Well, Psycho's gone.

She ended up with a mass on the back of her neck, under the skin. When pressed on her body would seize and twitch and her eyes would close and she's practically have a full blown seizure. Without pressure she was fine.

Her other conditions did not improve, and only got worse. Her convulsions got more frequent, longer, and more violent. She always ended up on her side and her side was beginning to get painful from laying on it. She no longer ate or drank and refused any treats. She hadn't been able to stand at all for more than a week, and her condition was deteriorating quickly. We decided it would be best to put her down rather than suffer in a crate alone.

It was likely a brain tumour in the end, maybe even cancer, but we don't know for sure if the tumour was cancerous. She was always a strange bird.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.

The rest of the flock is healthy and fine. The ducks are healthy. Although Psycho is gone, we did have 12 healthy piglets born overnight, so there is that to look forward to.

If anyone else has symptoms like these in their chickens, and has access to a veterinarian who can check them, send me a message with what they find.

I cane here looking for info because I have a 2 month old chick having very similar symptoms. I also assumed leg injury ar first but after several days of watching her and keeping her indoors I've re assessed and now think its spinal or neurological. Given your post my hopes for her are not great. I really dont have the resources to involve a vet especially if its something that cannot be helped. If anyone else knows of any curable conditions that can cause these symptoms I'd like to hear about them. She has trouble standing and balancing, legs tremble. Tours curl when lying down and sometimes even when she is trying to stand. Her wings droop and she uses fluttering to try and help balance but falls and tumbles easily. She is a quiet docile bird so handling her to look for evidence if injury was easy enough. No sign of anything.

 

[Chiccenlover]

Hey is she cured