Stumbling chicken!

[Wyorp Rock]

I'll try the vitamin complex. She's otherwise 'healthy'. No mites, lumps, bumps, crop feels normal.

She's also on chick starter for her main diet. She sometimes gets into the other chickens layer pellets but 90% of her diet is the starter

I picked her up around 6 weeks ago and within 3 days of having her she was unable to walk without dragging her feet. I'm just so confused because as you can see, she walks normal sometimes.

Can you please get some photos of her legs, joints and feet/bottom of feet too?

You've had her for 6 weeks? Is it possible to get a fecal float to rule out worms and/or Coccidiosis?

Was she added to an existing flock? Any chance she's been injured or stepped on?

 

[MissPennyRoss]

Can you please get some photos of her legs, joints and feet/bottom of feet too?

You've had her for 6 weeks? Is it possible to get a fecal float to rule out worms and/or Coccidiosis?

Was she added to an existing flock? Any chance she's been injured or stepped on?

Here are her feet. I was initially worried about a sprain during transport but I really don't think it is that. She has been wormed but I have not treated for cocci because of the added vitamins. I can attempt to get a fecal float done.

She's on day 2 of separation and supplements (Vit B as suggested) so I will keep you updated on her condition

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 3372375View attachment 3372374View attachment 3372373

Here are her feet. I was initially worried about a sprain during transport but I really don't think it is that. She has been wormed but I have not treated for cocci because of the added vitamins. I can attempt to get a fecal float done.

She's on day 2 of separation and supplements (Vit B as suggested) so I will keep you updated on her condition

I'd keep up with the vitamins but try to get a fecal float just to rule Coccidia.

She's been dewormed? I missed that I suppose, what did you use? (Product, dose and duration)

 

[MissPennyRoss]

I'd keep up with the vitamins but try to get a fecal float just to rule Coccidia.

She's been dewormed? I missed that I suppose, what did you use? (Product, dose and duration)

I used Ivermectin under the wings, reapplied 10 days later

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I used Ivermectin under the wings, reapplied 10 days later

Then I would ask the vet to do a fecal float. Ivermectin might be effective against roundworms depending on if they have resistance or not where you live.
Ivermectin is generally applied along the base of the neck along the spine making contact with the skin.

 

[Basia St Clair]

Hey @MissPennyRoss. I have a silkie doing the exact same thing. She too is about 5 months. What is the update? I hope all is well

 

[MissPennyRoss]

Hey @MissPennyRoss. I have a silkie doing the exact same thing. She too is about 5 months. What is the update? I hope all is well

Unfortunately she was unable to recover and became unable to access food or water so we culled

 

[Eggcessive]

If it happens to another chicken in your flock, it would be good to have your state vet perform a necropsy to look for Mareks disease, which is a contagious disease that could affect many in your flock.

I never could see her leg conformation well in the videos, but she might have had a leg bone deformity such as Varus or Valgus deformity. Those can affect one or both legs, and the tendons can give out. But it more likely was possibly Mareks.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

If it happens to another chicken in your flock, it would be good to have your state vet perform a necropsy to look for Mareks disease, which is a contagious disease that could affect many in your flock.

I never could see her leg conformation well in the videos, but she might have had a leg bone deformity such as Varus or Valgus deformity. Those can affect one or both legs, and the tendons can give out. But it more likely was possibly Mareks.

@MissPennyRoss I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you don't mind me jumping into your thread, but I have a 25-week-old hen/pullet who might be having similar issues, so it might be related. I'm hoping @Eggcessive, @Wyorp Rock, or others might have some advice.

I have 41 birds in a closed flock from 25 weeks to 3 years. 4 roosters. The only new additions were years ago, and I don't get visitors to the coop or run (other than wild birds and the occasional raccoon or opossum). They don't free-range anymore due to predator overload. Large 8x24 coop, 40x50 run on dirt covered in parts with wood chips and hay. It's been very WET and soggy for weeks here. I feed a game bird grower/finisher crumble with 22% protein, and a very small amount of scratch or other treats daily.

She's been acting odd for a few days, but today I isolated her with food and water to keep a closer check on her and prevent bullying. She shows no obvious signs of illness or injury - eating and drinking, comb is bright red, legs move and flex normally, no bumblefoot, no nasal discharge or coughing, eyes are clear, crop feels squishy and normal, abdomen is soft and pliable, though her keel bone feels pretty thin and sharp. Her vent is pulsating and looks moist and normal, but I do not feel an egg near the cloaca. I don't know if she's laying yet or not. I cut a walnut-sized ball of poop from her vent feathers today, but haven't been able to isolate her own poop other than that one ball. The only thing is that she sits on the ground. A LOT. When I come near, she gets up and stumbles or hobbles away with her wings held down and out a bit, but when she settles she sits on her belly with her back hunched a bit and fluffed up. She's always been a very shy bird and I often find her in a corner hiding her face, though I see no reason for it, no bullying.

Last night when I went out to close up the coop, I found her alone at the feeder on her belly, eating away, after full-dark. I put her in the coop near a roost, but instead she walked over to a corner and plopped down with her head in the corner. I put her up on a low shelf (2' x 4' with a wide lip) in a nest of wood chips and she stayed there through the night. Gave her food and water this morning within easy reach, and closed that section of the coop. I'll try to get photos or a video later today.

I'm tempted to treat with Calcium+D, or Corid, or both - which I have on hand. What is the best approach, do you (anyone) think?

 

[Eggcessive]

@MissPennyRoss I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you don't mind me jumping into your thread, but I have a 25-week-old hen/pullet who might be having similar issues, so it might be related. I'm hoping @Eggcessive, @Wyorp Rock, or others might have some advice.

I have 41 birds in a closed flock from 25 weeks to 3 years. 4 roosters. The only new additions were years ago, and I don't get visitors to the coop or run (other than wild birds and the occasional raccoon or opossum). They don't free-range anymore due to predator overload. Large 8x24 coop, 40x50 run on dirt covered in parts with wood chips and hay. It's been very WET and soggy for weeks here. I feed a game bird grower/finisher crumble with 22% protein, and a very small amount of scratch or other treats daily.

She's been acting odd for a few days, but today I isolated her with food and water to keep a closer check on her and prevent bullying. She shows no obvious signs of illness or injury - eating and drinking, comb is bright red, legs move and flex normally, no bumblefoot, no nasal discharge or coughing, eyes are clear, crop feels squishy and normal, abdomen is soft and pliable, though her keel bone feels pretty thin and sharp. Her vent is pulsating and looks moist and normal, but I do not feel an egg near the cloaca. I don't know if she's laying yet or not. I cut a walnut-sized ball of poop from her vent feathers today, but haven't been able to isolate her own poop other than that one ball. The only thing is that she sits on the ground. A LOT. When I come near, she gets up and stumbles or hobbles away with her wings held down and out a bit, but when she settles she sits on her belly with her back hunched a bit and fluffed up. She's always been a very shy bird and I often find her in a corner hiding her face, though I see no reason for it, no bullying.

Last night when I went out to close up the coop, I found her alone at the feeder on her belly, eating away, after full-dark. I put her in the coop near a roost, but instead she walked over to a corner and plopped down with her head in the corner. I put her up on a low shelf (2' x 4' with a wide lip) in a nest of wood chips and she stayed there through the night. Gave her food and water this morning within easy reach, and closed that section of the coop. I'll try to get photos or a video later today.

I'm tempted to treat with Calcium+D, or Corid, or both - which I have on hand. What is the best approach, do you (anyone) think?

I would copy and post most of this post and start a new thread of your own on the emergency forum, just so we don’t get mixed up with advice. I suspect that she might have been injured, since she seems meek and afraid. But it would be good to treat with vitamins for awhile just in case. And it would be good to make sure if she is laying or not, since not laying at this age might be a sign of a reproductive disorder or infection pressing on leg nerves.