chickenrunsquad
In the Brooder
- Aug 3, 2025
- 14
- 42
- 46
Hi there,
I have a 5 month old sapphire gem named Mac. About 3 weeks ago, she laid her first egg, but shortly after, she started having trouble walking. Ever since then, she has been unable to stand or uncurl her toes to put weight on them. She walks on her hocks and recently I've noticed there's been swelling. When we took her to the vet, they thought it was heavy metal poisoning. We concluded it wasn't after an expensive X-ray. I found another person on here with the exact same problem, down to the breed, and thought it might be a vitamin deficiency. She has more or less stayed the same, despite human vitamin B complex and calcium pills daily (I've been giving her 1/2 pill of each daily). I have come to accept that she my never regain the ability to walk.
However, ever since the beginning of her not-walking time, she will pant HARD. I thought it was stress from being inside away from her flock, but now I think it might be pain. When she has to move even a few feet on her hocks, she pants like crazy. When I try to hold her, she will start panting like she ran a marathon. It breaks my heart, so I've stopped holding her.
For reference, I know how my girls are in the Midwest summer. I'm in MN and it's been 80s and humid, and I've seen the other three pant. But when my SG is panting, even my feathered-feet, winter-hardy maran isn't panting. This is on another level, and seems to happen sporadically when triggered by moving or being held.
I took a video tonight to try to show the severity of it. It's on YouTube here:
I am wondering if anyone has had this same experience and can share how they have helped their chicken. I love her so much and just want to be comfortable. Thank you I'm advance for your insight! This community has been so kind and welcoming, I really appreciate being a part of it.
I have a 5 month old sapphire gem named Mac. About 3 weeks ago, she laid her first egg, but shortly after, she started having trouble walking. Ever since then, she has been unable to stand or uncurl her toes to put weight on them. She walks on her hocks and recently I've noticed there's been swelling. When we took her to the vet, they thought it was heavy metal poisoning. We concluded it wasn't after an expensive X-ray. I found another person on here with the exact same problem, down to the breed, and thought it might be a vitamin deficiency. She has more or less stayed the same, despite human vitamin B complex and calcium pills daily (I've been giving her 1/2 pill of each daily). I have come to accept that she my never regain the ability to walk.
However, ever since the beginning of her not-walking time, she will pant HARD. I thought it was stress from being inside away from her flock, but now I think it might be pain. When she has to move even a few feet on her hocks, she pants like crazy. When I try to hold her, she will start panting like she ran a marathon. It breaks my heart, so I've stopped holding her.
For reference, I know how my girls are in the Midwest summer. I'm in MN and it's been 80s and humid, and I've seen the other three pant. But when my SG is panting, even my feathered-feet, winter-hardy maran isn't panting. This is on another level, and seems to happen sporadically when triggered by moving or being held.
I took a video tonight to try to show the severity of it. It's on YouTube here:
I am wondering if anyone has had this same experience and can share how they have helped their chicken. I love her so much and just want to be comfortable. Thank you I'm advance for your insight! This community has been so kind and welcoming, I really appreciate being a part of it.
