Poorly chicken

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Let out my hens this morning to find that one of my bantam-ish hens was just staying in the nestbox and wouldn't leave.

 

She isn't broody, I'm definite of that. When I picked her up and brought her outside she just sat down and spread herself out. When I filled the water drinker, it became apparent that she was unable to stand or even walk a few steps without stumbling over.

 

I have left her in a sheltered place now, with food and water. Her head, eyes, nose are all fine. Her feet and legs are no different to what they normally are. She is defecating normally and eating and drinking. She does not seem to be in pain, only when she tries to walk.

 

Any idea as to what is wrong with her, how to help/treat it?

 

She's a Silkie cross by the way.

 

Thanks

[gavclojak]

It could just be a viral infection, have you had a look at her ears? I assume she has not damages her foot/leg

 

But it could also be the onset of the dreaded mareks? I don't want to be the harbinger of bad news but Do you have a chicken savvy vet? I could get her checked out quick smart, if you don't have a vet there is a good link on the FAQ section with a list of vets.

 

Let us know how you get on...

[Chickabee]

I was going to say Mareks, horrible disease. Vets job I'm afraid. Good luck

[Dolly]

How is your poorly girl today? Unfortunately it sounds exactly the same as my Plymouth Rock Maisie had only a few weeks after I got her, sadly she was put to sleep at the vets as he confirmed Mareks disease.

[Egluntyne]

Have you taken her to the vet yet? I agree with the other posters that this sounds as if it might be Mareks. Silkies are prone to this disease.

[doctors girls]

Sounds similar to one of mine only had her 8 weeks and she could not stand or walk so she had to sleep outside the coop but still inside the WIR she was using her wings as crutches but every time she tried to stand she just fell over so a decision had to be made even though she had food and water next to her I could tell that she was not eating or drinking and one day she had not moved for about a couple of hours so rather her starve and dehydrate I put her out of her misery using the broomstick method not nice but had to be done

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Thanks for all the advice everybody, and apologies for the slow reply.

 

Opened the pop-hole of the hen house on Friday morning (the morning after the bad walking) and was rather surprised to see the hen has made a miraculous improvement with her walking. She hurried out the door normally just like all the other hens, and is still eating and drinking normally.

 

She seems to be healthy now but I'm remaining vigilant.

 

Only thing is that she does not seem too inclined to go inside at night now. Prefers to roost under a large clump of wild flowers. But I bring her inside and place her in a nestbox for the night (she seems to flinch if I place her on the roost) and sleeps soundly.

 

I'm going to suggest she could have jumped down from the roost wrong and possibly "knocked a snap" out of her feet/shanks.

 

I'll keep an eye on her for a few days though, in case my relief is premature

[gavclojak]

Wow that is good news indeed, it's easy to jump to the worst possible conclusion isn't it, hope she continues to be well,

[Purplemaniacs]

That is good news. One of my Snowbelles I thought was very ill a couple of weeks ago, more old age than a disease if you know what I mean and had prepared myself for bad news but she has really perked up and you would never know now. I hope your girl continues to do well.

 

Chrissie

[coco]

Glad she is better. I have a young bantam with a droopy wing. She is on antibiotics for a suspected ear infection so I am hoping she is just using the wing for balance rather than it bring the dreaded mareks.

[Chickabee]

Thank goodness. have you checked for red mite? I thought I was being really vigilant this year, but ended up with a coop riddled with it. It's very debilitating and will put them off roosting normally