Paralysis in hen please please help

[ChickensAreFantastic]

Your video doesn't seem to be working.

She is 4 years old (quite old for a hen), and looks a bit bloated and puffed up. Does she have ascites (water belly)? Compare it to your other hens. It will feel generally quite hard/bloated and potentially hot.

 

[MickWithChicks]

The head extended, labouring to breathe as seen in your video is also something I've seen consistently in hens with ascites.

There are ways to drain the fluid from the belly using subcutaneous syringes (you can search YouTube for walkthroughs), but I'm personally not comfortable doing that and believe it only prolongs suffering.

Did you feel her belly and does it feel more "full" than the other hens? Will she eat scrambled eggs and drink if you bring food/water to her?

It's definitely still worth checking for a bound egg and trying to get her to eat and drink. To me it does look like ascites, and the age of the hen (4 years) and layer-specific breed would corroborate that assumption.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can she move her legs at all? You may want to get her up into a chicken sling to keep her cleaner and make it easier for her to eat and drink. Here is a video:

Compare her lower belly with the other hens to see if it is enlarged. Look for any lice or mites, and irritation from lying down so long. Do you see any evidence of injuries? I offer a scoop or small cup up to the hen’s beak to get them drinking and eating. Wet chicken feed with lots of water, scrambled bits of egg, a canned cat food can be offered in small amounts to get them eating and drinking.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She has not been laying eggs. She is around 4. When I put my hands around her face, she just rests it on my had. I don't know if she is pooping, but her vent is clear. We keep our feed in with them. I also noticed that her feathers were a lot lighter than the other hens. Her legs don't move at all.


We got back from our vacation and found her on the ground of the coop floor.

How do I get the fluid out?
I feel like she isn't going to last another day

The poor dear

Did you feel of her abdomen for bloat or feeling of fluid?
How's her crop?
Do you hear her gurgling at all?

With her age, I would suspect she's having reproductive issues. You could try draining her if there's fluid in the abdomen, but as mentioned it's not a cure, but some are successful in prolonging life and making the hen more comfortable.

 

[ChickensAreFantastic]

I am taking her to the vet tomorrow

 

[ChickensAreFantastic]

Can she move her legs at all? You may want to get her up into a chicken sling to keep her cleaner and make it easier for her to eat and drink. Here is a video:

Compare her lower belly with the other hens to see if it is enlarged. Look for any lice or mites, and irritation from lying down so long. Do you see any evidence of injuries? I offer a scoop or small cup up to the hen’s beak to get them drinking and eating. Wet chicken feed with lots of water, scrambled bits of egg, a canned cat food can be offered in small amounts to get them eating and drinking.

I am going to take her to the vet tomorrow. It looked like she was twitching earlier. But thank you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I am going to take her to the vet tomorrow. It looked like she was twitching earlier. But thank you.

Let us know what the vet says. I'm sorry she's not doing well

 

[MickWithChicks]

Good luck tomorrow. Hopefully it's something minor and she jumps back and lives another 4 years! Please do update us with the vets findings.

 

[ChickensAreFantastic]

Let us know what the vet says. I'm sorry she's not doing well

She made it another night! Does anybody know any vet that will look at a chicken?

 

[Painted Calls]

She made it another night! Does anybody know any vet that will look at a chicken?

You made it sound like you already had an appointment. None of us are local to you. Therefore we don't know what type of vets you have in your area. Make sure your location is on, and Google "avian vets near me" or "exotic vets near me". Make a few phone calls right now. Time crucial.