Older hen not walking

[Kiddinwicha]

We have an older hen 5yrs old who started showing signs of not feeling well about 2 weeks ago. She was slow to join the other in the yard when we would let them free range. Then she would just randomly lay down in weird wide open spaces. One day we found her in the coupe just laying there and not putting any weight on her right leg. We thought maybe she fell off the roost bar wrong, but there are no signs of breakage just no weight on it just hangs. We have separated her from the others but we have to go out and get her out of coop everyday and bring her down to ground. She hasn't laid eggs I believe for a while so I know its not an egg bound issue. She wasn't eating or drinking much at first but now if we put it in front of her she will. Just trying to see if this is something anyone else had run into. We had another girl the same age as this one died about a month ago. I believe she had a different issue as she was hard as a rock in her belly area. This one doesn't have that problem. Any thoughts on what we should do with her?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I sadly tend to lose mine at about 5 to 6 years of age. I think I have one 7 year old hen. That's old in most commercial breeds who are bred for egg productivity not longevity.

It could be so many things from latent Marek's that has finally overcome her system to arthritis to internal tumors to parasite overload (if you are lucky). Your last hen obviously was peritonitis from the egg tract likely from tumors (common in very old hens).

Most of my older hens seem to just waste away. It just seems to be their time.

Check her for parasites (external and internal). Mites can definitely cause anemia which would produce weakness as can internal worms. Try treating her (usually this doesn't help if it is age related causes). You can also prolong her life by giving her vitamins and electrolytes with scrambled eggs as well as personal service into the yard and coop. It's really up to the level of care you desire to give. One word of warning, the older weaker in the flock can act as a vector of illness for the others, which is one reason to cull them.

If she appears to be going downhill, wasting away aimlessly, with no intervention producing lasting change, I can recommend the CO2 method for older hens. Get a 5 gal bucket with lid. Get 1/4 dry ice (local grocery). Place dry ice in bottom. Cover with some styrofoam (to prevent bird from sitting on dry ice). Pour a cup or two of warm water over ice. Replace lid lightly (if too tight too much pressure builds such that can blow lid off). Let huge cloud form which takes a couple of minutes. Lower bird into cloud into bucket. Lightly recover with lid. Bird is unconscious in moments dead within 30 seconds to minute. It is a very gentle way to cull an aging senior.

Sadly, I doubt there is too much to be done unless somehow it is parasite related.

Let us know how it goes.
LofMc