Update-Paralyzed hen diagnosed-Eggbound

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i have a call into my vet's office, but wondered if anyone has any ideas. Year and a half old silkie hen, staggering upon coming out of coop this morning, trying to hold self up with wings, very weak, breathing heavy. She had a bout of this staggering thing several months back. i brought her in the house and she was fine the next day. But she wasn't weak and breathing hard then.

All my chickens were wormed, treated for lice, and coccidiosis and vaccinated for fowl pox in December. No bad reactions from anyone at the time.

Okay, new development She just fell over on her side, legs straight out. Its like her body is paralyzed, and she just threw up some stinky brown liquid. Ack! i need my vet to call me back!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Just got through to my vets office. They said i can bring her in a little before 10:00. i said i would do that, if she's still alive. Hm!

 

[cimarron]

good luck with the vet! let us know what ya find out.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Okay, i got there and expected to open the carrier and find a dead chicken. What i found was Morgan, sitting up, breathing normally. We got her out of the carrier and she stood up, looking around, acting and breathing just fine. Huh? i left her there for observation and so the doctor can examine her (she hadn't gotten in yet).

All i can think is either a seizure, although it did not appear like one to me. Or, she had a stroke.

Oh my, what a day. Got home to find my little d'anver hen straining with an egg, so had to lube her down to get it to pass. Then i have chicks hatching in the back room. Ah, the joys of being a chicken mom!

i will post after i get a diagnosis from my vet, in case anyone else encounters this.

 

[MoodyChicken]

Wow, that's odd! A seizure is a good guess. It could have bee poisoning too... though that usually takes a day of recovery or londer.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Okay, Morgan is home and resting comfortably. The vet said she was trying to pass a very large, misshapen, gravely-surfaced egg. It took her 20 minutes of stitz baths, pain injections, and careful prodding to get the egg out. i suppose it makes sense that if a large egg is pressing on the nerves that it would cause the paralysis.

i had checked her vent when she first showed symptoms, but perhaps the egg hadn't gotten that far yet. Oh well, live and learn. i'm just grateful that Morgan is still here. i thought for sure she was on her way to the big chicken field in the sky.

 

[redhen]

glad she is going to be okay!

 

[cimarron]

how about that! poor girl. glad she pulled through! chickens can be so resillient. tough bird.