Old hen wont walk! Photos attached

[bridget123]

Hi i have a 5 year old isa brown. she does not want to get up and walk anymore she seems to have lost all strength in both legs, she has been sitting down without walking for about 1 week somtimes she stands up but quickly gets tired and falls back to a sitting position. Her comb also looks a bit dark on the tips. Im worried because she seems to be pooping on herself and if she continues to sit as she is she wont be able to walk again.

Im not sure if she is sick or is just old
The only things i have in my chicken medicine box is.. oxymav-b, solvita, pestine powder, and worming solution.

Her feet look fine and i checked her bottom when i bathed her it looks normal also? I am stumped.

She is eating and drinking normal.

 

[bridget123]

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sex links are prone to reproductive cancers. Could be a mass is pushing on the nerve running to her legs. Sometimes a large egg can do the same to a hen. Not sure what you could do about it though. A vet may be helpful.

 

[bridget123]

Thankyou for the reply i will get her a vet appointment

 

[FarmerGirl101]

My experience with this was Mareks as he was an old roo

 

[bridget123]

Funny you say that i had to take my other hen to the vet about 5 months ago who was displaying simmilar symptoms we had her put down.. since she left this chicken has gone downhill fast i thought it was because they were best friends and i thought this one missed her hmmm..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about your hen.

When was the last time she laid an egg?

Feel of her abdomen for bloat/swelling or fluid. With her symptoms and the poop, I would be inclined to think she has a reproductive disorder. Cancer, tumors, Egg Yolk Peritonitis and Internal laying all come to mind.

Sometimes antibiotics can be used as supportive care and help fight infection for a short period of time. If you happen to lose her, sending the body to your state lab for necropsy or performing one yourself - looking in the abdomen, at the organs and the reproductive system will often give you answers.

 

[bridget123]

She has not laid a egg in about 1 year now

 

[bridget123]

No swelling at all in abdomen i cant feel anything that would lead me to suspect being eggbound etc all feels normal should i pop her in a nice warm bath with epsom salts. I will be taking her to a vet tomorrow appointment is booked for 11am

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If she has not laid an eggs for going on a year, I would suspect reproductive disorder to be the cause of her decline. It's good that you have a vet that can see her.

fwiw -Being eggbound is an all together different issue - this is where an egg is essentially "stuck" in the oviduct and hen is in distress because she cannot expel it.