Sickness or Injury

[Mach 1 Padilla]

I been having a weird problem with my Egg laying chickens lately, at first it started with 2 but today another showed symptoms. At first i thought maybe the roosters where getting on top of them to much and injuring them. The symptoms are that they seem depressed and stumble when they walk. they cant really run either because they will fall over.

I have since separated the 3 hens showing this to another pen where they can be alone together and not be bothered, I am feeding them Feed soaked in "Kickin' Chicken Feed Supplement". any ideas what they might have?

Note: 1 has had these symptoms for about 3 months and doesn't seem like her health overall is or has deteriorated.

 

[Notaneggspurt]

So sorry to hear about your girls. Could we get a little more information?

Where in general are you located? This helps to get an idea what your weather is like lately.
How old are your girls? Mixed breeds?
Have any of the separated ones laid any eggs?
What is their regular feed and how is it stored?

If you don't get any additional responses read the sticky on the emergencies and illness section then repost with as many questions answered there.

 

[Mach 1 Padilla]

1 has laid an egg while in the isolation pen. I live in west texas where it has been 40-80F degrees lately. they usually eat scratch grain and corn that is stored in a sealed barrel.

1: Not sure of each breed, they came with mix breeds. Not sure on weight, they are 10 months old.
2: Stumble, depressed, Disoriented, cant run.
3: 1 hen has had the symptoms for 3 months the other 2 about 3 weeks
4: they all have the same symptoms
5:1 seems like she might have a dislocated or broken leg but not sure.
6:The only thing I can think that might have caused this is the rooster mounting them too much.
7: They eat Scratch grain and corn soaked in mineral and vitamin supplement and drink water
8: poop looks normal
9: Treatment has been to isolate them and see if they get better
10: going to do treatment just myself
11: pics on post 1
12: the housing is a open coop with dirt flooring

 

[feathermaid]

That sounds like something neurological. Could it be Merek's? Too much attention from a rooster would never make a hen act like that.

Maybe you could repost your concerns in the emergency/diseases/injuries forum and get a little more input.

 

[Kiki]

Do you only feed scratch grain and corn or do you feed them a complete poultry feed too?

 

[Mach 1 Padilla]

Do you only feed scratch grain and corn or do you feed them a complete poultry feed too?

just the scratch grain and corn since they free range. Ive had chickens for 15 years and this is the first time ive encountered this.

 

[Kiki]

It could very well be Marek's disease.
Can you take a video of one walking?

 

[Mach 1 Padilla]

It could very well be Marek's disease.
Can you take a video of one walking?

I will first thing tomorrow

 

[Eggcessive]

Hopefully, it isn’t Mareks disease, although it could be injuries, or a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Have you noticed any softening of their leg bones?

The corn and scratch are not good enough for laying chickens. They need a balanced flock raiser or layer feed that has twice the protein as scratch or corn, and all of the other nutrients, vitamins, and minerals they need to lay.

Kickin Chicken does not contain much in the way of vitamin or mineral supplements. It is mostly vitamin E, B12, biotin, and some omega fatty acids. A better complete supplement would contain all vitamins plus trace minerals, and Poultry Booster by Rooster Booster has all that for less than half the price. You add it to feed with a few drops of vegetable oil to get it to stick to feed.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Could be that they are malnourished and unable to ward off the virus. From what I understand a stressed bird or malnutrition can cause a flair up of the virus which would not normally show in a healthy bird. I’m sorry for your situation. Perhaps you could feed them a complete food cracked corn and scratch do not provide all that they need. Especially in winter when there are no bugs for protein. I hope your birds can pull through. Best wishes