chicken weak, tripping, falling

[Eme]

Today I go to let my chickens out, and I see one hen having difficulty walking. Her legs don't seem to be listening, and she keeps tripping, crossing her legs, and falling over. It looks like shes really weak. She is also panting. I see her still eating, but haven't seen her drink yet. She lays down a lot and looks like she is dying.
What could be the problem?

The only thing we changed was their bedding, we bought shavings from the feed store that the woman said was pine or hemlock? She said most people use that for chicken bedding... could she have ingested some of it? It could be unrelated.. I really have no clue what it could be? A disease? An injury? I don't know...What does it sound like it could be?

 

[ChickLover98]

Is it really hot where you live? I would set up a nursery hospital in the house and keep a close eye on her. Has she laid an egg lately? Make sure that she is laying properly and that it is not a problem with laying. Keep a close eye on her. Try giving her water with an eye dropper or just wet your finger and rub some water on her beak. Give her some yogurt or watermelon, especially. I would research topics on things like this. Keep an eye on her is definately something to do. She could have injested some shavings. The only way you could find out is taking her to an avian veteranarian. Good luck!

 

[Eme]

Thanks for the reply! I just checked on her and she is still drinking and eating, it seems like she's having trouble getting to her feet. She will hobble on her legs (like her legs are flat on the ground) then flap her wings to get on her feet. She'll move if the other chickens move away. I tried giving her water with an eye dropper but its difficult, she closes her beak. Its not very hot today, and they have shade and a house to go in. And she's only a couple months, not laying eggs yet. I really don't understand what's going on, does it sound like anything you have heard of?

 

[bargain]

Eme, have you recently brought new birds to your flock.

Check your feed please, it could be botulism.... See if any of the feed has mildewed/molded

With the staggering etc, could also be Marek's.

It also might be a vitamin deficiency....Definitely isolate, supportive and quiet care for this one asap!

 

[ChickLover98]

I was thinking Mareks, but wasnt sure. Isolate her from your flock to watch her.

 

[Eme]

Update: we put vitamins in the water, checked and changed the food. No mold. Checked on her and she seems to be getting worse. Her wings are out and flapping but she's only moving backwards and getting stuck against things.

We haven't added more birds, we just got these 8 birds a couple months ago and she was lethargic when we got her, but seemed to improve as she grew.

What is mareks? Does it sound like that? What else can I do?

 

[chkn]

I was just reading something about regular worming:

http://madbushfarm.blogspot.com/2009/03/chicken-worms-brief-guide.html

And this about red mites, I don't know if you have them but they can kill a chicken too:

http://poultrykeeper.com/chickens/health/red-mite.html

These things could cause the symptoms your bird is having.

Maybe it's time to think about using some Ivermectin?

 

[bargain]

here's a thread on some homeopathic remedies if it is mareks
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=135247

Hope this is helpful.

Please keep the chicken in isolation! Mareks spreads!

 

[my1smthop]

Hi! I have a hen that's comb turned pink weekend before last weekend. She hasn't layed in a while and is getting on up in years so I dismissed it as she has just stopped laying. Then early last week I noticed that her shanks were lighter yellow and her comb was beige in spots. She was still eating well so I just gave her some treats and went on. By last weekend I noticed that she could almost fly up to the roost but couldn't make it. I had to help her. I also noticed the day before that when she was taking steps it was like her legs were hurting. After the not being able to make it to the roost I noticed her being wobbly and off balanced. I immediately started surfing the net to help this hen. I couldn't find anything and then the next symptom sat in. Her comb has become slightly floppy, very pale, peachy and her wattles are shrunken up. As of four days ago she could no longer walk but she uses her wings to balance herself and move around in her igloo. I found the Madbush article and another one talking about worms with the symptoms I've mentioned. I'm adding it below.

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1ajv2-hello-we-have-a-poorly-looking-chicken-she-stopped-laying

I started her on 1ml of ivermectin three days ago I am very new at this so any help is greatly appreciated. At first I tried to just put it in her water the first day, second day of course no improvement. I put the next dose in her water again and came back to surf and try to find help. That night I knew she needed that full dose so I got a towel, threw it over her so I could pick her up and opened her beak and put the syringe in her mouth and that time i knew she got that dose. I also mixed up some electrolytes with her water and syringed her some of those. The next morning I did the same thing but also gave her some hard boiled egg mixed with medicated feed crumbles and yogurt. She ate a little but not much. Today she is much livelier and her eyes have a brightness in them again. My daughter and I spent about an hour and a half syringe feeding her electrolyted water, egg yolk, yogurt, medicated feed and I added some Nutr Vet vitamins. She still can not stand but tried a couple of times. While my daughter was hand feeding her I went in to get some dry food for our dogs and she started talking when I was pouring it out so I tossed a couple of pieces in front of her. She gobbled them up! I was so happy! She was eating! I ran and got some cracked corn and grower feed and brought it back but she wasn't interested. She also was done with the dog food. So my daughter feed some more electrolytes and some more of the yogurt mix and then we put her back in her igloo to rest. We will go back and feed again this evening. She's trying so hard. Is there anything else I can do for her???

I have checked her for mites and lice...none found but I really don't know what I'm looking for. No bugs on her face or when I spread her feathers...nice and clean, but her hinney is covered with brown poo from not being able to stand. How do I bath a chicken and what do I use to wash her with??? Should I give her a bath???

Also...crop is soft and squishey....I felt under her in the egg area and it's soft..I guess it would be firm feeling if there was an egg in there, I'm not sure, but she has lost alot of weight. Is there anything I can give her to help fatten her up? Also, Is there anything else I can give to help kick this mess??? There's no avian vet around me so all help is greatly appreciated! Izzy my hen would greatly appreciated it too!

Melissa

 

[Chick'nlove]

May I say, as a newbie to chickens (mine are 6 months, and doing well), that a steady 5% of Diotomaceous Earth has helped my girls? I believe in this stuff as a daily supplement to keep parasites, like worms and such away. I have a shallow bin of it full strength (although you can mix with it some sand and pine shavings for an earthier bath) in the coop for dust bathing. We had some gapeworm right off the bat, after graduating to a brand new coop, and the DE cured it. THANK YOU. Ivermectin is available in the equine area of Tractor Supply. I love the DE method, as it is easy, no timing involved, and they use when neccessary. I am so sorry about your sweet bird and her trouble.

Don't forget that slugs and worms and bugs that they love don't neccessarily love them back, and carry the junk that stresses us. DE works. I am a believer.

Regards, kirstin