hi,
yesterday I found one of my hens stretched and paralyzed on the coop's floor. as she was running and eating a few hours before that I think she somehow got injured. I gave her sugar water and aspirin and she was able to sit. some hours later she made a few steps but cannot walk for long. she eats like a pig and drinks water. there is no visible injury.
she was molting and stopped laying but yesterday she laid en egg after her accident.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
a mutt, about 18 months old, 3 kg
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
this morning she was in pain but after I gave her aspirin she ate. she has difficulty walking but she moves around a bit.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
2 days
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
I have another bird that has a kind of x legs and who cannot climb or roost. not sure why. she started to have problems in winter, got worse in june but survived after respiratory and bumble foot and she is my best layer. that's why I keep her.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
no signs
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
maybe she fell down from the roost that is low (about 60 cm from the ground). as she is molting and heavy she cannot fly well. there was a kind of wooden step so maybe she hit against it.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
eats everything, grower feed (now when she is sick), whole seeds, yogurt, greens,...
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
normal
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
aspirine and doxycycline (in case of the internal injury)
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
no avian vet where I live. I am on my own.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I don't have one, will take one tomorrow.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
at the moment she sleeps on styrofoam with my blind brahma hen. it is to keep them warm at night. I use pine shreddings as bedding. at daytime she is outside on the ground.
She's getting ground up grains, before that she was on proper chick food
She also free ranges and get suppliments in a mash, so overall she should be getting the nutrients she needs (we hope).
