Not sure of predator or other issue.

[jimthetoolman]

Hello, hoping someone can give advice. I have a leghorn, she’s about 6mo old, and has been laying eggs since the beginning of august. Until yesterday 9-4-22, she’s been healthy as could be. Before I left for work my wife noticed she was walking like she had been injured. We checked her over and there is no sign of physical injury besides two freyed tail-feathers, and the left wing drooping on occasions when I pick her up, and inspected her.

There’s no blood on her vent, nor on the feathers around. Doesn’t seem irritated either. She does have some poop that seemed to have stuck to her feathers just under her vent, but not much. She’s acting lethargic, and isn’t eating all that much. We couldn’t find any physical punctures, and felt for broken bones but couldn’t detect any, i though possibly a burst egg, but I haven’t checked inside her. She’s laying down on the ground regularly, not really too active.


She also likes to fall asleep when I hold her and pet her and massage her wings under her armpit, but no recoil.

Any suggestions?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Chickens act well until they can't anymore. It is protective instinct. Which means she could have been unwell for some time until suddenly she can't not show symptoms. Without outward signs of predator, I don't leap to that (unless you have a possibility of snake bite hidden in feathers).

Drooping wing is a bit concerning as is the lethargy with drooping wing. At 9 months, she is the age when Marek's can activate.

Watch her with some TLC. Hopefully she'll rally from some sort of scare...but Marek's leaps first to my mind. I'll link the big Marek's thread that also discusses other illnesses that mimic Marek's.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Keeping my fingers crossed.
LofMc

 

[jimthetoolman]

Chickens act well until they can't anymore. It is protective instinct. Which means she could have been unwell for some time until suddenly she can't not show symptoms. Without outward signs of predator, I don't leap to that (unless you have a possibility of snake bite hidden in feathers).

Drooping wing is a bit concerning as is the lethargy with drooping wing. At 9 months, she is the age when Marek's can activate.

Watch her with some TLC. Hopefully she'll rally from some sort of scare...but Marek's leaps first to my mind. I'll link the big Marek's thread that also discusses other illnesses that mimic Marek's.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Keeping my fingers crossed.
LofMc

I’ll check it out.
And we’ll do as you suggest. Fingers crossed here too.
Thank you very much!