Please help... my chicken has poor balance and diarrhea!

[Woodall's Farm]

Hello fellow chicken keepers.

While I visit this site often, this is my first post. I am hoping for some advice about one of my 16 month old layers, Amelia. After a very rainy Friday, I came home to find that Amelia's balance was off. She wasn't falling side to side, but back and forth - unable to keep her balance, and rolling down the hill... poor girl!

I immediately isolated her, giving her fresh water and layer grains. I have been keeping an eye on her... yesterday she did eat and drink, but I noticed she has really smelly, watery diarrhea and she is still (it's now Sunday) wobbling front to back.

She and the rest of the flock are "free rangers" (in my back yard only, with out access to puddles or dirty water - we put a little apple cider vinegar in their water to keep slime and bacteria from forming, and they never run out loose access to water) and have plenty of layer grains and critters in the yard.

Any suggestions about what this can be and how I can help my girl?

 

[Marciekam]

If you have access to a veterinarian that treats chickens I would take her in right away. She might have just gotten into something or is it possible someone could have poisoned her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Woodall's Farm Welcome To BYC

What is layer's grain?
When was the last time she laid an egg - any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
Do you have photos or video?

Loss of balance can be caused by so many things, it's sometimes hard to nail down. Disease like Marek's , vitamin/nutritional deficiency, eating moldy feed or rotten fruit/veggies/dead animals/maggots, injury, worm or coccidiosis overload and internal laying/reproductive disorder are some common balance issues.

Do the what you can to keep her hydrated, offer poultry vitamins in her water. If you have a vet that can do some testing to rule out worms and Coccidiosis that would be a good idea.

Keep us posted.

 

[Woodall's Farm]

Hi @Woodall's Farm Welcome To BYC

What is layer's grain?
When was the last time she laid an egg - any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
Do you have photos or video?

Loss of balance can be caused by so many things, it's sometimes hard to nail down. Disease like Marek's , vitamin/nutritional deficiency, eating moldy feed or rotten fruit/veggies/dead animals/maggots, injury, worm or coccidiosis overload and internal laying/reproductive disorder are some common balance issues.

Do the what you can to keep her hydrated, offer poultry vitamins in her water. If you have a vet that can do some testing to rule out worms and Coccidiosis that would be a good idea.

Keep us posted.

Thank you for the feedback.

Honesty, I don't see how it could be caused by any of the things you mentioned. I give my girls fresh water and food (from a reputable/local farm: Reedy Fork, organic layer mix) daily, and there is no trash or dead animals (just some dog poop =) in our yard. None of my other girls are showing any signs of sickness. While Amelia's balance is still off and she is still pooping water, she does look good otherwise. She hasn't laid an egg in about a week, but I have felt her abdomen and I feels just fine to me. I am wondering if this could be an ear infection but that area looks and smells clean.

Any additional thoughts?

Thanks so much for your time and input!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you have a vet that can do some testing to rule out worms and Coccidiosis that would be a good idea.