What is going on???!!!

[swatchick]

About two months ago, my Buff Orpington developed peritonitis (from internal laying). Around the same time, one of my Barred Rocks, and one Americauna began to show signs of egg binding -- the Barred Rock started to do the penguin walk and pant even when it wasn't warm and no one else was, and the Americauna began sitting a lot (often right next to the Buff Orpington) and stopped laying. I did what I could for the Buff, and she lived until last week. (All the hens are three years old)

The Barred Rock has continued to look like a penguin all this time, but she continues to lay (very large) eggs and I have never been able to feel one stuck inside her -- she just looks uncomfortable and sounds like she really wishes she weren't about to lay an egg before she does. The Americauna just sat around a lot, but never did the penguin walk and I never felt a stuck egg, and she has been eating and drinking normally. Suddenly, yesterday evening, the Americauna was barely able to stand and walk, as if she just can't keep her balance, and it looks like she can't really control her legs very well, though she can still get up on them and move around a little. I thought maybe she was injured, so I separated her form the flock, but I can't identify any injury. She is still eating and drinking, and wants to get up, but it is getting harder and harder for her.

I should add that I got two goat kids (wethers) a little over a week ago, and one arrived with diarrhea and the other seemed totally healthy. On their second night here, the HEALTHY one died, literally in his sleep -- no sign of any distress, just curled up like he was he went to sleep, but cold and stiff. The one with diarrhea has (of course) coccidia, which I am treating him for and he's doing great. I bring up the goats just because I am beginning to feel pretty overwhelmed -- I can't think of any way it could be directly related to the chicken issues.

So, what am I to make of a hen who shows all the signs of being egg bound, but still lays eggs, and another who suddenly can't walk normally? I read the extensive article on this site about Marek's -- anyone have experience with it in older hens? How did it present? Any other ideas (I am trying to take in all of the info from the article about problems with similar presentations)? I am feeling a bit cursed at the moment, and could use a little logical perspective and support....

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like your barred rock could be showing signs of EYP/internal laying also, but she may just still be laying eggs too. Does her abdomen feel very full like there could be fluid inside? Those things could explain the penguin walk. Mareks can be a possibility with your amaeraucana, but there are other problems that can cause leg weakness such as mycoplasma synoviae (MS,) E.coli or staph that has affected the bones. Check her feet pads for signs of bumblefoot--swelling and dark spots or just swelling that could be gout. Also look at the joints of her legs and feet for swelling.

 

[swatchick]

Thanks for your reply! The Americauna died this morning. The Barred Rock doesn't seem swollen, but she also really doesn't want me touching her abdomen, either, and with all her other behaviors it does seem like internal laying may be at play. Thanks for your input - I really appreciate it.