Paralysis in laying hen

[Htrottier]

A few mornings ago I went out to feed and check on my chickens as I do every morning. I have a few diffrent breeds so I always check to make sure everyone is accounted and doing well. I then notice one of the hens was laying funny on the floor of the coop. So I went over to see what was up. I soon found out that she had no use of her legs. She is aboit 3 years old and hasnt been laying for a while(about 6 months) I spent a lot of time with her getting her to try and eat but had no luck but she does drink water and thats it. She just uses her wings to flop around the coop and her beak to balamce herself it been about 4 days and I'm wondering if I should take her to be put down or it there is some way to treat her. Please feel free to leave you opions on what I should do.

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

I don't know. I hope she is ok! I will post to bring this post to the top of the posting line

 

[frostic]

A vet could do tests to see what is wrong with her. don't put her down till you know it is not treatable. I wouldn't suggest killing any chicken till you can diagnose the issue.

 

[Shadrach]

There are two main causes of paralysis in chickens, Mareks disease and stress.
Mareks disease is usually fatal once caught.
Paralysis caused by stress can be fixed but it can take a long time and an awful lot of work.
I've dealt with two cases of stress induced paralysis.
If your vet diagnoses stress as the cause then I'm about to post a story in the Pictures & Stories Of My Chickens section of this forum of my experience with a paralysed chicken which may help you decide what to do.
The story title is Dandy and Skunk

 

[Eggcessive]

Another suggestion, is that she could have a large lash egg or infection putting pressure on her sciatic nerve. Reproductive disorders such as internal laying, egg yolk peritonitis, ascites, salpingits, and cancer may cause an enlarged lower belly, and cause problems walking. Crop and gizzard impactions can also put pressure on nerves. Mareks could be a possible reason, especially if you have added any new birds in recent months or weeks. I would make her a chicken sling and place food and water right within reach. Take her out often to stretch and sleep. Here in post 5 are some pics of slings:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

Sorry to hear your girl is poorly. What part of the world are you in? If you are in the northern hemisphere and she has not laid an egg for about 6 months, then that points strongly towards a reproductive issue. As explained by @Eggcessive, an abdominal mass due to an huge impaction of infected material in the oviduct or internal laying or possibly a tumour putting pressure on a sciatic nerve would be my guess. If this is the cause you would expect to find some abdominal swelling. It is easiest to detect by feel rather than looking although in extreme cases it can become visually obvious. Birds will sometimes walk with a wide stance as the mass pushes their legs apart or perhaps more upright like a penguin. I appreciate she is no longer walking now but perhaps this rings a bell with her behaviour prior to this sudden paralysis. If you cup your hand between her legs and feel for swelling there and just below her vent and compare by feeling a healthy hen, it should be obvious if there is swelling. Another indication is soiling of the feathers below the vent and passing of mostly white urates or possibly turning yellow/green if she has stopped eating. Her crop may also be slow or impacted as the mass in her abdomen constricts her gut and prevents her from passing waste.
If she is displaying the above symptoms then I would say that it is a kindness to end her suffering. If you have ever done a post mortem internal exam of birds like this it makes you realise how desperate and uncomfortable the situation is.

Yes it could also be Marek's but it would be unusual for a 3year old bird to exhibit symptoms first. Usually it will be juvenile/adolescent birds in a flock that will be the first to show signs of it, but if you have added new birds to your flock in the past month or so, it is possible..... I'm really leaning more towards a reproductive issue because she hasn't been laying for several months and a 3 year old hen should still be laying.
What breed is she? High production birds are more prone to these reproductive disorders.

 

[Htrottier]

Hi

Sorry to hear your girl is poorly. What part of the world are you in? If you are in the northern hemisphere and she has not laid an egg for about 6 months, then that points strongly towards a reproductive issue. As explained by @Eggcessive, an abdominal mass due to an huge impaction of infected material in the oviduct or internal laying or possibly a tumour putting pressure on a sciatic nerve would be my guess. If this is the cause you would expect to find some abdominal swelling. It is easiest to detect by feel rather than looking although in extreme cases it can become visually obvious. Birds will sometimes walk with a wide stance as the mass pushes their legs apart or perhaps more upright like a penguin. I appreciate she is no longer walking now but perhaps this rings a bell with her behaviour prior to this sudden paralysis. If you cup your hand between her legs and feel for swelling there and just below her vent and compare by feeling a healthy hen, it should be obvious if there is swelling. Another indication is soiling of the feathers below the vent and passing of mostly white urates or possibly turning yellow/green if she has stopped eating. Her crop may also be slow or impacted as the mass in her abdomen constricts her gut and prevents her from passing waste.
If she is displaying the above symptoms then I would say that it is a kindness to end her suffering. If you have ever done a post mortem internal exam of birds like this it makes you realise how desperate and uncomfortable the situation is.

Yes it could also be Marek's but it would be unusual for a 3year old bird to exhibit symptoms first. Usually it will be juvenile/adolescent birds in a flock that will be the first to show signs of it, but if you have added new birds to your flock in the past month or so, it is possible..... I'm really leaning more towards a reproductive issue because she hasn't been laying for several months and a 3 year old hen should still be laying.
What breed is she? High production birds are more prone to these reproductive disorders.

When i was spending time with her this morning i did notice a mass of green / white waste stuck to her feathers. I dont recall noticing her walking weird. From what i have been reading online its not mareks becuase she still has coloring in her eye and the havent turned white. She is a rhode island red

 

[Eggcessive]

The type of Mareks that affects the eye may only affect some birds—it is one of 4 types. It can cause nerve paralysis, tumors in internal organs, skin lesions, or eye changes.

Green droppings with white urates may show that she is not eating or drinking enough, which can be common in many illnesses including Mareks.

 

[rebrascora]

Have you checked her for abdominal swelling? Also check her crop function... Feel her crop at night, remove access to food and then check it again in the morning. If it is not empty, that would point more towards a reproductive issue slowing the digestive tract rather than Marek's.
To be honest, either way, Marek's or abdominal mass, once she has got to the point of refusing food it is usually time to end her suffering. Green poop indicates that the digestive system is shutting down and mostly bile is coming through her system.

Hatchery quality Rhode Island Reds are a breed that are more prone to reproductive issues, so that would tie in.