Multiple hens with Lameness

[Patrick M Chickens]

Hello!
I’m curious if someone could identify what may be going on here. I have a flock of a couple dozen hens that are 3 years old and one large dark Brahma began showing signs of lameness about a year ago. She is extremely large for her breed (we thought she was a rooster for quite a while) so we equated the lameness to a potential genetic issue. However, it has been slowly getting worse to the point where she still walks and hangs with the crowd but doesn’t perch at night and recently prefers to lay down when she eats mealworms. While I thought this was an isolated issue I was surprised to see one of our light brahmas exhibiting similar symptoms out of the blue by wobbling around somewhat, dipping her tail, and occasionally laying down to eat today. Does anyone have any ideas on what this could be?

They are fed a seed mix and mealworms as a main diet with access to clean water and a green pasture. They are also dewormed with SafeGuard monthly.

After doing some initial research we considered Merck disease but it seems odd that the first hen has had signs for over a year. We also used to live in an area with a lot of ticks, could it be some kind of Lyme disease? And suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[nuthatched]

What's their feed, exactly? I suspect nutrition deficiency

 

[Debbie292d]

When you say they are fed a "seed mix" are you meaning like Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve or something like that, that's actual feed?

If you don't have any B-complex, I'd get some and give each one 1/2 of one once a day. That helps with leg, bone, muscle issues. You may have to do this for a week or two, then after they're better, start giving them Poultry Cell in their water a couple of times a week to keep their vitamin/nutrient levels up.

B-complex also comes in liquid, which is pricier but much easier. It's cherry flavored so they like it right from the eye dropper to the beak. Or, mix it in a small amt of scrambled eggs or mash so you know they eat it all. For the liquid, it would be 1/2 of the eye dropper that comes with it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They are fed a seed mix and mealworms as a main diet with access to clean water and a green pasture. They are also dewormed with SafeGuard monthly.

Can you post a photo of the seed mix?

 

[Debbie292d]

I'll add that it sounds like they get mealworms as part of their "meal." Mealworms are very high in fat, so another issue could be that they are possibly overweight and may be having internal issues due to the fat gathering around their vital organs. Leg nerves run through their kidneys.

Mealworms are also high in protein and calcium, among other things, so they are a good treat, but they should only be given a few of those a day.

 

[Perris]

@Patrick M Chickens If you select the hen image, then 'Gait lameness' on this symptom checker
https://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php
you can work through the possibilities for the best match.

For what it is worth, I think your birds look to be in fabulous condition and would be very surprised if there's any deficiency in their diet; one or other of the diseases and infections cited in the symptom checker list would be the likely culprit in my view.

 

[Debbie292d]

@Patrick M Chickens If you select the hen image, then 'Gait lameness' on this symptom checker
https://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php
you can work through the possibilities for the best match.

For what it is worth, I think your birds look to be in fabulous condition and would be very surprised if there's any deficiency in their diet; one or other of the diseases and infections cited in the symptom checker list would be the likely culprit in my view.

They are fed a seed mix and mealworms as a main diet

This is why we're all thinking that nutrition is a problem. I think they look overweight if anything.

 

[Perris]

This is why we're all thinking that nutrition is a problem. I think they look overweight if anything.

If you look at the symptom checker, the nutrition possibles are:
gout
pyridoxine deficiency
rickets
thiamine deficiency
vitamin A deficiency or
vitamin E deficiency.

Internet slop about mealworms and fat isn't worth the pixels it appears on. Too much carb heavy food like commercial corn feed is what leads to fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome (and other metabolic ie. dietary diseases). It's so easy to try to explain all issues by criticising whatever the OP may or may not have fed their birds. Often it just serves as a distraction from trying to find the real cause of the problem. It's not helpful if it's not even accurate.

 

[LaFleche]

Do you provide additional calcium free choice?

Brahma have extremely feathered feet which makes them more prone to foot issues, particularly when molting.
Check their feet and toes including the soles carefully for inflammation/infection or bumblefoot.

 

[Eggcessive]

They need to be a balanced layer or all flock feed with crushed oyster shell in a separate pan, or they will have vitamin and mineral deficiencies that cause lameness and bone issues. Start them on some human B complex or the cattle liquid 1/4 tablet or 1/4 ml daily for each one. Then start a balanced feed. Take away the seed diet.