Update: Hen hasn't walked in almost 6 wks

[chacha]

My hen, Helen, named after an ex-mother-in-law I liked, jumped off a perch last spring when she was about 3 mos old, rolled her eyes in her head, would not or could not walk, seemed woozy and out of it, listed to the right, wings hung down, refused food and then about three days later came out of her stupor, but still couldn't walk or take care of her needs. She almost starved to death before she finally started to eat again. I gave her multi-grain bread soaked in milk and she started eating that. Finally was able to get around a little by flapping her wings and trying to walk. It took her a long time to even stand up. Her comb was pale and undeveloped and I had to clean her up every day. I tried to put her back in with her sisters, but they almost pecked her to death, so no go there. She has been isolated since then and pretty much a house chicken. She can walk now, but stiffly. She is eating normally again and finally at 10 mos laid her first egg and it was a full-sized egg. She has been laying 6 eggs a week for the last two months! I thought Marek's at the time, but no one else contracted it so I never really knew what happened. I thought maybe broken or fractured beast bone, but she has always been able to flap. I wouldn't give up on your hen yet. She may make a slow recovery like mine!

 

[daisy123]

Well its all over she had a rough night last night and seemed even more off balance this morning. My husband and I talked about it and after three weeks there has been no improvement so we put her down today very emotional and tiring. She was a beautiful sweet Cochin but I tried everything with no luck. I am tired and bummed out it is a reminder there are not many things we have control over.

I hope your hen makes her way back to good health I do understand the ups and downs of all of this. I live in New Hampshire and the winters are really rough here. We have had record snow and ice as well and it appears at this time we will have snow on the ground until May. We are planning a new coop to build in the Spring as you know its a lot of planning and work but I am looking forward to it. We live on a nice country road and summers I enjoy the gardens and watching the birds. I am planning on adding to my flock as well which is always fun. Keep me posted on your hen hope things work out.

 

[Chicken Chat]

Oh Daisy, I am so sorry

You gave her such good care for all those weeks, that is such a heartbreaking decision. I keep you in my thoughts. You did everything you could for her, and sometimes that is the last loving thing you can do for her.
I have cried over that myself, I have had to put some of mine down over the years and I cry the entire time. They really get into your heart, especially when you care for them in the house. You get really close.

 

[Chicken Chat]

Thanks chacha and secuono, you are giving me some hope for my little girl. She has drank a bit of vitamin water this evening on her own, which is good. She pecked at her dry food, but I'm not sure she actually ate anything. She seems a bit more alert today, and I can fill a little bit in her crop. She's watching tv with me at the moment, she seems to be into HGTV. She still hasn't made any attempt to try and get up yet, we are going on 8 days now.

 

[Chicken Chat]

This is Squirt in her carrier. It's been almost 6 wks since she stopped walking, still no better, even a little worse. I have been reading old posts like crazy trying to figure out what else I can do or what it could be. She stopped moving her toes about 2 or 3 weeks ago. The feet are still warm so she is getting circulation to them but I don't know if she can feel them. I increased her leg exercises to 3 times a day at 10 to 15 mins each time until she is limbered back up. Her legs are getting really stiff in between times. The only thing that has gotten better is her eating. For a bit over a week, she is eating great! Eating like her old self and is putting on some weight and her poop likes great. Has anyone had a chicken go this long without walking and recovered?

she just finished eating and she is a messy eater which is what is all over her chest and feet.

 

[Chicken Chat]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that she might look funny in there all sandwiched in because she stopped moving away using her wings when she pooped and ended up sitting in poo all day until I got back from work. It really started irritating her skin so I had to place her on top of rolled up hand towels and position her vent over the end so the poop would fall away from her. She has to be propped with towels on each side to stay balanced.

 

[klmclain1]

Poor girl... it sure looks like some sort of paralysis. I wonder if when she had her original injury if maybe there was a secondary one? I know that with humans, injuries can "progress" to paralysis or an inability to function. It's like something atrophied. Is she happy?

 

[Chicken Chat]

She is alert but right now not much of a quality of life. I read one post where a rooster didn't walk for 2 months and then got up and is ok, so my re-evaluation is for 2 months but my hopes are going really down. It didn't say what the trouble was with the rooster. She has started to thicken up in the upper breast area from eating again but I noticed that the area under the vent is sunken in around the bone. I am guessing the muscle. I have started to quietly ask around to a couple of folks that I know that have chickens to see if they would be willing to put her down for me if it came to that but haven't found anyone yet. I have done it myself in the past but I can't with Squirt. I have taken care of her too long, one on one, it's like a routine now. I just don't see her getting better but I was hoping that the positive change in her eating may make a difference and some how she will move a toe again. I thought I saw her move a foot the other day and went running over to her but it was just the way she was laying and her leg moved a bit when she would breath. I was so heartbroken I just sat and cried with her on my lap.

I just have to know if anyone has had one go this long without moving their legs or if I am just kidding myself. We have gotten really close and I want to give her every opportunity if there is hope.

Thanks everyone.

 

[klmclain1]

I'm just so so sorry...I can tell this is extremely hard for you. God bless you and your wonderful heart!

 

[allieloveschickens]

Poor Squirt! I wish I had some advice for you, it seems like you are doing all that you can, she is lucky to have you!