Should I Cull her?

[Clousic Chicks]

About three months ago one of my Australorps (my sweetest) suffered something that caused her to be unable to walk and one eye was closed. She eventually could stand but her eye stayed closed for a while. I'm thinking maybe a stroke? I babied her--the other hens seemed to leave her alone--so I have let her go on. Her comb has slowly shrunk to nearly nothing and it's almost white in color. She looks like a hen who is 25 years and not 18 months. She's had a hard life--always the odd hen out...but is a very sweet thing. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm doing the wrong thing by keeping her alive. Our winter weather has been harsh recently and she just came out of the coop after being inside for the past week. I guess I'm looking for encouragement to do what I think is best and that is to have my husband take care of her for me.

 

[dawg53]

Just a few questions for you: What's her position in the pecking order? Have you inspected her for lice and mites? Have you wormed her? Has she been in molt? Finally, when was the last time she laid an egg? Thanks.

 

[Clousic Chicks]

She is the very bottom of the pecking order. Always has been :-( I've checked her for everything. She went through a strange molt--like she couldn't quite molt--if that makes any sense. The last time she laid an egg was before the "stroke?" incident. None since. I had to hand feed her for a bit.

 

[dawg53]

Was she acting normal as a chick? I'm thinking it might be genetic issue, not sure though.

 

[Eggcessive]

It can be common for hens who have molted and stopped laying eggs during the winter to have pale or shrunken combs. Not all hens are that way but some are. Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? In a small percentage of Mareks, chickens may have a transient type of paralysis for several days, and then recover for awhile. Then later they can develop other Mareks symptoms, such as paralysis, poor immunity, and tumors.

Hopefully, not Mareks, since that can affect the others in your flock. She also is not the right age, since it usually affects younger birds unless they are exposed to a carrier in recent weeks or months. More often low pecking order birds can become starved by being kept from food and water by other birds. I would separate her and feed her her usual feed, perhaps mixing it with some warm water and a little buttermilk. Give some chick vitamins or Bcomplex in her food or water for a week or two. Scrambled egg or tuna is also good in small amounts.

 

[Clousic Chicks]

Maybe no? She's is one of four Australorp hatch mates. She has yellow legs and red eyes...which the other three most certainly don't. I've wondered if she had a genetic issue. Her feathers are quite odd --like she has been molting but the feathers have had a hard time emerging from the shaft.

 

[Clousic Chicks]

It can be common for hens who have molted and stopped laying eggs during the winter to have pale or shrunken combs. Not all hens are that way but some are. Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? In a small percentage of Mareks, chickens may have a transient type of paralysis for several days, and then recover for awhile. Then later they can develop other Mareks symptoms, such as paralysis, poor immunity, and tumors.

Hopefully, not Mareks, since that can affect the others in your flock. She also is not the right age, since it usually affects younger birds unless they are exposed to a carrier in recent weeks or months. More often low pecking order birds can become starved by being kept from food and water by other birds. I would separate her and feed her her usual feed, perhaps mixing it with some warm water and a little buttermilk. Give some chick vitamins or Bcomplex in her food or water for a week or two. Scrambled egg or tuna is also good in small amounts.

Very Interesting. I would have a hard time separating her at this time of year.