Not walking!!

[Farmgal101]

I went out and noticed one of my hens not walking this morning and just laying on her side.one leg is tucked into her body while the other is spraddled out... I separated her from everyone else in her own pen and gave her some oatmeal with 1 tums crushed in it to make sure she is getting enough calcium..(it said to do that on a Thread that I read) but I'm not sure whats wrong with her she's eating and drinking normally..her poo was a little runny but looked normal...The only problem is she is not eating! Any ideas?

 

[Birds of a Feather]

Do you have a picture?

 

[Farmgal101]

Do you have a picture?

Ill take some right now!

 

[Mallory835]

That sounds almost identical to how one of my Brahma chicks was a few days ago! I separated her for about 2 days and kept her in a quiet dark place with some water and food. I also gave her some scrambled egg which she ate and seemed to enjoy after a day of being secluded. She eventually started hopping around so I put her back with my other Brahma chick. They both seemed excited to be back together and the chick perked up a lot. It has been about a week and she is doing much better. She puts weight on her leg and gets around fine, but she does sit down to rest a lot and she walks with a slight limp. I could never find any obvious breaks so I suspect she dislocated it. I've read that the tendon could possibly be popped back into place, but I was afraid I would injure my chick more. Maybe keep yours separate a while for her to rest and hopefully she will regain some energy and begin getting around better soon.

 

[Storybook Farm]

I have had two chickens (a one-year-old cock and a 4-month old hen) come down with this kind of thing. The cock was first and, fearing Marek’s, I took him to a lab to be euthanized and tested (I have a large flock and couldn’t afford not to know). Now, weeks later, a second one is down. Preliminary lab findings did not confirm or deny Marek’s and so I’m still waiting for the full report.

Seems like a lot of this going around...

 

[Farmgal101]

Do you have a picture?

That sounds almost identical to how one of my Brahma chicks was a few days ago! I separated her for about 2 days and kept her in a quiet dark place with some water and food. I also gave her some scrambled egg which she ate and seemed to enjoy after a day of being secluded. She eventually started hopping around so I put her back with my other Brahma chick. They both seemed excited to be back together and the chick perked up a lot. It has been about a week and she is doing much better. She puts weight on her leg and gets around fine, but she does sit down to rest a lot and she walks with a slight limp. I could never find any obvious breaks so I suspect she dislocated it. I've read that the tendon could possibly be popped back into place, but I was afraid I would injure my chick more. Maybe keep yours separate a while for her to rest and hopefully she will regain some energy and begin getting around better soon.

I have had two chickens (a one-year-old cock and a 4-month old hen) come down with this kind of thing. The cock was first and, fearing Marek’s, I took him to a lab to be euthanized and tested (I have a large flock and couldn’t afford not to know). Now, weeks later, a second one is down. Preliminary lab findings did not confirm or deny Marek’s and so I’m still waiting for the full report.

Seems like a lot of this going around...

My dad and I were taking a closer look at the chicken and realized that one leg looked broken.using a chair I invented this contraption and made a splint by wrapping the leg first then taking two toothpicks and wrapping them in foam so they wouldn't hurt the chicken made two of those for both sides.this was a very inventive experience for me lol.The only problem is I don't know if the legs healing or not it feels cold and dead compared to the other leg.she's eating drinking and pooping normally.Thanks for all suggestions and advice so far.she will be in the house while she's recovering.

 

[Storybook Farm]

So, the full lab report said that it was a retrovirus most likely, similar to Marek’s but most likely not. Sheesh. Talk about unhelpful! Anyways, I’m just praying that it doesn’t go thru my 80 birds on the ground!