tail down, lethargic , drinking.

[azygous]

Thanks for getting the video embedded here. But I fear it's really not enough to get an idea of her balance and gait. We need to see her try to walk and stand on her own. I realize she is having issues, but if she falls over onto her side when you let her try to stand alone, it actually tells us something.

Watching her gait as she walks also will tell us a lot. Body language can even point us to the body part, toe, foot pad, upper leg, that hurts.

I still think there's a good chance this is related to her hard molt. Over the last few weeks, several of us have discussed how molt has affected some of our chickens, causing starvation and weakness, and even watery poop. In the case of one of my roosters, I believe molt even caused a mild case of wry neck.

Almost all of us have had good luck trying supplementary foods such as soft boiled egg, tofu, cottage cheese, or boiled rice, until we hit on something that the sick chicken can't turn her beak away from. In some cases, in just hours, we saw a dramatic transformation as our chickens gained strength and began returning to normal.

I suggest you give this special feeding a try. Keep offering her different things until she shows some interest. Just a few minutes ago, I brought a sick hen inside that has been slowly starving due to molt and lack of appetite. I gave her a couple tablespoons of cottage cheese, and she practically attacked it. I hadn't seen her show that level of interest in food in days.

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

Thanks for getting the video embedded here. But I fear it's really not enough to get an idea of her balance and gait. We need to see her try to walk and stand on her own. I realize she is having issues, but if she falls over onto her side when you let her try to stand alone, it actually tells us something.

Watching her gait as she walks also will tell us a lot. Body language can even point us to the body part, toe, foot pad, upper leg, that hurts.

I still think there's a good chance this is related to her hard molt. Over the last few weeks, several of us have discussed how molt has affected some of our chickens, causing starvation and weakness, and even watery poop. In the case of one of my roosters, I believe molt even caused a mild case of wry neck.

Almost all of us have had good luck trying supplementary foods such as soft boiled egg, tofu, cottage cheese, or boiled rice, until we hit on something that the sick chicken can't turn her beak away from. In some cases, in just hours, we saw a dramatic transformation as our chickens gained strength and began returning to normal.

I suggest you give this special feeding a try. Keep offering her different things until she shows some interest. Just a few minutes ago, I brought a sick hen inside that has been slowly starving due to molt and lack of appetite. I gave her a couple tablespoons of cottage cheese, and she practically attacked it. I hadn't seen her show that level of interest in food in days.

thank you writing. Sadly...there is no gait to show. She just immediately squats down. Won’t take one step. I prop her up....then down she goes.
She managed to jump up onto the perch tonight...which I found shocking. I put her in our little coop for the night, ...in the corner on a towel....she stood up, and jumped up onto the perch where the other girls were. All I can say about her movements, was there was a lot of wing flapping....a lopsided landing....then a squat.
This molting thing is stressful.... for them, and for us to watch. I’ll definitely try the cottage cheese tomorrow.
‘tonight, before bed, she only would eat sunflower seeds, And a little scratch, and a few worms, that I individually put to her mouth.
Again, thank you.

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

Thanks for getting the video embedded here. But I fear it's really not enough to get an idea of her balance and gait. We need to see her try to walk and stand on her own. I realize she is having issues, but if she falls over onto her side when you let her try to stand alone, it actually tells us something.

Watching her gait as she walks also will tell us a lot. Body language can even point us to the body part, toe, foot pad, upper leg, that hurts.

I still think there's a good chance this is related to her hard molt. Over the last few weeks, several of us have discussed how molt has affected some of our chickens, causing starvation and weakness, and even watery poop. In the case of one of my roosters, I believe molt even caused a mild case of wry neck.

Almost all of us have had good luck trying supplementary foods such as soft boiled egg, tofu, cottage cheese, or boiled rice, until we hit on something that the sick chicken can't turn her beak away from. In some cases, in just hours, we saw a dramatic transformation as our chickens gained strength and began returning to normal.

I suggest you give this special feeding a try. Keep offering her different things until she shows some interest. Just a few minutes ago, I brought a sick hen inside that has been slowly starving due to molt and lack of appetite. I gave her a couple tablespoons of cottage cheese, and she practically attacked it. I hadn't seen her show that level of interest in food in days.

This is her video from yesterday. She is the one leaving the water bucket and wobbling off to the right, then laying down. ‘today...she just laid down after she came into the run from the coop.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Isn't she just lovely, such a sweet face.

Hard to know what's going on there. I would start out with giving Vitamin E (400IU) and 1/2 tablet of human B-Complex daily.

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

Isn't she just lovely, such a sweet face.

Hard to know what's going on there. I would start out with giving Vitamin E (400IU) and 1/2 tablet of human B-Complex daily.

I will get those things tomorrow AM. Thank you. I was adding drench to her water, and she seemed to like it. More vitamins may help. Thank you

 

[azygous]

This last video tells me more than the first. She is feeling overall sickish, weak, and unwell. There's a hitch in her hip that doesn't want to let her put weight on that right leg. When you compare both legs, is the right even slightly thicker? There is a respiratory virus that can affect the legs also, and it causes swelling.

@Wyorp Rock has a very good suggestion. There's a chance her hard molt has resulted in a severe vitamin B and E deficiency, just as my rooster recently exhibited a vitamin E deficiency resulting in wry neck. A very hard molt can have all sorts of secondary complications.

It's a place to start. I suggest treating for nutritional deficiencies stemming from molt by providing special feedings and vitamin B complex and vitamin E. I just pop these vitamin pills directly into the beak. I break off a sliver of selenium, about 25mcg, and pop that into the beak with the E to help absorption.

If you see improvement in a few days, you will know this all was from the hard molt. If there is not any improvement, then we need to reassess, maybe consider an antibiotic.

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

This last video tells me more than the first. She is feeling overall sickish, weak, and unwell. There's a hitch in her hip that doesn't want to let her put weight on that right leg. When you compare both legs, is the right even slightly thicker? There is a respiratory virus that can affect the legs also, and it causes swelling.

@Wyorp Rock has a very good suggestion. There's a chance her hard molt has resulted in a severe vitamin B and E deficiency, just as my rooster recently exhibited a vitamin E deficiency resulting in wry neck. A very hard molt can have all sorts of secondary complications.

It's a place to start. I suggest treating for nutritional deficiencies stemming from molt by providing special feedings and vitamin B complex and vitamin E. I just pop these vitamin pills directly into the beak. I break off a sliver of selenium, about 25mcg, and pop that into the beak with the E to help absorption.

If you see improvement in a few days, you will know this all was from the hard molt. If there is not any improvement, then we need to reassess, maybe consider an antibiotic.

I appreciate all the feedback. I had no idea a hard molt would effect a chicken this way. The only advice I had found while she was going through this, was to up her protein. ...which I did. I gave her scrambled eggs and lots of mealy worms. I have another hen, that is 9 months old going through a rough molt right now...she’s is the lowest chicken in the order, and they are giving her a rough time about eating. Maybe I can separate her too, and give her some supplements before she ends up like Omelet has .
Thanks again. !!

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

Hi I just wanted to post an update. Omelette was squatting down most of the morning, but a little while ago I brought her some scrambled eggs & cottage cheese, mixed in vitamin B complex and E , as directed.
She stood up and got very excited when she saw the food, then stood while eating. I have hope.
Thank you so much for all your advice.
I’m going to remain hopeful ~ maybe it’s a Christmas miracle after all

 

[azygous]

When we are lucky enough to stumble on the right treatment for a sick chicken, the recovery can be quick and dramatic. I honestly don't know why more people don't study and become chicken vets. It's so rewarding when these patients respond to your care.

 

[Crazychocolatedog]

When we are lucky enough to stumble on the right treatment for a sick chicken, the recovery can be quick and dramatic. I honestly don't know why more people don't study and become chicken vets. It's so rewarding when these patients respond to your care.

That was my intention growing up, to become a vet. Unfortunately I didn’t receive the support and motivation that I needed to go forward with that plan. But, I have enjoyed a life filled with animals, studying them, photographing them, and working as a volunteer with raptors so I could be near them. But it is nice to be able to come to forum like this and get support. I truly appreciate it. Thank you all.