'paralysed'?? Update and help still needed!

[holly1987]

Hey guys, A few weeks back i asked for help with our hybrid hen Fearn, she appeared to be paralysed in her legs and wings, just sitting and drooping, this happened very suddenly. She developed a bit of wobbliness a few weeks before this but was looking much better before this sudden onset!

Anyway, after following the very useful advice given to me, we kept her isolated and warm, fed her yoghurt and wheat germ oil and her other favourites (appetite very good) and there has been a definate improvement, she has regained full use of her right leg and although is still unbalanced can stand for a few seconds at a time without falling over. Wings are good too! There is some movement in the left limb but it has no strength really.

Do any experts out there know if she will make a recovery or should she be okay by now? Should we move the leg for her to get it working? Any other advice on what to do, or what could have caused this?

All our chickens are more like pets than anything else so any help is appreciated!

Thanks, Holly

 

[onthespot]

I had a mottled pullet do that when she was about fifteen weeks old. Fine in the morning, by the afternoon unable to walk, could harly move. She didn't seem to have any injuries, but the other clutchmates were already starting to peck her because she looked half dead, and she just gradually got better and better looking and in a couple days she was up to snuff and able to rejoin the flock. To this day I don't know what happened. She is now top hen out of seven and the roo's favorite. Hope yours makes a good recovery. Wish I was more help.

 

[pipermark]

There are many disease, parasites and bacteria that can cause these type of symptoms. If you can not use a vet to determine what she has, then I would suggest, bed rest, separation from all other animals and birds.

Continue the probiotic treatment (yogurt ) - this will help fight bad bacteria.

You might want to add 2 tables spoons per gallon of water of apple cider vinegar to her water - (many parasites do not like an acidic environment).

You might add 1 large clove of garlic to her water - some people believe that garlic has some anti-biotic properties (I just figure cant hurt) . The water will stink a little but thats good and she wont mind.


hope all continues to a good conclusion.

 

[holly1987]

Thanks both of you, will try the cider apple vinegar (I have some that I use for the horses) and the garlic and carry on with the yoghurt. We have been letting her out for grass each day to try and encourage that leg to move, and if one of our hens does find it's way to her food she will stand her ground and make that funny agressive noise, so she isn't giving up just yet!We are just baffled as to what it is despite researching everywhere!

Thanks again!

 

[kinnip]

What kind of hybrid do you have? Meat birds like the Cornishx have a lot of leg problems. It's mostly due to their rapid growth.

 

[holly1987]

She is a 'magpie ranger' not sure what this is to be honest though! She is black with a silvery white neck, the other magpie range we got was quick to grow up, although this one seems somewhat immature (tiny comb)! Tried to upload pictures but they are too big - will keep trying!