Wobbly

[My2penneth]

Just have a look at her eyes - are they "normal" in colour?

As a side note: Are there any sore or sensitive areas near where the hair follicles protrude from the skin on her feet? An easy one to check and rule out by gently touching the foot in these areas and seeing a reaction - or not.



(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek's_disease : eye colour : - see picture. It's hopefully not Marek's but this is ONE of the possible effects to check and it's "no cost" to do ).

 

[LaFleche]

You can use Ballistol animal spray to get rid of scaly leg mites. Just spray both feet and legs up to where the feathers start and then again after 7-10 days and a follow up after 4 weeks.
It is best to spray at night when the bird is roosting. Touch her front and she will stand up for you to spray.

As she is molting and has feathered feet, the wobbling might be caused by pin feathers coming in on her feet and toes which can be quite painful and even lead to bleeding and inflammation. I see it with my Marans with more heavily feathered feet and spray them with Ballistol to keep the skin more flexible.

 

[KAswan]

I do see scaly leg mites and a bumble foot scab on the toe in the first picture. I would treat for scaly leg mites with soaking the feet in warm soapy water once and using a toothbrush to gently wash the scales. Then every other day, apply some vaseline, castor oil, Vicks, or mineral oil to the legs and rub it in. If you have some sulfur powder you can add that to the oil and it will kill the mites. You can buy it online or in a feedstore or garden center. Do this for a few weeks until new scales grow in. I would just keep an eye on the toe. Consider padding the toe.

Ok thanks! That leg and foot now looks swollen and she’s very sleepy! I’m scared it’s not working.
Thanks.

 

[My2penneth]

The tiredness might (hopefully just) be a result of the antibiotic(s).

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that she seems to be doing worse. Does her abdomen under her vent feel full and firm? With her poor laying history, she could have salpingitis with hard masses inside her belly. Or there could be a tumor that might be causing the leg swelling. I’m sure it is hard to work and deal with your sick hen. I hope she starts feeling better.

 

[KAswan]

Sorry that she seems to be doing worse. Does her abdomen under her vent feel full and firm? With her poor laying history, she could have salpingitis with hard masses inside her belly. Or there could be a tumor that might be causing the leg swelling. I’m sure it is hard to work and deal with your sick hen. I hope she starts feeling better.

Thank you. She’s still going. Wobbles / falls backward more but also side to side at times. She’s up each day and eating some food I give her such as soaked pellets, sardines, seems to be a little off the eggs I was feeding her. She drinks when i hold the bowl up to her. She’s been on 5 days of antibiotics 2x a day. Finishes tomorrow. Do I take the bumble out now do you think? I’ll feel the abdomen later and let you know. Legs not swollen now. I treated the scaly mites as you suggested but not all gone yet. I’ll keep putting on the Vaseline.

 

[KAswan]

Thank you. She’s still going. Wobbles / falls backward more but also side to side at times. She’s up each day and eating some food I give her such as soaked pellets, sardines, seems to be a little off the eggs I was feeding her. She drinks when i hold the bowl up to her. She’s been on 5 days of antibiotics 2x a day. Finishes tomorrow. Do I take the bumble out now do you think? I’ll feel the abdomen later and let you know. Legs not swollen now. I treated the scaly mites as you suggested but not all gone yet. I’ll keep putting on the Vaseline.

When I go to catch her she runs so has some life in her. She is sleeping up pretty high. She can walk up there, I’ve not seen her do it, I lift her up at night when I’m there. I cover her at night to keep her warm.

 

[KAswan]

When I go to catch her she runs so has some life in her. She is sleeping up pretty high. She can walk up there, I’ve not seen her do it, I lift her up at night when I’m there. I cover her at night to keep her warm.

Also she is eating a fair bit of the nest straw! I’ve never seen this and seems like a stress response and not good for her I’m sure. Have you seen this?

 

[My2penneth]

Also she is eating a fair bit of the nest straw! I’ve never seen this and seems like a stress response and not good for her I’m sure. Have you seen this?

They can get a taste for bedding..and it can lead to impacted crops. We've got a Pekin Hybrid that recently developed a taste for "Aubichick" bedding - especially the fine granules. Her crop was swollen and full and not emptying overnight. We isolated her and removed ALL bedding for 2 weeks - she was given an antibiotic injection and an injection of 'metocam' pain killer. Farm Vet (UK) bill came to just under £43 ($50) including follow up discussion - she's a pet. We fed her chick crumb with a slow introduction of layers pellet which is her normal diet. Her crop is now returned to normal. She's now back with the others - all normal.

You can but monitor her crop. It's difficult because you are trying to keep her comfortable whilst she's unsteady on her feet but she's "eating the blankets". Can you try an alternative bedding?

At least she is still walking. I said earlier on that it took several weeks for our bird to recover from her first episode of ataxia. All you can do is keep her fed / watered as best you can and see if things improve.

 

[Eggcessive]

You could soak her feet and legs or try using a dressing with either Betadine and sugar paste or Prid on the toe, but I would probably would not do any aggressive bumblefoot treatment. She has been on antibiotics, and did you ever mention which antibiotic? She seems to be eating and getting around okay, so I would just do things as you are, keeping the vaseline on her legs continuously.