Chicken bald back

[northstarred]

Hi all. Hope someone can help. My 4.5yo omlet gingernut Maude has been under the weather for a couple of days. Dirty bum and sitting a lot. She's not laid properly for over a year and been fine but today she's been really wobbly and when she tries to walk she's dragging her feet and standing on curled up toes one minute then normally again the next. If she tries to move quickly eg for a treat she stumbles. In addition I have just tried to give her some fruit and she couldn't get it from the floor she kept missing and then almost stood on her head to get at it as if she couldn't control her focus and her head movements properly. Her head seems very heavy and keeps sinking down and her tail is down. She is eating and drinking and seems still very alert. Her feet are fine and I can't see any evidence of worms in the run or mites? Garden checked for slug pellets or poisonous plants and nothing. The only difference I note is this heat?! Please help she looks so sad . Thank you x

[Olly]

Sorry to say this but that sounds like some sort of neurological problem to me - I think you probably need to take her to see a vet. She is a jolly good age for a gingernut.

[northstarred]

Thanks for replying. I think you're possibly right. This morning the head sinking is much worse and if she tries to move her wing comes out and she stumbles. Off to vet

[northstarred]

Update: been to the vet and she had had a stroke. Vet has put her to sleep. So upset she was our very first hen and she was lovely

[Eggasperated]

So sorry to hear about Maude. She must have had a lovely life with you to live to 4½, so sad when you lose your first girl.

[mollyripkim]

So sorry you lost her, but she was a good age and had a lovely life I'm sure. Its always hard to lose one but especially the first I think. Hope you are ok.

[Olly]

Sorry to hear that - at least you know that there was nothing else you could have done for her, and it sounds as if she had a good (and long) life.

[northstarred]

Thanks everyone for the kind messages xx