Sick & lethargic BLRW

[Bil]

I have a hen that is about 16 weeks old. The last few days she has been hiding from the other chickens in a corner of their covered area. She is walking slow and one wing is hanging down and dragging on the ground (just the tip is dragging). We looked at the wing and it doesn't seem to be out of joint, and it doesn't seem to hurt her at all.

Any ideas on what we could do to help her out?

Thanks!

Bil

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Well Bill, first thing: was she vaccinated for Marek's? Was she a hatchery chick, or from a breeder or individual or 'home grown'.

Has she been panting? Can she withdraw the wing back up if you poke it? Is it quite hot there?

What is her diet, exactly? Check her eyes - do either of them look grey on the surface, or are either of the pupils misshapen at all? Does she feel lightweight to you? How are her droppings? Is it possible that she could have gotten into any mildewed food, mushrooms, fallen fruits/berries, kitchen scraps, ponds, stagnant water, compost piles, maggots, or manure? And wet grains?

Feel her joints - are any of them swollen?

First, put her up away from the other hens since she's trying to get away from them. Deep pine shavings bedding will keep her cleaner and soften things for her joints. Put food and water in front of her, including electrolytes (and possibly vitamins) in her water as her sole source of water. Dampen food if you must to get her to eat - but remove after 15 minutes, replacing her free-choice mash.

You can try vitamin E, B, and multivitamin treatment on her in case it's something that will respond to that. Often enough bird do; it's worth a shot, particularly for a week til things are ruled out.

Vitamin E (400-700 IU oil capsule - slit end, put contents in her beak): for inflammation (which can sometimes cause paralysis), for neurological healing. Give daily - one week - then reevaluate with us.
Vitamin B (Vitamin B-complex tablet, 1/2 crushed daily into something wet she'll eat: boiled eggs, mashed with honey for example)
PolyVisol baby vitamins ( in the vitamin section, not baby section oddly, of walmart, cvs, walgreens, etc - NON-iron fortified - 3 drops in the beak daily). Encourages healing; will get a jump-start on supportive treatment for ANY illness.
Yogurt (1 teaspoon daily, as a treat) living bacteria will help her digestive system work properly while she's recouperating.
Boiled Egg: use to hide the B vitamin. Birds love it. Protein helps heal.

The reason for giving the E and polyvisol directly in the beak is so you know she gets it. If she doesn't get all the B vitamin, that's ok. Some will help, and polyvisol has some. You can technically omit the B if you want to and just use polyvisol for a week; a budget consideration.

I suggest trying this for a week and then carefully answering the questions above, all chosen for specific reasons - to rule things out, or get more info on something with similar symptoms.

I look forward to your reply and answers. I hope to help.