Unbalanced Hen, trouble standing, Toe curling

[ninejw]

Thank you! She should be vaccinated because of the hatchery that she was bought from typically vaccinates all the chicks that go to Tractor supply. She’s doing better but still is showing respiratory symptoms like a cold (shaking her head to clear up congestion) it’s gotten better a couple days ago she was doing it more with a lot of beak clicking I’m assuming to clear congestion. She’s able to balance better and keep herself upright now. Good appetite and all and is still on Antibiotics. Praying for the best too!

 

[ChickenBFF]

Hi So my Barred Rock Hen that is approx. 3.5 years old, named Pewee is going downhill again. She is unable to stand up very long and balance well and sitting ends up on her side with her toes curled in and she’s unable to right herself and push up enough to stand with them. If I stand her up and right her she’s able to stand and get around on her own in her exercise pen even following me a bit outside the pen. Pen is inside the house. She was a bit unbalanced originally it seemed to be stemming from her left. No obvious injuries I could find. Definitely her last molted feathers are bad quality which shows systemic sickness/stress. She originally got locked out of the hen house overnight approx. 4 weeks ago and was found the next morning weak and puffed up by my SO. It was cool that night but not too cold yet maybe 40s but she is a fast and large molter as most of the good layers are. She was very light and obviously had lost weight when she was found. I treated her with a ALL in-1 pigeon med (Ronidazole, Tylosine, Amprilium, Levamisole) and didn’t really notice much else for symptoms except since she’s very talkative girl and she sounded congested when vocalizing and also swallowing more frequently I assume discharge sometimes open mouthed. Nothing out her nose or anything though. So, I assumed respiratory at that point. She responded well and we had her in a tub pushing food and meds for approx. 2 weeks. She got to come out and walk around a bit a few times a day. Since I was also currently caring for a ill parent I was able to get her and put her also with me after the second week and get her into a larger pen. After the 10 days of meds I transitioned her over to Chicken-Aid which is a vitamin and electrolyte supplement with probiotics and then staggering it now with Poultry Cell in the water. She seemed to be coming out of it with better balance and her poo went from sometimes runny to mainly solid. She is currently pooing solid normal poos and had been in the beginning too. She started laying eggs again (which I’m like really?!) a little thin shelled which is normal for her still all while having these balancing issues. No eggs since last week though. She seemed to be responding well, walking better but now she seems to be going downhill fast again in the last 2 days! I’m not sure what I’m missing if anything she is having more trouble balancing and when she sit on her side for long she ends up with her leg and wings trying to fumble for balance. She can’t eat either in that position. I’ve done a couple undercarriage soaks w/ foot massages and leg feet conditioning with a nail trim. I have examined her all over she’s mite and lice free she’s been wormed and I treat usually seasonally for mites or when they pop up. She more puffed up though now and can walk around with much difficulty. I’m going to possible switch her to giving the vitamins higher dose with a dropper and then put her on some Doxy-10 in her water. I don't want to miss my window since she's rapidly becoming more unbalanced again. I only have amprilium, Ronizole and Doxy separately. I don't want to do the all in one w/ amprilium because it blocks nutrient absorbtion. I can’t find Tylosin on it’s own as they’ve pulled all meds except amprilium off the shelf in this state or that’d probably be what I’d start her on again. I’m unsure of what is going on with her…mind is everywhere from Mereks (which she should have been vaccinated for at the hatchery and doesn’t seem to fit to me) to Sciatic injury or osteoporosis. I’m also considering nutritional deficiency exacerbated by amprilium treatment? Also, she’s on Poulin egg layer non soy pellet but is a treat fiend. I did have them on Nutrena Feather Fixer for awhile then my local stopped selling it a couple months ago. Also, I use hemp for bedding change 2x year. I’m at a loss and would appreciate an extra mind on it. I don’t intend to take her to a vet as most don’t care for chickens here and even though she’s like my feathered family member I don’t have a fortune to spend on her. Maybe I'm overlooking something? Thanks for any additional input any one can give!

If it's not Marek's and she seems to be responding to the meds you gave her, perhaps give her a good blast of B vitamins to boot? They help with neuro issues as well. That could be a sciatic if it's just one leg curled. The massaging you are doing should do wonders. I'm glad to hear she's feeling better. I noticed your comment on Tylosin. I buy it from pigeon fancier sites and Valley Vet supply in Kansas usually carries it with no scrip requirement. valleyvet.com

 

[ninejw]

If it's not Marek's and she seems to be responding to the meds you gave her, perhaps give her a good blast of B vitamins to boot? They help with neuro issues as well. That could be a sciatic if it's just one leg curled. The massaging you are doing should do wonders. I'm glad to hear she's feeling better. I noticed your comment on Tylosin. I buy it from pigeon fancier sites and Valley Vet supply in Kansas usually carries it with no scrip requirement. valleyvet.com

Thanks for letting me know I have been getting most of my meds from pigeon supplies. She’s doing okay eating well balance is better but she still has some issues and respiratory symptoms. I had her on Poultry cell which has the Bs but I have to withhold it while on the other meds. I am also giving her monolaurin/l-lysine supplement for immune and for against the herpes type virus. Still not sure what exactly is going on with her and not sure I’d find out either without some actual testing.

 

[ninejw]

Just an update…Pewee is done with her round of meds as of yesterday and seems like her respiratory symptoms are like 75% better. Clearer vocalizations with less beak clicking and head shaking. Shes stronger tries even to push open her enclosure and likes to go walkabout if she can. There’s still some balance issues but much better. She’s got an healthy appetite. I switched her also on a higher % chicken pellet and she’s been getting scrambled eggs and some food mixed with Greek yogurt. Starting back up poultry cell and chicken aid again since we are all done with meds. Also, got her more controlled on her light hours so she’s off of lay so she could rest more. Hopefully she can fight off whatever this is and we don’t go backwards again.

 

[ninejw]

Update Still doing great she’s back laying again now that days are lengthening. Slight balance issues mostly when she first gets up but most of it has resolved. Supplementing her still with poultry cell alternating days. Also supplementing her feed with lysine &monolaurin, garlic/brewer yeast/oregano powder in food, She’s living the good life indoors lol