Keel Bone Protruding Walking Like Penguin

[Lady Chicken Keeper]

Hoping you might be able to help me figure out what might be going on with my silver spangled hamburg hen. She has been walking penguin like for about a week. This happened all of a sudden however a few days previous I noticed some matting of poop. No other symptoms. I gave her a warm magnesium bath the day she was not walking correctly I noticed while bathing her that her keel bone was protruding more than normal. I have separated her. Each day her keel bone has been protruding more prominently to the point were I'm afraid she may need to be put down. Besides that she looks alert healthy and is eating an drinking. Is this egg bound or an injury? I very much would appreciate some experienced thoughts and suggestions. Thanks

 

[Wezdin]

Hi! by the keel bone you mean the bone in the middle of the breast? If so that is a sign that she is loosing weight. If she was actually egg bound she would be dead by now. I would suspect an internal parasite making her lose weight. Can you post pics of her and her poo?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. It sounds like your hen may have a reproductive issue, either cancer or salpingitis. Does her lower belly between her legs feel enlarged, spongy, or tight? How does her crop feel? Is it emptying overnight? Is she eating anything? Eggbound hens may also walk like a penguin, but the weight loss sounds more like she is wasting away. You can insert a finger inside her vent 1-2 inches to feel for a stuck egg.

 

[Lady Chicken Keeper]

Hi! by the keel bone you mean the bone in the middle of the breast? If so that is a sign that she is loosing weight. If she was actually egg bound she would be dead by now. I would suspect an internal parasite making her lose weight. Can you post pics of her and her poo?

I was thinking that it might be unusual or impossible to be egg bound for a week. She has not layed any eggs since I have separated her. I will try to do some pics today. I'm wondering about parasites.

 

[coach723]

If you have a vet that will do a fecal test for you, that would ID any parasites. It's the same test for all species, but some vets won't do it for a chicken. How old is she and do you know when she last laid? Also checking for abdominal bloat would help, as previously said.