Sudden Death Syndrome-But still alive?!?!

[Dannii]

Hello,

Please can someone help, about a week ago our 15 month old orpinton started doing a very weird thing, I went down to the coops to put everyone to bed and found her laying outside on her back, I thought at first she was dead but no, I rolled her over and she appeared ok, there was no signs of an attack from either a predator or one of our other chickens, I gave her a good look over, couldn't see anything and assumed she had fallen and put her in her coop and checked her the next morning, she was fine. Unfortunately when I went down the second night, she was in the same position but further out and had got wet from the rain, again, I scooped her up, took her into the stables and kept her there till she was dry and warm, then put her to bed. After this happening twice I decided to put her in my spare stable with food and water and bedding just during the day, as I got a bit concerned if she fell in the morning and was lying like that all day, atleast if shes inside she will be dry. She was fine for few days, then had another turn. We can't find any information about this, she appears to be sore on the left side but there also seems to be lack of feeling in her left foot, her middle toe curls when shes standing and she staggers a bit, but if I pick her up and put my finger at her foot she seems to grab on to it fine. We are completely confused about this, and if she hadn't been our favourite hen we probably would have just taken the simple option, but if she isn't suffering I will keep her as a pet as shes eating and drinking fine but I need to make sure shes ok, can anyone help?

Dannii

 

[Mahonri]

Wish I could help, I've never seen this happen. If we keep this active there is bound to be someone on here who has experienced the same.

Good luck.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Doesn't Write of Words have a note that says has fainting chickens? Ask her!

 

[Dannii]

Sorry, new here, where do I go to find Write of words?

 

[speckledhen]

The fainting chickens is a joke. Writer of Words had a rooster who fainted when faced with a predator.
Your girl could have a spinal injury or a disease such as Mareks or a number of other things. Hard to say.

 

[Dannii]

I think I will get her to the vets.

 

[onthespot]

a friend of mine had something just like that happen to half of on of her flocks. One roo and four hens, perfect one day, dead the next. All were lying on their backs with their feet in the air. Weirdest thing I ever saw. The other birds in the pen were unaffected, as were the flocks on either side. Still a mystery. I don't know if she had a necropsy done. She thinks they may have eaten something not good. They are near public access, maybe someone fed her birds some moldy food or something, trying to give "treats" she thinks.

 

[Blue_Myst]

I agree a spinal cord injury or disease could be responsible, but has she been exposed to bad water or moldy food recently? It could be botulism. I've heard of a case involving a flock of ducks which sounds quite similar. Almost all of the flock members over a course of a few days were paralyzed on one side (it happened rather gradually), and it seemed to be spreading. It turned out to be a type of botulism they had caught from their pond.

 

[hinkjc]

I'm going to take a guess at this based on breed and possibility of being overweight. Your girl is likely going into heart failure or has hemorhaging from fatty liver syndrome. Both of these are common in large heavy breeds and can seem to come on rather suddenly, although the effects have been occuring over a long period of time. Any signs of fluid buildup in her abdominal cavity?

 

[Dannii]

Our girls get fresh water every day and their feeding area is cleaned every night and fresh food given in the morning, we live in the middle of no where, so no fear of someone else feeding them.
I'm no expert, we are going to call the vets today and take her down tonight, she doesn't feel particulary over weight and other than what I'm saying she is going she comes across in pretty good health, I was in making my horses feed up last night and she came over and spoke to me and is drinking well and eating and walking about.....I'm confused and sad, she's a lovely big girl.