Sick hens....2 in one week!

[Dyann47]

We had a Golden Comet about 6 mths old, we found her laying at the bottom of our porch steps Monday. She had been out of her cage for a few hours free ranging. She was alive but very weak and seemed to not be able to stand up very well. She is one of our chickens that seem to always have a poopy butt, it was never watery though. The only changes I could see in her was that our Barred Rock Rooster, who is 6mths old as well, had been trying to mate with her. I quickly brought her in and cleaned her bottom area to make sure her vent was not obstructed and isolated her in a separate bin in our basement. She would not eat or drink after that and I found her the next morning dead.

Then, last night, I found my barred rock hen (6mths old) unable to get up?!? She too has been bullied by our rooster. The common denominator between the 2 is the lameness and inability to stand. She is drinking and eating though. She is now isolated as well. This morning she ate some scrambled eggs, bread, and sugar water. Not a ton of food but she is drinking normally. Her crop feels soft and mostly empty. She is still very vocal and always makes noises when I come around her. Which is totally her norm. When I try to stand her up though she just lets her legs collapse. She is not paralyzed because if I touch her feet she tries to pull them away.

We haven't introduced any new chickens to the flock but I am concerned about Marek's Disease. That's the only thing I can find that remotely matches the symptoms of lameness and falling over. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[chynasparks]

So sorry about your sick chicken. I'm sorry I don't have words of wisdom for you, this is my first little flock and am learning as I go, but there are lots of experienced chickeners on this site. I've learned much from them. I'm dealing with sick hens too. I firmly believe they have dry foul pox. They are not eating well but otherwise act fine. I've read it's from flies and Mosquitos. If that's true them I'm doomed because here in texas (between Houston and Galveston) we are covered with Mosquitos. We had a terrible infestation this summer after a rain. Literally running from car to front door to get in and away from them. Swatting and cursing the whole way. It's awful! I didn't know about this before hand. I'm hoping they will get through it and be ok. I'm attached to them and don't want to have to dispatch them. Good luck with your sick chickens.