Sick Hen

[jdavidson]

I have a Welsummer hen that is about 9 to 10 months old. About 2 to 2- 1/2 months ago she started limping on her left leg. She could walk but you could tell it was slighlty uncomfortable. After research I checked her foot- no injuries noted, no "bumblefoot", treated for mites since I saw a few very tine red looking bugs, which by the way I no longer see. The limping never got better but WORSE. She started seeming weak, unable to balance completely to walk a few steps and what I thought was labored breathing only when laying eggs is all the time, so I quarentined her, gave her vitamins in water which she didn't like, so I tried foods like broccolli and yogurt and scrambled eggs in addition to her pellets in case she had low iron or calcium. She did have one shelless egg. I let her out of the cage beacuse I though she seemed like she was getting a little depressed, still not better..same symptoms BUT her egg production is the same. I read about Maricks disease and got really worried...but today although it takes a lot out of her and she still has trouble balancing she flew a good 4 feet in the air from table perch to table perch.... she does have some curlness in her left toes. Also I tried B complex injections twice a month ago. Any ideas of what this may be?

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

I am interested to see how others reply. I have a 6 month old barred rock with the same symptoms. I thought she may have sprained her leg somehow since she was limping. I took her to an avian vet who told me she didn’t appear to have any internal/external injuries and didn’t show signs of Mareks. Her appetite has not been great, though she is eating/drinking/pooping. She is sleeping in the nest box at night instead of roosting with the other girls, probably because her leg hurts. This has been going on for 2 weeks now and I’m wondering if chickens are just slow to heal? She does seem depressed and her tail is down.

 

[jdavidson]

I am interested to see how others reply. I have a 6 month old barred rock with the same symptoms. I thought she may have sprained her leg somehow since she was limping. I took her to an avian vet who told me she didn’t appear to have any internal/external injuries and didn’t show signs of Mareks. Her appetite has not been great, though she is eating/drinking/pooping. She is sleeping in the nest box at night instead of roosting with the other girls, probably because her leg hurts. This has been going on for 2 weeks now and I’m wondering if chickens are just slow to heal? She does seem depressed and her tail is down.

I've wondered if maybe mine has a tick that I cant find through all her feathers...Ive read that this can cause issues. I hate not knowing what the problem is.

 

[jdavidson]

I think it's LICE! Looked through her feathers for a tick and saw some more red looking bugs near her bottom and the ends of her feathers closest to her body are different, dirty looking which I thought could be from the DE dust bath but after seeing some pics I am starting to wonder...plus would make since if its sucking her dry and causing anemia. I use DE regularly but clearly it isn't working and I clean my coops out evry other week when its winter and since they free range about once every 2 months since they don't stay in there except to lay an egg or when its raining and I make them go in. UGHHHH..... just want it gone!

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

Wow you could be on to something! I’ve noticed my hen has some poopy looking feathers on her backside, I had attributed it to her not being able to clean so well back there with the hurt leg. Will need to take a second look! If that’s what it is I will be pissed off that my $167 vet visit didn’t catch it!

 

[jdavidson]

Wow you could be on to something! I’ve noticed my hen has some poopy looking feathers on her backside, I had attributed it to her not being able to clean so well back there with the hurt leg. Will need to take a second look! If that’s what it is I will be pissed off that my $167 vet visit didn’t catch it!

just curious.... how is your chicken doing and did you find out for sure what was going on?

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

She is hanging in there but still not very mobile. I did not find any ticks, lice, or mites on her. She can’t preen herself so we are giving her regular baths. It’s the strangest thing. Still eats, drinks, and poops, but can’t get along well.