Vertigo/off balance/neurological?

[Deegroovy]

I have a 5-year old pet chicken. For six weeks now she seems to be losing her balance. Almost like she has neuropathy or vertigo. I’ve had chickens for 12 years now, this is a first.
She is a black sex link.
She seems happy, she is eating, drinking, foraging. She runs as fast as she can when it’s treat time, I noticed just now when she was running she wasn’t doing too well like she was running with her feet, but also with her wings close to the ground if that makes sense.
She’s also laying an egg every day or every other day in fact, being the youngest of my three she’s the only one that is even laying right now. I have oyster shells out for them, high-quality layer pellets I have added an electrolyte/vitamins to their water since this started.
I noticed today she seems worse with her being off balance as she is tilting to the side so much she’s catching herself with her wing. Anyone have this happen before? My other two have remained healthy and one of them is 11 years old.
Any ideas? I’m quite puzzled as I’ve done a little research.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Have you introduced any new birds recently? How do her feet and ears look?

 

[Deegroovy]

Have you introduced any new birds recently? How do her feet and ears look?

No new birds.there are only 3 of them total. Her feet look good. I thought maybe she had bumble foot or had stepped on something. But they both look healthy. She is such a sweet and fun chicken. Bummed she seems to have gotten worse today.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that she can reach food and water. You might want to place her in a dog crate with food and water, and give her some scrambled egg daily. Has she laid eggs recently? Maybe she has a reproductive disorder that is affecting her walking.

 

[Deegroovy]

Have you introduced any new birds recently? How do her feet and ears look?

Make sure that she can reach food and water. You might want to place her in a dog crate with food and water, and give her some scrambled egg daily. Has she laid eggs recently? Maybe she has a reproductive disorder that is affecting her walking.

 

[Deegroovy]

Yeah, so far she’s been with the other girls, and she is running around eating and drinking. However, checking in on her this evening her balance has declined a lot, and she is falling forward now
Tomorrow will probably be the day that I have to put her in the dog kennel. My ICU for my hens.
Yeah, I’m wondering if it is a reproductive disorder, as I know that can happen with Hens as they age. I will make her some eggs tomorrow. Good idea. Thank you.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Have you checked her ears for signs of infection?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would make sure that they can still see each other if you have to separate. Let them visit a couple of times a day as well. She probably would be okay as long as they don’t peck her or keep her from food.

 

[Deegroovy]

Have you checked her ears for signs of infection?

No, I have not. I guess I have never looked in a chickens ear before. I will today. I looked at her ear lobe but never lifted the flap.

 

[Eggcessive]

I had a hen who lost her balance and could not stay upright for about 5 weeks. She still had strength and moved her wings and legs. She moved herself around in a crate, and I held mushy wet chicken feed, egg, cat food and Poultry NutriDrench up to her beak twice a day until she recovered. Once day she just stood up a little wobbly and walked out of the coop. She was picked on for awhile, but she did fine after that. I would give your hen supportive care until she is doing better, or her symptoms get worse.