Please help

[Seaslug]

You are unlikely to have any trees with leaves currently, but aspirin used to be derived from willow. You could always cut some willow branches with leaves for her to strip. I would not give up on her yet, speaking as someone who sometimes does not want to stand up and move... Improve her diet and give her a spa day (try the warm water brush of the legs) and try the sugar water (just touch her beak to it, like you did when she was a chick.) People here know a lot about nutrition, and it can take awhile for deficits to become visible. It is great that you are here asking questions. Good luck to both of you.

 

[Faverollesarefun]

You are unlikely to have any trees with leaves currently, but aspirin used to be derived from willow. You could always cut some willow branches with leaves for her to strip. I would not give up on her yet, speaking as someone who sometimes does not want to stand up and move... Improve her diet and give her a spa day (try the warm water brush of the legs) and try the sugar water (just touch her beak to it, like you did when she was a chick.) People here know a lot about nutrition, and it can take awhile for deficits to become visible. It is great that you are here asking questions. Good luck to both of you.

We don’t have any trees around our house. So I can’t really get willow but that’s an awesome idea! Would you recommend I put her in like a sling or something so she’s not just sitting all the time? I move her around so she’s not constantly in the same position. I’ve been feeding my flock a mix of their milk soaked barley and corn with majority of the mix Lay mash. My sick hen, Viv, doesn’t want to eat the lay mash. She will only eat the corn/barley. What do you recommend for that? I’ll definitely try the sugar water. Also a question for those who know about nutrition. Why is the diet only affecting my one hen? Why aren’t the other ones having problems?

 

[Faverollesarefun]

Also, would it be beneficial to separate her from the rest of the flock?

 

[Seaslug]

Sometimes chickens can be hesitant to try anything new. You could try to mic the two foods together and see if she will eat them that way, but I would only prepare a little at a time. Does she have favorite foods? Ours enjoy scrambled egg and so that was a go-to when a Buff Orph became ill.

Sometimes flock mates are a source of strength and companionship, and hens seem to become depressed when they are apart. For others, they can not compete when they are ill and so they find being in the house, in the warmth, more comforting than staying and competing with the flock. You'll need to make the decision for your hen. We brought our Orph inside, taking her out to the flock when the weather was nice, but she clearly felt better not having to worry about her role in the flock.

My Buff Orph had crop and likely reproductive issues going on, and we kept her comfortable in the house after it was apparent that she was not going to get better.

How are her legs doing? Do you still think that the mites are contributing to her not wanting to move? Does she show any neurological impact? The B vitamins can be essential to proper nerve/neurological function.

 

[Faverollesarefun]

Sometimes chickens can be hesitant to try anything new. You could try to mic the two foods together and see if she will eat them that way, but I would only prepare a little at a time. Does she have favorite foods? Ours enjoy scrambled egg and so that was a go-to when a Buff Orph became ill.

Sometimes flock mates are a source of strength and companionship, and hens seem to become depressed when they are apart. For others, they can not compete when they are ill and so they find being in the house, in the warmth, more comforting than staying and competing with the flock. You'll need to make the decision for your hen. We brought our Orph inside, taking her out to the flock when the weather was nice, but she clearly felt better not having to worry about her role in the flock.

My Buff Orph had crop and likely reproductive issues going on, and we kept her comfortable in the house after it was apparent that she was not going to get better.

How are her legs doing? Do you still think that the mites are contributing to her not wanting to move? Does she show any neurological impact? The B vitamins can be essential to proper nerve/neurological function.

Lay mash isn’t new to her, just new as of the last few months. I feel so bad! I thought with the vitamin in their water , and the free ranging, kitchen scraps and the barley/molasses/corn was enough for them. I can try mixing lay mash with some of her favorite foods. She doesn’t want any weight on her legs. She seems comfortable in her corner of the coop but the other chickens keep eating her food and water. I have no clue if the mites are what are making her not want to move. I’ll attach a picture of her feet. I can get the b vitamins when I’m in town tomorrow, what do I need to look for?

 

[Faverollesarefun]

Lay mash isn’t new to her, just new as of the last few months. I feel so bad! I thought with the vitamin in their water , and the free ranging, kitchen scraps and the barley/molasses/corn was enough for them. I can try mixing lay mash with some of her favorite foods. She doesn’t want any weight on her legs. She seems comfortable in her corner of the coop but the other chickens keep eating her food and water. I have no clue if the mites are what are making her not want to move. I’ll attach a picture of her feet. I can get the b vitamins when I’m in town tomorrow, what do I need to look for?

 

[Faverollesarefun]

Sorry kind of a bad picture

 

[Seaslug]

If the other chickens are eating the food you put down for her, then I would separate her. She should be allowed to eat in peace, as slowly as she may need to.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

How is she doing now?

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like she has serious scaly leg mites. You can apply vaseline or other thick oil to her legs and rub it into them at least twice a week to help smother the leg mites. Is she dust bathing? I would switch her to a balanced layer feed as 90% of her diet.