Wobbly, Weak Chicken

[SweetJoy7]

Hello,

Our chicken Razzle Dazzle is a two year old Light Brahma. Recently she has lost weight and fallen over several times without getting up. Tonight, we found her on her back with both of her feet sticking up in the air. She can walk, but she can't fly or run. She has been in the nesting boxes every night since she started acting weird. It might be in part due to the fact that she can't fly up to her perch. She doesn't have mites and we don't think she is egg bound . She free ranges during the day, and we have been separating her into a chicken cage on the grass for about a week now with food and fresh water.

We just started giving her omega 3 supplements in her food.

Does anyone know what we can do for her that will help her?

Thanks so much!!

 

[Coupe]

First you should seperate her from the other birds.. Can you post pics or better yet, a video of her ?
Try giving her some poultry drench (vitamins) you can find it at feed stores.
Are her legs/feet ok? Any other signs of sickness?

 

[Hennypen]

First you should seperate her from the other birds.. Can you post pics or better yet, a video of her ?

Try giving her some poultry drench (vitamins) you can find it at feed stores.

Are her legs/feet ok? Any other signs of sickness?

We have her in the house inside a dog crate so we can monitor her.   No signs of sickness.  She gets vitamins in her water.  I also bought wormer and put that in her water last night so she'll get that all day today. 

She is holding one leg up and doesn't like to put weight on it. I thought it was her NPIP band so I removed the removal didn't help. She can stand on the other leg but uses her wings for balance.


She looks better this morning and is actually drinking more water than yesterday. I don't think she'll need sub q hydration if she keeps drinking like this.

 

[Coupe]

When she is sitting like that, are her feet sticking out from under her? Have you checked the bottom of her foot for swelling? Honestly, im at a loss...maybe someone else can chime in and help!
By the way, she is one cute silkie!!!!

 

[Hennypen]

She keeps her right foot up and doesn't like to put weight on it. She tilts to the left and tw right leg goes out. There's no swelling that I can see. No bumble foot.

Yes, she's an adorable silkie. I cut the feathers around her eyes so she can see. Her feather quality is very good so I think what ever happened came on relatively sudden.

 

[realsis]

awwww she is soo cute
I have silkies too. perhaps its some sort of vitamin deficiency? have you tried getting her on a good vitamin? maybe try vitamin E and a multiple of B. I know first state vet sells a good B multiple called vita pro B. its readily absorbed by the body and low in sodium. they also sell amino acids. and I believe you can get the E vitamin there too. I know silkies can be prone to vitamin deficiency so I bought my vitamin regiment from there. it wouldn't hurt to give it a try and see if it helps her. I couldn't really see her legs in the video. they are not paralyzed are they? they are not sticking out in an in natural position are they? maybe try the vitamin and see if it helps her. wish I could be of more help. I hope she gets well soon. best of luck.

 

[Coupe]

I would say give it a day or 2 with vitamins..if shes not better or has gotten worse..possibly bring her to a vet, if you have that option.
Hope she turns out ok! Please keep us updated!

 

[SweetJoy7]

Hello!!! Thank you so much for the advice. I know that her feet are fine. A few weeks ago Razzle Dazzle was molting and was bleeding on the same spots on each wing. She has recovered from molting and bleeding on each of her wings. I will try to get pictures/videos of her today. We have been separating her into a square cage that we raised our chicks in. We put a towel over part of the cage so she has shade. She has Layena Pellets with Omega 3 vitamins for her food. Her water is clean. I don't think our other poultry has been picking on her. Her legs do seem weak, but she can walk.

 

[Michael Apple]

Omegas won't do anything by itself. Try Poultry Cell in the feed: http://www.jefferslivestock.com/images/label/0026690.htm
Take a look at B6 deficiency which causes symptoms similar to Encephalomalacia in chicks:
http://www.ultimatefowl.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pyridoxine_(Vitamin_B6)_Deficiency

Hopefully that is the problem due to a hard molt, and not a mold/fungal problem like Aspergillosis. When is the last time you wormed your birds, and what did you worm them with?

 

[SweetJoy7]

Hi! Thank you! We have been putting D.E. in our chickens food and water. It kills off mites and bugs. Razzle Dazzle is doing better today. She was lying down earlier with her buddies. She drinks and eats sometimes.