Lethargic RIR, curled toe

[flowerchicks]

My 3 yr old RIR Rhoda has been acting a bit lethargic the last 3 or 4 days. She still eats and comes running with the other girls when I have treats, but I notice her just standing there kind of spacing out sometimes, and she usually has one of her legs lifted a little and her toes curled. I don't thnk she has been laying, but she is 3 and with 7 older hens, I only have 2 that are laying regularly. She doesn't have any problem walking, no wing drooping I can see. She does have a lot of poop under her vent, but so do several of my hens right now. We have had a few days of very hot weather (this last weekend was close to 100), but my yard is almost all shady, and they have access to sprinklers every afternoon. My first thought is botulism, but I am not noticing any real paralysis and she doesn't seem to be getting worse, just not better. I have checked them for mites but I never see anything and I hate treating for something if they don't need it. Could mites/worms cause this?

 

[seminolewind]

Can you check her for bumblefoot or something sticking in her foot?

 

[flowerchicks]

I checked her feet and they are fine. This morning she is still lethargic and not fluffed up. Her best friend and Co-ruler of the flock was starting to pick on her so there is definitely something wrong. She is in the living room now, I'm going to give her some scrambled eggs and water with rooster booster in it. Its all I can do until u get home from work.

 

[flowerchicks]

I'm wondering if I should worm her. I have never wormed any of my chickens before and I'm not even sure if she has worms. She is definitely thin and only nibbled on the scrambled eggs I gave her this morning.

 

[seminolewind]

Let's see. It could be mites, worms, heat. It could be something you can't solve. Botulism would kill fast as far as I know. What color is her poo? Is she molting? Is there any set up that points to Marek's?

 

[flowerchicks]

The poo stuck to her feathers looks like normal poo. She's not moulting that I can tell. Looking back on it, I know now she hasn't been herself for at least a week. Should I treat her for mites/worms or would that be too much for her system to take right now? I am going to get some yogurt (what is the best kind?) And see if I can get her to eat it. I am also going to wash her up a bit and look for mites. She has been in a dog crate in the living room all day and hasn't eaten her eggs and is just standing there, she won't even sit or lay down. Is that a symptom of anything? She doesn't seem to be in any pain when i pick her up but I can feel her breast bone. I see no sign of respiratory problems.