Neurological Symptoms? Cross Legged WalkingShe

[EdnaAndEdith]

i have a hen who will be three years in February. Her name is Fern. She’s a barred rock and otherwise in good health. She started her molt last week and rapidly lost the majority of her feathers. She has had new pin feathers coming in for several days and has been perfectly normal. This morning I was hurrying off to work and noticed her laying down. Because it’s cold and she’s so bald I figured she’s probably just cold. When I came home for lunch break she was walking crouched down and crossing her legs to the opposite side as she walked. As if she didn’t know where her feet were. She is bright alert and responsive. But had decreased appetite today, she wouldn’t eat for my spouse, but at about a tablespoon of food for me. She has drank no water that we know of. I work for a vet and I showed him the video of how she is acting...he listed off a variety of brain/brain stem problems it could be all with bad prognosis’s. She does seem down and is definitely uncoordinated. I have read a couple of posts saying molting can make hens act similar. But I wanted to know other opinions and hear if anyone has had similar symptoms and if so how to help and did the hen improve?

 

[sylviethecochin]

In my case, it was Marek's. She's a little old for that, though. @casportpony ? @Ravynscroft ? @Eggcessive ?

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

Yeah I just am hoping the doctor is wrong. I mean, no one’s perfect. He didn’t say Mereks though. More thinking raccoon roundworms in the brain causing swelling or encephalitis, or degenerative changes, inflammation, or....? I don’t remember all of the options he said but I do remember none of them were good.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

We were considering bringing her in the house for the night but she got settled on the coop right next to her best friend. And she’s a very very sensitive hen. I was afraid taking her away from her family would be too much mental stress for her. So I will re evaluate tomorrow and see if she needs to be inside or not.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

Update: this morning Fern was squatting down with her head hung low but would respond when touched. This afternoon she is walking cross legged still but seems more off balance and will tip as she walks. She holds herself very low to the ground. Any other ideas? Please help if you can.

 

[junebuggena]

Could just be molting. I have a few Barred Rocks that just act weird when molting, walking crossways, high stepping, or practically creeping along the ground. Vitamins in the water and unlimited chick starter seem to help a lot, leading me to think that it's a nutrition issue. They just need more of everything when they lose feathers so quickly.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

Thank you for your response. I will pick up some vitamins for her. She’s on layer feed now but will get some chick start too. It’s really cold tonight so going to bring her inside. Hope you are right

 

[micstrachan]

I haven’t seen this, but my chickens definitely act sick when they molt and this sounds like a very hard molt. Good call bringing her in. Without feathers, she has no other way to keep warm.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would definitely get some Poultry Cell or NutriDrench for her, and give her 3 ml daily by mouth or in food. Offer water as well, and make a small bowl of feed mixed with a lot of water, and a little egg. Tonight, if she will take anything, you can use Gatorade warmed a little, Pedialyte, vitamin B complex, or PolyVisol baby vitamins without iron.

 

[EdnaAndEdith]

Thank you very much. We have her settled into a large dog crate with extra towels for cushion. She ate about half of a scrambled egg and I made some oatmeal cause she loves oatmeal but I made it really watery and she ate about three big bites then decided she was done. I offered water, pedialyte, and grit but no interest in any of those. We have a small heater going in her room. They didn’t have the right vitamins at Walmart and the feed store was closed so we skipped those for now but hoping tomorrow I can get some. She’s really afraid. I’ll keep you posted.