losing sight or neuro?

[Jaxchix]

Hi, one of my hens was just sitting on the floor of the coop this morning and seems very weak and skinny. I gave her a warm water bath as she had a lot of loose poop around her vent. I noticed the other day that she had long nails (which seemed odd, everyone elses are fine) so I trimmed her nails aswell and have separated her off. She has eaten some yogurt and berries but I noticed she is pecking the air before she gets to the food. She seems to either have no depth perception or very little sight. i havent noticed any different behaviour before today but the long nails would indicate that she hasn't been moving around and scratching as much as usual for a little while. The others haven't been picking on her at all, usually mine are quick to pick on a sickly coop-mate.
Any thoughts anyone?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She could be going blind and that's the reason she's failing, or she could be failing which can cause blindness especially as they become depleted. He symptoms are vague and can include many things. More than likely she won't make it. I have some who have long nails that need trimming sometimes so that's not necessarily a sign, but most of mine with long nails are older birds.

Sorry I'm not much help, chickens seem to either be healthy and fine, or sick and dead. There's not a lot of gray area for them. I personally would cull and end her misery. I don't treat unwell birds anymore because it often does no good.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I forgot to ask how old the hen is? And do you see any changes to her eyes and pupil?

 

[Jaxchix]

she's about 2 years old now, no changes in eyes

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She's probably too old for Mareks, I would suspect something internal, like organ failure or cancer.

 

[Jaxchix]

I was just worried incase it was from a parasite that may be passed on or something contagious

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always figure by the time a bird is looking sick it has already infected everyone if it's contagious so there's nothing I can do except hope it wasn't. Most things aren't.