4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[-xJuliex-]

Hi,

 

Our eldest Hen Sam is not too good! She will be 3 in Sept and we have had her since she was only 6 days old! We have NEVER had any problems with her before she has been fine, Never Broody!

 

She has been fine still laying huge eggs and running round the garden! up until yesterday... she sat in the nesting box ALL day, when i opened up the port door she popped her head out and had a good nose around she tried to stand up and was very unsteady, she was using her wing as support. She finally came out of the eglu and staggered down the run to the glug she stood by the glug for ages, resting up against it. I noticed a clear liquid running out of her bottom (egg white??) she had a little drink then staggered back to the nesting box, When i went to put them away i checked on her and she was still hunched up in the nesting box.

 

Checked on her thismorning and she is still no better, she will not come out of the nesting box and her bottom is wet, i have also noticed her eyes are very dark- much darker than normal.

 

Not sure what to do... Im hoping its just a soft egg she is having trouble with... ive never seen her this way before If it is a softie what can i do to help her? Could it be something other than a softie? What should i do?

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Julie

[Daphne]

when you say her eye is darker than normal - has her pupil changed shape? If so, and I don't want to sound like a doom-monger, but that coupled with losing balance could indicate mareks (paralysed wing, leg, foot is a classic symptom). However, I could equally be way off with that diagnosis as mareks isn't that common. Other things which can cause loss of balance are ear mites (not sure how those are treated). I don't have experience of softees - hopefully somebody else could help. Is she eating/drinking? If not, I think, overall, I would be taking her to the vet.

[Budgies]

Julie, sorry to hear you have a poorly hen.

 

I agree with Daphne - I'd take Sam to the vet as a matter of urgency. The trouble with Mareks (classic pose is one leg forward, one leg back and wings either used to help balance or paralysed) is that it's highly contagious.

 

Might be best to be sure it's not that, although I think it mainly occurs in hens prior to POL rather than oldies.

 

Red mite can hide during the day in a chicken's ear as it's a convenient nook. When you dust for mites, it helps to pay particular attention to their ears (not easy I know!)

 

I have had chickens with softies feeling very unwell and sitting down suddenly etc, but I don't recall the wet bum or loss of balance you describe.

 

Hope that helps.

[-xJuliex-]

Hi,

 

Her eyes are dark red, i remember they went like that when she first started laying!

 

Had Sam out for a while gave her lots of cuddles and she fell asleep in my lap! She had a big runny poo while she was out...looked like some egg yolk mixed in with it! She has been drinking but not to keen on eating. She had a little walk around outside, she is more steady on her feet now but still quite slow. It was quite windy outside and she managed to keep herself up right! I put her back in the port door and she came straight back out into the run. I left her for a while and now she is back in the nesting box snuggled up. She still isnt good but there is an improvement from this morning which is good! I rang our local vet in Barton le Clay and they said that they dont have much experience with chickens. Their main concern was her not drinkning, but she is drinking both out of the small bowl of water i put out for her and the glug.

 

Julie

[Daphne]

thats good news, forget the mareks - I'm sure it isn't that. I'd keep an eye and see what happens.

[Budgies]

What a relief that she's doing better!!

 

It does sound more like an egg breaking inside her or similar. I hope she continues to improve.