Suspect broken leg?...

[georgiaeve]

Hi everyone, I have a chicken around 5 YO that has not been able to walk properly for around 4-5 weeks. The past 2 weeks she has been sitting in one spot. Around 3-4 weeks ago we noticed she had pulled a middle toe nail out and it seems to have gotten progressively worse - walking with a limp to not moving at all. I took her to the vet 2 weeks ago and he suspected an infection so prescribed antibiotics but she is still immobile. He felt the toenail was fine and her loose stools was more of a concern. She is eating but very skinny and has no balance when she stands. I'm wondering what you think? Broken leg? Pulled something? or would you think something more sinister? This morning we cleaned bed, bathed her bottom in diluted tea tree as its totally gross with her not moving, and bought her in cage inside to dry and keep warm. I'm not sure where to go from here...?

 

[chicknmania]

There are several things that can cause these symptoms in chickens. She's a little old to be suspect for Marek's disease, but it could be that, or there are a couple of kinds of avian cancer which can produce symptoms similar to that. The loose droppings and weight loss are what make me suspect illness, rather than injury. Do you have her in a hospital cage? If not, put her in one, and feed her up with goodies...whatever she likes that she will eat. Scrambled eggs, berries, applesauce, cottage cheese, yogurt, bread crumbs soaked in buttermilk.. cantaloupe guts, watermelon...keep her eating and drinking and warm and quiet, but where she can still hear and see her friends. And if you haven't already, recontact the vet and tell him the antibiotics are not working!

She could have worms too, or coccidiosis, and they tend to be susceptible to parasite infestations if they have something else going on that could drag down their immune systems...even an injury. So, take a sample of her droppings to the vet, and have them test it for parasites. This is not expensive, and it will show if she has parasites. So, if she does have worms or cocci, treat the worms with a broad spectrum dewormer, and the cocci with Corid, or whatever the vet recommends. Worms can sometimes also cause lameness, though I have never seen that. If for some reason you can't return to the vet, then if I were you I would treat her for worms and coccidiosis..not both at once...treat for coccidiosis first, wait for five days or so..then treat for worms with a dewormer like Safeguard. The vet can sell you Safeguard suspesnion, which is cheap, and easy to give on bread...they'll eat it.our vet says one CC per day for a standard size chicken, for three to five days.

Best scenario though..at least call the vet, and advise them what's going on. If they''re an avian vet, they're the experts.

 

[micstrachan]

Hi there. The only thing I would add is that she might be more comfortable in a sling where she is lifted up off her poop. Good luck!

 

[georgiaeve]

There are several things that can cause these symptoms in chickens. She's a little old to be suspect for Marek's disease, but it could be that, or there are a couple of kinds of avian cancer which can produce symptoms similar to that. The loose droppings and weight loss are what make me suspect illness, rather than injury. Do you have her in a hospital cage? If not, put her in one, and feed her up with goodies...whatever she likes that she will eat. Scrambled eggs, berries, applesauce, cottage cheese, yogurt, bread crumbs soaked in buttermilk.. cantaloupe guts, watermelon...keep her eating and drinking and warm and quiet, but where she can still hear and see her friends. And if you haven't already, recontact the vet and tell him the antibiotics are not working!

She could have worms too, or coccidiosis, and they tend to be susceptible to parasite infestations if they have something else going on that could drag down their immune systems...even an injury. So, take a sample of her droppings to the vet, and have them test it for parasites. This is not expensive, and it will show if she has parasites. So, if she does have worms or cocci, treat the worms with a broad spectrum dewormer, and the cocci with Corid, or whatever the vet recommends. Worms can sometimes also cause lameness, though I have never seen that. If for some reason you can't return to the vet, then if I were you I would treat her for worms and coccidiosis..not both at once...treat for coccidiosis first, wait for five d ays or so..then treat for worms with a dewormer like Safeguard. The vet can sell you Safeguard suspesnion, which is cheap, and easy to give on bread...they'll eat it.our vet says one CC per day for a standard size chicken, for three to five days.

Best scenario though..at least call the vet, and advise them what's going on. If they''re an avian vet, they're the experts.

Thankyou SO much! I will have to read up on parasite infestations. Ill phone vet and treat as suggested. I suspect your right though, i have observed all day and when she stands she has no balance at all, looks like she is drunk, so illness not injury is seeming more likely. Cant thankyou enough

 

[georgiaeve]

Hi there. The only thing I would add is that she might be more comfortable in a sling where she is lifted up off her poop. Good luck!
View attachment 1446099

The sling is ingenious!!! Thankyou

 

[April’s Zoo]

Part of the trick to the sling is to try to make it so that her vent overhangs the fabric —that way her poop can fall away and not end up mushed into her bottom.

 

[micstrachan]

Or cut a vent/poop hole.

 

[chicknmania]

That is a really nice sling! I never thought about doing it that way, in a tub. Ours always freaked out in a sling because it was more or less swinging....lol..but the sling across the tub is a much better way. You would, of course, have to help her with her food and water.

Please let us know how she does and what, if anything, you find out. Good luck!

 

[April’s Zoo]

You would, of course, have to help her with her food and water.

Many people use the hanging dishes and put them on the side of the bin.

 

[georgiaeve]

UPDATE ON HAZEL the HEN...

I returned to the vet, who gave her (Hazel) a second anti-biotic injection and gave me some more anti-biotic tabs to take home. Her temp was 41! So i was glad to be there.
In reflection, Hazel started 'slowing down'... not running at mealtimes etc. around 4-5 weeks ago. The day she didnt leave the coop and i took to the vet for 1st time was 2 weeks ago. So it seems what ever is happening is happening very very slowly. It has me completely stumped. Vet mentioned botulism and Mareks but said it could be some other virus complicated by an infection. Anyone with a clue, and advice from here... i am all ears!

Hazels signs now.....
She has paralysis of the legs. Sometimes when she tries to preen she attempts to stand but often falls on her face. She can get her self back to a comfortable seated position.
It seems to be only her legs that are affected, at this stage. She is eating like a trooper and her poos are pretty normal, though between the 2 of them, there have been loose ones and brighter ones on and off. I have left her with the 1 other chicken we have because if its contagious, she will already have it. The 2nd chook 'Hattie' is receiving antibiotics also as a precaution and they would be so stressed without each other.
I have incorporated vitamins (multi + cal/mag +D, probiotics) and am feeding her everything wonderful... as suggested! Scrambled eggs, corn, broccoli, spinach, rice, pasta, blueberries, raspberries, porridge, paw paw etc. Her diet was not great before as we are undergoing house renovations and she only received layer grains most days, though they free range there is not much around at present.
They are wormed and treated with parasite powder too FYI

I have done so much reading about other things it could be and perhaps in the morning i'll post a video so you can see her for yourself.

Thankyou all again! I really appreciate being connected to chook people!