What's causing paralysis in my hens foot??

[azygous]

As you are probably aware, there are good fats and bad ones. Good fats come with fish and eggs and raw liver. Feed those to put weight on your hen. Other fatty foods will only add body fat and that will shorten the life of her liver even more.

You need to take it one day at a time. Your hen has a terminal illness, and she will die from it probably within a year. But the year can be mostly good if she's well cared for.

I've provided supportive care for so many sick and elderly chickens, sometimes I joke about running a chicken nursing home. It's a big commitment, and supportive care takes time and energy. This is why you shouldn't look at the long haul, but just focus on making each day as good as you can for your hen.

Your rooster will surprise you and probably end up being best pals with one of your dogs. I had a roo once that I rehomed. He ended up being the only chicken in a family with a dog. The two were best buds and even slept together in the dog house in summer. In winter, the rooster slept on a file cabinet in the kitchen and watched TV with the family in the evening.

 

[MiniChickenMommy]

sorry to read about this; is she a bantam or a large fowl? She's really underweight if she's a large fowl, and I'd be offering her tinned sardines, milk-soaked bread, live mealworms, banana, currants or raisins, or anything else that's easy to digest. Worry about the leg when you know she's not going to die of starvation.

Hello,
Thanks for your reply.
She is a bantam- she was a healthy weight for her size at 780g as she really is tiny. I'm not worried about her dying of starvation as she does eat alot lol! She mostly always has a full croup.

 

[Perris]

that's good to hear! I'll flag up a few more people who may recognize the symptoms (Eggcessive is very knowledgeable and has already answered; maybe they have something else to add).
@azygous @coach723 @dawg53 @Wyorp Rock can any of you help here please?

 

[MiniChickenMommy]

I would offer some human super B complex 1/4 tablet a day which can be crushed and added to a spoonful of water or food. That might help if there is a vitamin deficiency or injury. If a vet is a possibility, an xray might be helpful if there is a fracture.

Thank you, I'll give that a go although she has been getting rooster booster vitamins and probiotic in her food.

 

[MiniChickenMommy]

sorry not to have replied to this sooner; I've been touring an area with little-to-no wireless coverage so effectively off grid since Friday. How is Pearl now?

It's okay
Pearl still isn't showing any signs of improvement, things have been pretty much on a level for around a week or so. She is weighing 580g today but feels VERY boney Her comb and face are also quite pale, paler than what has been usual for the past couple weeks.
I'm just trying to keep her comfortable and well fed atm and she is still eating well. I'm really not sure what else to do for the best I'm losing hope that she will live through this, whatever it is, but I suppose only time will tell...

 

[Perris]

I wish I could help, but like you don't know how to in this instance. Keeping her as comfortable as possible seems to be the best option at present.

 

[MiniChickenMommy]

Have you added any new birds to the flock in the past few weeks or months who might have been a carrier of the Mareks virus? Have you had any unexplained deaths or lame birds before? Was she vaccinated for Mareks? A leg injury that has affected her sciatic nerve might be possible. Is there any green bruising, swelling, or redness on the leg? Are the toes of the foot curled under? Has she laid eggs recently? Can you make sure that she can reach food and water?

Thanks for your reply.

No it's not mareks, we only have 2 chickens, Pearl and Roo. Roo is completely fine and healthy, ruling out any viral infections. There are no marks or visible injuries on her leg whatsoever and her leg is just floppy, toes are straight but do not move.
She hasnt yet started laying again this year, last year she started on easter sunday which is only a few days away.
And yes food and water are in easy reach. She is able to hop around and does still move around, but I have confined her to the dog crate atm to see if rest will help.

 

[Perris]

sorry to read about this; is she a bantam or a large fowl? She's really underweight if she's a large fowl, and I'd be offering her tinned sardines, milk-soaked bread, live mealworms, banana, currants or raisins, or anything else that's easy to digest. Worry about the leg when you know she's not going to die of starvation.

 

[MiniChickenMommy]

I would offer some human super B complex 1/4 tablet a day which can be crushed and added to a spoonful of water or food. That might help if there is a vitamin deficiency or injury. If a vet is a possibility, an xray might be helpful if there is a fracture.

@Eggcessive
I've bought some vitamins from asda today, please can you tell me if they are suitable and how would I dose it? I've attached pics.
Thanks

 

[MiniChickenMommy]

Hello all,
There's still no improvement in Pearl's leg, she dropped more weight too lowest was 530g about 4 days ago and she has for the past 2 days been 585g. I'm really not sure what to do now, she's had baytril for a week, cortisone jabs and tablets for another week, then vitamin B daily for another week. All in, she's been suffering with this leg for 4-5 weeks, but otherwise seems okay apart from the weight loss...
Is this leg ever likely to recover? How long should I hold out for? Would it be best for her to end her suffering?

Please let me know your thoughts as I'm completely at a loss and shes such a sweetie

@Eggcessive
@azygous
@Allsfairinloveandbugs
@Perris
@dawg53