Slowly losing weight, high-stepping, now difficulty walking

ihaveasunrae

Chirping
8 Years
May 21, 2014
14
24
94
What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) Road Island Red, 22 weeks old, slowly losing weight
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Red has been slowly losing weight despite eating and drinking normally. 2 days ago I noticed her high-stepping, or raising her feet all the way up when taking steps, now she has difficulty keeping her legs under her and just wants to sit. She has also had a poopy looking butt the last 3 days. It has been very cold here (well below zero) so I brought them into the shed the last 4 days and so she might have some stress. The weight loss has been noticeable though for a few weeks.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? Slowly over 2 weeks, sudden onset of leg weakness the last 2 days.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. We had to cull another girl over a week ago because she slowly was losing weight and eventually just sat hunched and fluffed up and miserable. All chickens were de-wormed because of that, given Corid, and vitamin water.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Appetite is fine…layer feed, scratch feed to supplement through this cold spell, a treat of oats/peas/yogurt/sunflower seeds/scrambled eggs for Christmas.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. somewhat runny, light brown, white dried poop in rear feathers
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Corid over the last 3 days, de-wormed with Fenben 5 days ago
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Self-treatment
11) Describe the housing/bedding in use. Pine flakes in coop, straw bedding when in the shed the last couple of days with the cold spell

I’m worried that this could be related to the last chicken that fell ill, however she never acted lame or uncoordinated, the one we culled also had some crop issues that we treated. I have 5 other girls and they seem fine. Red is being quarantined, her crop feels fine, and she’s eating and drinking. She struggles to put weight through her legs when first standing and then her legs are shaking when she walks and she is doing that high-stepping gait. Her butt is the only one in the flock that looks messy. Please help!! I don’t want to lose another girl in just 2 weeks! Thank you!
 
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Keep working with her! I have my salmon fav Ginger AKA Screecher Creature who won't eat or drink on her own. I spoon feed her mash and give her water in a syringe. She has had vitamin therapy for a week now. I had some antibiotics and starter her on that last night. She is not walking very well but is fighting. She is a June 27 chick so at point of lay soon. She still cooo's at me and has come this far.
I'm going to keep everything going until she gives up. I hope you will do the same.
 
It doesn’t look like any frostbite, but I would try to get her warm, and stop any treats or acratch. Offer both dry layer feed, and moisten a small amount to offer her. Scrambled egg is also good to try. Was she or any other vaccinated for Mareks disease? Vitamin E can be helpful in treatment of neurological issues, so I would give 500 IU daily of E (human kind) and 1/4 tablet daily of human B complex. If you should lose her or another one, I would contact your state vet lab to get a necropsy. Here is a list of state vets:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html
 
I noticed she regurgitated a bunch of water up after drinking.
Spitting up water - check to see that her crop is emptying overnight.
If the crop is not empty in the morning, begin treating her according to this article, this is the methods I use for my hens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Photos of her poop?
A video of her movements may be helpful. Upload video to youtube and provide a link.

Extra Vitamins that contain B1(Thiamine) should not be given when you are treating with Corid. Did you give vitamins during this time?

You dewormed with Fenbendazole for 5 days in a row correct? Dose at 0.23ml per pound of weight?

If you have finished with the Corid, then I'd start her on vitamin therapy. Give her 400IU Vitamin E along with 1/4 tablet vitamin B-Complex daily. A treat of egg along with her normal feed would be good to give. Cut out the scratch and all other goodies until she comes around right.

The high stepping could have been due to her crop not emptying - just a guess on my part. I've seen it with others here on BYC and with one of my own hens too. It's an odd type of gate, but the step is almost like to press up the crop to help it empty.
If the crop/digestive system is not functioning well, then a hen will lose weight, condition and decline. Do keep in mind that often a crop "problem" is often just a symptom of an underlying condition like reproductive disorders, infections, worms, coccidiosis, etc.
 
It is good that she laid the egg. Sometimes an egg being stuck can cause a temporary paralysis in the legs. But then, it may have nit had anything to do with her egg. I would give her 400 IU of vitamin E in addition to the B complex. She probably doesn’t need the Poultry Cell if she is eating. There is no timeline if this could be Mareks. You cannjust watch her and make sure that she is able to reach food and water. A chicken sling is useful for periods throughout the day with lame chickens to get them upright, in front of food and water, and to keep them cleaner. But some will struggle to get out of them, and could injure themselves. If you should lose her or decide to cull, I would try to have your state vet do a necropsy and look for Mareks. Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html
 
Spitting up water - check to see that her crop is emptying overnight.
If the crop is not empty in the morning, begin treating her according to this article, this is the methods I use for my hens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Photos of her poop?
A video of her movements may be helpful. Upload video to youtube and provide a link.

Extra Vitamins that contain B1(Thiamine) should not be given when you are treating with Corid. Did you give vitamins during this time?

You dewormed with Fenbendazole for 5 days in a row correct? Dose at 0.23ml per pound of weight?

If you have finished with the Corid, then I'd start her on vitamin therapy. Give her 400IU Vitamin E along with 1/4 tablet vitamin B-Complex daily. A treat of egg along with her normal feed would be good to give. Cut out the scratch and all other goodies until she comes around right.

The high stepping could have been due to her crop not emptying - just a guess on my part. I've seen it with others here on BYC and with one of my own hens too. It's an odd type of gate, but the step is almost like to press up the crop to help it empty.
If the crop/digestive system is not functioning well, then a hen will lose weight, condition and decline. Do keep in mind that often a crop "problem" is often just a symptom of an underlying condition like reproductive disorders, infections, worms, coccidiosis, etc.
Thanks for your advice! Her crop has been empty in the morning and I will check again tomorrow morning. She acts like she can hardly keep her legs under her now and she staggers around. Her poop “looks” normal—large, well formed, white cap on top—but her hind end stays messy, almost wet. She’s in the coop for the night but I will get a video tomorrow if her walking around! I just started giving her vitamin B complex yesterday, the same day I took her off Corid. And yes, that is how I dewormed her. She’s due for her second dose (to rid the eggs) but I’m almost afraid to give it to her since she seems so fragile right now. I never did see any worms in her poop. Thanks for chiming in!!
 
I’m sorry, I misunderstood I think. I gave 1 dose of SafeGuard paste with instructions to repeat in 5 days. The corid was given in their water for 5 days. All of this is so confusing and overwhelming. And everyone said keeping chickens was easy 😅 I never thought I’d get so attached too!
Oh I see now!
I may have misunderstood.

Yes. Safeguard given once, then repeated in 5 days is to treat Roundworms only. So yes, I'd give the follow up dose.

Oh, chickens are just lovely, you can't help but getting attached.
 
Keep working with her! I have my salmon fav Ginger AKA Screecher Creature who won't eat or drink on her own. I spoon feed her mash and give her water in a syringe. She has had vitamin therapy for a week now. I had some antibiotics and starter her on that last night. She is not walking very well but is fighting. She is a June 27 chick so at point of lay soon. She still cooo's at me and has come this far.
I'm going to keep everything going until she gives up. I hope you will do the same.
Sounds like your Screecher Creature is in good hands! Red is holding out! She went on a field trip outside today to get fresh air. She’s taking some staggering, wobbly steps. She seems so happy to be outside. Her butt feathers are really wet today. But still eating and drinking and otherwise happy!
 
I’m not any help, but actually am dealing with a similar issue and cannot figure out what’s wrong. They get slowly thinner, lose their ability to walk, and then stay that way for upwards of a month and then just one day die. Mine have healthy appetites, drink water, take meds, have some suspect poop that’s either dark brown or greenish…but otherwise look perfectly healthy other than not walking. Comb is red, he crows, eyes are bright and alert…not fluffed up. I’m currently treating for Candida since a couple birds have white on their combs and vitamin deficiencies…
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