Wobbly legs and weight loss

[sarahclarke138]

My 3 year old barred rock has been increasingly laying down more and More over the last week, once she lays down her wings gets very droopy too. She's not roosting at night, but is eating and drinking still. Can walk short distances just fine, but then collapses. Other girls are acting normal. She was vaccinated for mareks as a chick. Thoughts?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would start some poultry vitamins containing riboflavin Vitamin B 2, and make sure that she is drinking. Is she walking on her hocks or having curled under toes? Have you added any new birds in the last month or two? Has she been laying eggs recently? Has it been hot where she may be dehydrated sinxe she is not getting around well? I would get her drinking, and offer some egg or tuna with her usual feed. Also, think about placing her in a crate or basket close to food and water. Then examine her all over including feeling of her crop, checking her weight through the breast bone, look for mites and lice around vent, under wings, and check her droppings. Sorry that she is feeling bad, but I hope that it isn't Mareks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Egg laying disorders such as internal laying and egg yolk peritonitis are very common in older hens. The symptoms can very much look like other diseases. Drinking water and getting her to eat may make her stronger so you can hopefully figure out what is wrong.

 

[sarahclarke138]

She's doing worse - eating and drinking much less and is having a hard time holding her head up now. No new chickens recently; I don't think she was laying over the last few weeks; her weight has severely dropped; no mites/lice; droppings look normal. I'm stumped.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she is not doing well

Does she have any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
Is her crop emptying overnight?
Did she by any chance eat anything rotten or moldy?
If you can take a fecal sample to your vet for testing of worms that would be a good idea.

It's so hard to know when they start to decline. Do the best you can to get her to drink.
Poultry vitamins added to the water to give her a boost if you have them.

Please let us know how she is.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that she is worse. Just try to make her comfortable, and help her eat and drink. If she is suffering, it might be good to put her down. It is not easy to do that, but best not tolet them suffer. The droppings for a fecal test if possible could help, in case of worms or coccidiosis. Sometimes we can figure out what is weong until it is too late to help. A necropsy done by your state vet or a college poultry lab could look for a cause of death if you lose her and refrigerate the body. Let us know how she is tomorrow.