Al Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 (edited) Hello all, Dozy has been standing around hunched up for a few days now. She is moulting but could this have made her legs so weak that she can hardly stand up? This morning I found her in the run, just outside the eglu, with her legs collapsed beneath her, struggling to get up, poor thing. I immediately gathered her up and brought her indoors. She's now living in the bathroom next to a radiator and I'm going in to encourage her to eat at regular intervals. Is it just a moult or something more serious? I've taken a video of her, in which you can see how she is: As you can see, she is standing, but she's unsteady on her feet. I've examined her but can't see any other signs of illness. I don't know if it is linked but for months her laying has been irregular and when she does lay she's been laying softies. Thanks in advance for any comments. Al Edited December 18, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 thats a shame Al I cant see the video as my work computer wont allow me to Perhaps the moult has made her generally weak? lack of protein and the cold weather cant be good for any chook so I would see if you can up her protein levels, tuna is a good bet (rinsed if in brine) or make her up some warm pellet porridge and see if that revives her a bit The warmth of being indoors may do the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 It looks more serious than a moult to me, though I'm no expert. My bird looked a bit like this when she had an impacted crop, but maybe they look like this when they are ill no matter what it is? I'd post on the chicken clinic board to see whether anyone has any suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 No I don't think it's because she's moulting, I think she looks pretty poorly Has she laid lately? I have heard of an egg being stuck and pressing on nerves causing a hen to go off her legs before now, but it's certainly not common. Having a softie in the pipeline makes them feel pretty grotty too, but once it's passed, they're usually back to normal again. To be honest, if she's been like that for a couple of days, I think she needs to see a vet sooner rather than later. Chickens tend to hide any illness until they're really ill, so there really isn't time now to second guess it IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I'm no expert, but I'd say that looks like a poorly chicken, and I would take her to the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 Thank you all so much for your advice and opinions. Dozy is looking a better this afternoon and eating like a trooper: I'm going to keep her indoors and keep an eye on her until tomorrow. There is a lot of snow here in Cambridge and still more is falling so I am reluctant to go to the vet today in these hazardous driving conditions. My husband still thinks it's a very bad moult. Dozy didn't moult last year so this is her first moult at the age of 2 and a half years. debier - we don't think she has an impacted crop because she's eating, drinking and pooing very well now. Jools - no she hasn't been laying much recently. When she does lay she has been laying softies, so she could have a softie on the way. Will keep you all posted, thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 She looks ill to me. Her moult isn't very significant, so I doubt it has anything to do with that. She could be short of calcium. This can put them off their legs and cause the soft eggs. I'll ask my usual question.....has she been wormed recently? As this has been going on for a few days, I would take her to the vet as soon as you can get an appointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Hi, not much help, but she looks just like my Favvie did . She was also hunched up and wobbly. She was eating/ pooing ok and hadn't come into lay yet, so guess no egg problems. The vet diagnosed beginnings of respiratory infection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Looks like my Penny. She suddenly fell over so we took her to the vet. Pen really perked up on antibiotics (the green stuff) but then very suddenly went downhill - so we got some Tylan but she died the next morning, before it had a chance to help her So I agree with the others - once they show signs of illness, there's no time to lose. I really hope Dozy's better soon or you can get her to a vet for treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 How's Dozy this morning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted December 19, 2009 Author Share Posted December 19, 2009 Egluntyne - no she hasn't been wormed. Yes, it's now clear that it's more than the moult. Since I've had her indoors I've noticed her poo is very watery and she's trying to make sounds but it's very quiet and 'ho"Ooops, word censored!"'. When I woke up this morning she had pooed all over the bathroom floor which shows she'd been moving about a bit. She looks perkier than yesterday and had a nice scrambled egg for breakfast, but still not like a happy, healthy chicken. Got an appointment for her at the vets, but it won't be easy driving in all this snow - what a nuisance! Thanks for all the help. Will let you know what the vet says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Hi Al One of my chickens had a very severe moult recently and I also noticed that she was very weak on her legs suddenly. She couldn't seem to walk in a straight line, and this then progressed to what seemed like she couldn't really straighten her legs to walk, she was sort of staggering close to the ground. I took her inside as she was absolutely freezing with no feathers and the weather was cold. She slept indoors for a few days (in an unheated room) and I really fed her up with lots of extra protein. When she didn't get better straight away I took her to the vet who prescribed a course of antibiotics (Baytril), which I injected into a grape every morning then fed her it. I don't know if it was the slightly warmer conditions, the extra protein or the medicine that helped, but she has now almost completely regrown her feathers and is ALMOST completely back to her usual self - a bit thin still though. It has taken about four weeks I think. Nevertheless we're still keeing an eye on her and the whole group is getting extra protein, calcium and probiotics (avipro) as a boost in the cold weather. I really hope your girl recovers well. It might be the moult causing the weakness, or they are much more susceptible to infection when their immune system is low due to a moult, so it may well be that she has picked something up. Good luck x skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 wish mine had that many feathers during a moult. Am wondering how you got on at the vets. she doesn't look good to me either. she may have some shell or even a deformed egg stuck. My vet took some out of 2 birds (on dif occasions) If it gets stuck it can start to decompose inside & poison her. hope you got her seen ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 The vet said she had a growth/tumor in her abdomen, probably caused by an infection of some sort. When he felt her he said she was very thin. He said there wasn't anything that could be done for her, so she was put to sleep. I feel quite guilty because she may have been ill for some time and perhaps I should have spotted it. She hadn't been laying eggs regularly for months and occasionally had a dirty bottom. On the other hand she's always been a bit slower than the others ever since we got her from Omlet. In fact that's why she was named Dozy. It was only in the past few days that she slowed down significantly. I knew that there was a possibility that I might lose her, but I am still more upset than I thought I would be. Thanks everyone for advice anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Sorry to hear it. Don't feel guilty. You have handled it well, and have chalked up a chicken keeping experience that you will be able to call on in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I'm sorry it is horrid to lose one. My Sparrow had a tumour in abdomen and on an ovary. I had felt the one in her abdomen but there wasn't anything that could have been done to help if I had known or not so don't feel bad for that. RIP Dozy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 So sorry to hear that news. Try not to beat yourself up about it, they hide things so well, you made the right decision as soon as you knew, but I know it's still heartbreaking . RIP Dozy, big hugs to you xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Oh no, I am sorry You did all you could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 So sorry to hear that news. Try not to beat yourself up about it, they hide things so well, you made the right decision as soon as you knew, but I know it's still heartbreaking . RIP Dozy, big hugs to you xxxx pretty much sums it up, I bet we ALL know that guilt feeling, even them as knows better!!!! hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 Thanks everyone for condolences, you're all so kind. I am dreading telling some of my friends because of the 'it's only a chicken' type of comment. It make a huge difference to have people understand how I feel. It's the first time I've lost a pet of any kind. More than a few tears have flowed, especially when I cleared away her temporary accommodation from the bathroom today. I shall try to remember all the good times and I have definitely learned something from this episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
