Sideways Gait

[Gmamatotwo]

My Nana is not looking so good. She is standing by herself all fluffed up. Her shoulder (do chickens have shoulders?) feathers are in the pin stage so I worry about her keeping warm (it was 37 today and 18 degrees tonight). She is still eating and drinking but not a well hen. The other three seem fine and are leaving her alone thank goodness but I really think she might be bound up with internal problems. I keep thinking I will find her dead in the morning but she continues to live. I also keep thinking that maybe she will recover. This is really a hard pace for me to be in. I don't want her to suffer but I am trying to remain optimistic. I am not opposed to putting her down, I just have never done it before.

 

[janinepeters]

I have had to put a few down. Once you've done it, it is not so painfully difficult the second time. In fact, it was a great relief to be able to do it - I then knew that never again would I have to let one endure unnecessary prolonged suffering.

On the other hand, it may well be possible to save this bird, depending on what is wrong. If you think it's an internal laying issue, then I would suggest starting a new thread with that in the title, to get the attention of people who know more about it. The title of this one catches people who know something about Marek's Newcastle, vitamin deficiencies, I think. Good luck!