Please can someone respond?? I'm so frustrated!

[farmsister]

My hen who is about 5 months old was seperated from the flock 2 days ago because she was just laying down, not moving unless she had to and then more like hopping or wobbling off to one side. I've tried EVERYTHING I can think of, I've never had "chicks" so really have NO IDEA. She seems healthy, good appetite, but squawks quite a little bit and can stand for a few minutes but cannot walk, she hops on the part where the leg connects to her body. Does that make sense? Any idea what it could be and how I can help her?

 

[asher]

What breed is she? My first thought is a knock on the head, but that would most effect crested breeds such as Silkies, Polish, etc.

Hopping on the leg joint sounds like a possible slipped tendon issue, though if there's nothing neurological going on.

Other than that, I'm not sure.

I'm sorry

 

[BayCityBabe]

I'm a newbie, too. I did find that this chart was really useful when my birds were under the weather several weeks ago.
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/diagext.htm
Hope this helps.

 

[meriruka]

Does she sleep up on a roost? I'm thinking it's possible she hurt herself jumping down. That happened to one of mine and I kept her quiet in a cage for a week or two, gave her some electrolytes & treats and it gradually got better. I put a step up to the roost as well to shorten the distance.

If you run your fingers up both legs, do they feel & look the same?

 

[farmsister]

She is an auracana or EE, can't tell. She was advertised as an Auracana when we got her at a few days old... and she looks like one. I've felt her legs and they feel the same, also, she keeps holding her tail feathers downward instead of up. Is that weird? She does sleep on a roost, they all do and during the day they are allowed into a covered secured run. I have a lot of pecking going on out there, I do have a polish too and the rest are auracana's or EE's. The Polish one is having her head feathers pecked and they are broken but not down to the skin. Geez. I wish I knew how to help this one I have inside and also to protect the others. I have two roosters in there, by default, should I get rid of them? I can't hurt them, or eat them, or ?? but I could give them away....

 

[meriruka]

Usually, tail feathers down means "I don't feel good".
It's a good sign if you don't feel anything broken, but keep checking for swelling. If her eyes look clear and alert and she is still eating, I'd give it a day or two and just watch her (but keep her separated).

For the others, are the roos the ones doing all the pecking? Or are they just fighting each other?
If the Polish is the only one getting really damaged, you may want to rehome her.....

 

[chickenlady]

Can she move either leg? Or do both legs seem paralysed? How about her feet, does she move her toes at all? Does she hold up her head on her own?

 

[farmsister]

It is only her right leg and her "toes" kind of curl and colapse under her on that foot only. I can pick her up and she can curl both sets of "toes" around my wrist. She has watery almost colorless diarreah with a little brown solid in it. (Sorry, graphic...)

What kind of electrolytes would you recommend?

I have done this so far:

Oatmeal with a little olive oil the first night
Oatmeal with a little yogurt the second night
a slice of apple,
a piece of bread
slightly sugared water
and water with apple cider vinegar (which she wouldn't touch)
She's also eaten out of her regular feed bowl with crumble in it.

I've changed her bedding and wiped down the kennel a few times to keep it clean for her. I put the cedar chips in a grain feed bag so she didn't eat the cedar.

She is alert, head up, eyes clear, preening, tries to walk and flap her wings but can't get that one foot to cooperate.

 

[chickenlady]

Do you use cedar for all your birds? From what I understand cedar is very bad for them. You should only use pine.

As for the bird, it really sounds like an injury. Check the entire foot, leg, and hip on the side she is having trouble with. Move each joint the way it should move and see if she squawks or if it looks to give her pain. Make sure her hip joint is in place, it almost sounds like it may be dislocated. Hopefully she will help you to find the source of pain. Continue to look for swelling.

Make sure she keeps eating and drinking. Continue to check her poo since each time could be different.

Let us know after thoroughly checking that foot, leg, and hip for possible injury and pain. Best of luck.

 

[lorieMN]

sounds like the same thing one of mine just went through,I didnt do anything special for her,just made sure she was in the coop come night and she came out of it herself in about 4-5 days,she was wobbly and sitting around alot with her head under her wing,yucky watery poo and just depressed looking,once she started walking normal again I let them out to free range and she is now back to her old self,was just about to knock her in the head when she came walking out to free range so lucky for her..