Wobbly

[KAswan]

isolate as a first step...just in case.

I'd suggest a possible cause.

Seen this wobbliness before. Chicken recovered the first time ( aged 4) but not the second time a year later.

"Pressure on the sciatic nerve located under the pelvic bone. The nerve splits off down each leg ( like a Y shape) - if pressure from the pelvic bone acts on the nerve it causes numbness and she doesn't know where her feet are..."

Walks like she is drunk. Nerves get enlarged and press on the bone.

The vet might prescribe Meloxicam ( for cats) to try to calm nerve down. It's a non steroidal anti inflammatory.

Then it's 3 weeks of confinement and fingers crossed.

Things can go 'sideways' pretty quickly so get to the vet ASAP.

(The other possibility.? Mareks. Hope not. Was she vaccinated against M? )

No vaccines I know of. Unless all breeders do that?
Nerve thing sounds sad. I wonder if the vet will even know that? At vet after hours now but a long wait.

 

[KAswan]

Edited to say, if she is moulting, then it can be normal not to lay eggs. They also can be weak or have a poor appetite.

It seems that she does have reproductive disorder such as internal laying/salpingitis or infection, since she should have been laying eggs regularly. Tums works okay for calcium, and egg yolk can be given for D. Here is where to find calcium plus D:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-C...MIsuu5hL3SjAMVmjcIBR2zoBcSEAQYASABEgJzxPD_BwE

Oh thank you. Yes it was always not right but vet couldn’t find anything wrong exactly. But may be affecting her long term. Thanks re egg yolk is vit D !

 

[Eggcessive]

Plain yogurt also has some D.

 

[My2penneth]

No vaccines I know of. Unless all breeders do that?
Nerve thing sounds sad. I wonder if the vet will even know that? At vet after hours now but a long wait.

Reputable breeders should vaccinate against Mareks as it is " not good". I was told by a vet ( UK ) that protection can break down as the hen ages. Your chick is only 3 so may be OK.

I'd at least discuss possible nerve inflammation causing the wobbliness and inquire if a NSAID might help. Meloxicam / Metacam isn't that expensive....in the UK it's a few pounds. The vet wouldn't know unless doing a pm .

 

[KAswan]

Yes they usually offer antibiotics don’t they. She’s been in before. She does have reproductive issues as she’s only laid 2 eggs ever, we think. But she’s full of personality and she was healthy so it seemed ok! I have vit D, how much do I give her? I don’t have the calcium citrate but I can look that up. Thank you! Yes she does love eggs and happy to eat still.

Vet really wasn’t sure but soar foot and right leg seems sensitive. Probably pain relief for now and wants me to go see a vet who knows more about chickens! Arg!! Now 12:40am!

 

[KAswan]

Reputable breeders should vaccinate against Mareks as it is " not good". I was told by a vet ( UK ) that protection can break down as the hen ages. Your chick is only 3 so may be OK.

I'd at least discuss possible nerve inflammation causing the wobbliness and inquire if a NSAID might help. Meloxicam / Metacam isn't that expensive....in the UK it's a few pounds. The vet wouldn't know unless doing a pm .

Thanks. I can ask!

 

[Eggcessive]

Most vets don’t know a lot about chickens because vet schools do not spend a lot of time on the. My vet daughter learned about bumblefoot and how to tube feed a duck, but unless the vet has an interest in chickens, many people can get more help online here. But vets have us over a barrel, because we cannot get many drugs for illnesses without a prescription and most antibiotics and drugs are not approved for them. Most illnesses in chickens tend to take place during times of stress such as molting or extreme weather. Giving support, helping them to eat, and vitamins with electrolytes to get them through this time is best.

 

[My2penneth]

Thanks. I can ask!

A sore leg sounds good news (*)...hope it is just that ..fingers crossed. You could administer some pain relief with a junior aspirin (80mg variety not the 500mg ). Perhaps give her a 1/6 th of a 80mg tablet.

Check feet for sores (" bumblefoot") and treat quickly.

(*) Well compared to Mareks it is a lotto win!

 

[KAswan]

A sore leg sounds good news (*)...hope it is just that ..fingers crossed. You could administer some pain relief with a junior aspirin (80mg variety not the 500mg ). Perhaps give her a 1/6 th of a 80mg tablet.

Check feet for sores (" bumblefoot") and treat quickly.

(*) Well compared to Mareks it is a lotto win!

Thanks. Expensive visit to not know what it is! I’ll send pic of her foot later. Maybe bumble. She’s had it before and it was yellow. This is darker more red/orange.
Have anti inflammatory pills and antibiotics! She’s so much brighter today, they gave her anti inflammatory and saline injections!
She’s still wobbles a little so we don’t know what it is. Thank you for help. I could have save money and sleep, but I got it in my head to go to the vet! Home at 2am! Have to work today!

 

[KAswan]

Most vets don’t know a lot about chickens because vet schools do not spend a lot of time on the. My vet daughter learned about bumblefoot and how to tube feed a duck, but unless the vet has an interest in chickens, many people can get more help online here. But vets have us over a barrel, because we cannot get many drugs for illnesses without a prescription and most antibiotics and drugs are not approved for them. Most illnesses in chickens tend to take place during times of stress such as molting or extreme weather. Giving support, helping them to eat, and vitamins with electrolytes to get them through this time is best.

Yes! They don’t but I went anyway. Oh well. $$$! Have anti inflammatory and antibiotics to give her. I’ll send a photo of her foot later as I still may need to treat that! Had bumble before but was yellow this is red. Would it even explain the wobble. She’s not limbing she falls over!