Hi everyone--
Just got back from the vet with Matilda the hen. His best guess is Leukosis which is invariably fatal. But from all my research, she has symptoms not usually associated with Leukosis. Here's what's going on - any and all thoughts or suggestions would be hugely appreciated!
Hen is about 2 years old, a Rhode Island Red
Healthy and laying well until a week-and-a-half ago when this started
Symptoms include severe, watery diarrhea (initially, now has passed), lethargy, curled up talons (she's trying to walk on her knuckles, basically), sitting upright like an owl with a strange hunched posture, inability to walk (appears mostly due to curled up feet because she is trying), odd spreading of one wing at a time
She is very thin but is eating - especially treats like corn and bread
Eyes are bright, feathers shiny
Vet did a fecal and it was clean
Vet also checked inside the vent - didn't feel an egg or a broken egg, thought her liver was slightly enlarged
I think she laid an egg about three days ago, in the midst of her illness
She lives with two roos and several other hens, all of whom are fine
So if any of you have any idea what this could be, I'd love to know. For now, she's isolated from the others and getting all the treats she can eat. That's about all I can do for her.
Thanks so much, Bea
Just got back from the vet with Matilda the hen. His best guess is Leukosis which is invariably fatal. But from all my research, she has symptoms not usually associated with Leukosis. Here's what's going on - any and all thoughts or suggestions would be hugely appreciated!
Hen is about 2 years old, a Rhode Island Red
Healthy and laying well until a week-and-a-half ago when this started
Symptoms include severe, watery diarrhea (initially, now has passed), lethargy, curled up talons (she's trying to walk on her knuckles, basically), sitting upright like an owl with a strange hunched posture, inability to walk (appears mostly due to curled up feet because she is trying), odd spreading of one wing at a time
She is very thin but is eating - especially treats like corn and bread
Eyes are bright, feathers shiny
Vet did a fecal and it was clean
Vet also checked inside the vent - didn't feel an egg or a broken egg, thought her liver was slightly enlarged
I think she laid an egg about three days ago, in the midst of her illness
She lives with two roos and several other hens, all of whom are fine
So if any of you have any idea what this could be, I'd love to know. For now, she's isolated from the others and getting all the treats she can eat. That's about all I can do for her.
Thanks so much, Bea
