Something is wrong with my chicken

[Mcombs]

One of my hens has started acting strange. She has started holding her wings out from her sides. ( they occasionally do this When it’s really hot out, so I wasn’t that concerned about that) she walks around just fine but when you pick her up and sit her back down, she does something strange with her feet, like she can’t move them or something. She just lets her feet go limp when you sit her down. She also acts like she can’t balance and get on the perch at night. She’ll get up to the nesting boxes after continuously flapping her wings stumbling up the ramp then I have to help her up to the perch. Also noticed I was short an egg, but I’m not sure if it was her or another hen that didn’t lay. (They also sometimes skip a day)

 

[Aapomp831]

Have you vaccinated your flock for mareks disease?

 

[Mcombs]

Have you vaccinated your flock for mareks disease?

No, I had got her and another hen from a friend a few months ago, she’s probably around 2 yrs old. I’m not sure if they have any vaccines. this is my first time owning chickens, I honestly didn’t know there was a vaccine for that. I’ve seen videos of chickens that have mareks, but I haven’t read to much about that. She doesn’t look like the chickens in the videos, unless those chickens are in the late stages of it

 

[Aapomp831]

Is your perch too high? Is there adequate tread on the ramp for her to get up it?
I would contact your friend and find out if they were vaccinated for mareks just to rule it out.
Are you sure that she’s not just squatting and being submissive? Laying hens do that... and unless you have a high production sex linked chicken, they are not going to lay an egg every single day.
Try and get video of what’s happening - it would help a lot.

 

[Mcombs]

Is your perch too high? Is there adequate tread on the ramp for her to get up it?
I would contact your friend and find out if they were vaccinated for mareks just to rule it out.
Are you sure that she’s not just squatting and being submissive? Laying hens do that... and unless you have a high production sex linked chicken, they are not going to lay an egg every single day.
Try and get video of what’s happening - it would help a lot.

I will get a video tomorrow, everything I’ve been watching and googling has shown up many possibilities, and what I’ve read about mareks is that I’ll have to put her down. I’m really hoping that’s not the case. I’ve become very attached to all my chickens

 

[Mcombs]

I will get a video tomorrow, everything I’ve been watching and googling has shown up many possibilities, and what I’ve read about mareks is that I’ll have to put her down. I’m really hoping that’s not the case. I’ve become very attached to all my chickens

also the perch and ramp are fine, none of them has had any trouble, except her just in the past two days

 

[Aapomp831]

I will get a video tomorrow, everything I’ve been watching and googling has shown up many possibilities, and what I’ve read about mareks is that I’ll have to put her down. I’m really hoping that’s not the case. I’ve become very attached to all my chickens

I understand completely. In the meantime, if you really think she’s sick, isolate her from the others. No food or water overnight so in the am you can make sure her crop is empty and check to see what her poops look like. And def. ask your friends about the vaccination.

 

[Owenp_2]

One of my hens has started acting strange. She has started holding her wings out from her sides. ( they occasionally do this When it’s really hot out, so I wasn’t that concerned about that) she walks around just fine but when you pick her up and sit her back down, she does something strange with her feet, like she can’t move them or something. She just lets her feet go limp when you sit her down. She also acts like she can’t balance and get on the perch at night. She’ll get up to the nesting boxes after continuously flapping her wings stumbling up the ramp then I have to help her up to the perch. Also noticed I was short an egg, but I’m not sure if it was her or another hen that didn’t lay. (They also sometimes skip a day)

I don´t know unless she got bit by something or possibly stepped in an anthill and something aggravated it?

 

[Mcombs]

I don´t know unless she got bit by something or possibly stepped in an anthill and something aggravated it?

That’s a possibility too, that’s she’s just hurt her feet somehow. I’m going to the store tomorrow morning, I’m gonna get some epsom salt, and let her soak in that and put some garlic in her water. I’ve read both of those are good for chickens.

 

[Aapomp831]

That’s a possibility too, that’s she’s just hurt her feet somehow. I’m going to the store tomorrow morning, I’m gonna get some epsom salt, and let her soak in that and put some garlic in her water. I’ve read both of those are good for chickens.

Very true