Listless hen lying on her side. Can't hold her head up.

[Zarathenos]

I have a two year old buff orpington who looked healthy and happy yesterday. This morning she's lying on her side, can't hold her neck up. No obvious signs of trauma. Doesn't want to eat or drink. Any ideas?

 

[Trish1974]

I have no idea what could be wrong, but if you can bring her inside (confined to a dog crate if you have one) so you can observe her and so no other flock members pick on her. Good luck!

 

[Zarathenos]

I have her inside now. I gave her some calcium in case she's egg bound. It doesn't really look like that, but I thought it couldn't hurt. And I'm giving her water though she doesn't really seem to want it. When I try to set up upright she falls forward on her face then slumps to the side. She still has strength in her legs but no interest in moving.

 

[Trish1974]

Wow, I have no idea. I wish I could help. I hope someone comes along with some good advice. If you can find a vet who would treat a chicken that would be your best bet. In my area I'd have better luck finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

I have had that happen to my Sumatra I don't know exactly but can she drink or eat at all?

 

[Eggcessive]

I have a two year old buff orpington who looked healthy and happy yesterday. This morning she's lying on her side, can't hold her neck up. No obvious signs of trauma. Doesn't want to eat or drink. Any ideas?

I am sorry about your hen. That is pretty scary. Is she molting right now? I would keep trying to hold her upright, maybe prop her up on some rolled towels, and hold a small cup of water to her beka. Dip her beak for a second if she won't drink. Cook some soft scrambled egg and see if she will take some. Can she stand up or walk if you set her up? Can she move her legs or feet if you stroke them? Do you think that she might have fallen or been injured? Look her over for any wounds, and check her out all over. Look at her crop, and feel if it is empty, full, hard, or puffy. Look for lice and mites under her vent area and around her neck and wings. Has she been laying up to now? Have you recently added any new birds to your flock? Is she having any trouble breathing or any gasping?

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are a few examples of homemade chicken slings that people have used to get their chickens upright so they can eat and drink. Keep them in there only a little at a time, if you use one, and let her sleep on the floor at night. The sling needs 3 holes--two for the legs, and a "poop hole" in the rear.

 

[Zarathenos]

Thanks all. I have her propped up in a box. She can't walk at all. And even when I hold her upright she can't orient her head correctly. There's food and water available, but she's not interested. She hasn't eliminated all day. She isn't molting and her vent looks fine. Her crop feels empty. She has been laying up until now. She doesn't seem to have any problems breathing. She does move her feet and will hold on to my finger, better on her right side than her left but both feet work. There's no sign of trauma at all. She is holding her wings high on her back as if preparing to flap rather than against her sides and occasionally shakes. There's been no unusual foods and no new birds to the flock. Can chickens have a stroke?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes they can have strokes, but some other things that might cause paralysis or severe lameness are Mareks disease, botulism, lead poisoning, and mold or aflatoxin poisoning. Mareks usually affects young birds in the first 6-8 months, but older birds who have recently been exposed to a new flock member or wild bird who is a carrier. Botulism comes from eating the remains of a dead fish or animal, or rotted vegetation that has been buried or without air. It sounds very grave, but I hope she suddenly starts drinking for you.

 

[Lori J]

Can I ask whatever happened to your bird? I am having one with the same symptoms this morning.