Chicken falling over

[kathyd]

Hi

I have a deformed chicken - yes, I realise I was gulled when I bought her, but now I've got her I wouldn't part with her. She's about 18 weeks now I guess. Her back is quite hunched, and her tail tucks under instead of up like her sister and brother. Not a problem, but she seems to be having a problem with her leg(s) at the moment and I'm not sure if it's related to her deformed nature and maybe she's struggling as she's growing and her body is getting heavier etc, or if she's ill.

I've looked at her eyes and they seem fine. Her beak looks like normal, not sticky or anything. She doesn't seem to be making any horrible noises when she breathes. She's eating fine - we made sure she got plenty tonight, and she ate like a wolf - and still running after her siblings and trying to do everything they do. She's always been a bit of an outsider (3s a crowd I guess), but for the past couple of days she's spent more time on her own sitting quietly under things or behind things, or watching her bro and sis cuddling up but not joining in. Today I found her on her back with her little feet in the air, and flapping her wings - she couldn't get up by herself, I had to help her. I picked her up and held her and she showed no inclination to be put down (bit unusual), but chooked gently at me as I stroked her. When I did put her down, she wobbled a lot. Later she flew onto a low bench, then fell over when she flew down again. I'm really worried about her - on an individual level of course, but also in case she may have something catching and be spreading it to the others.

I'm new to chicken keeping so I'm not sure what to do and would welcome advice. At the moment I'm leaving her alone, making sure she's on her feet and getting food, and not getting picked on in her weaker state. I'm watching her as much as I can, and would hate to have to separate her out from her siblings if possible, because I think the trauma would kill her if nothing else does.

Help! Thanks.

[polo]

Its very difficult to be sure I think.

I would recommend the vets but I noticed your are in Brittany. I seem to remember Nicos saying the vets in france weren't too impressed with a hen visiting the surgery!!

Yoour main worry that she has something that could be passed around - hopefully one of the more experienced will be along soon to advise. Otherwise if it something developmental then you would have to think about her quality of life. Difficult choices and I hope you get it sorted.
Polo

[VirginVegGrower]

Oh no I hate reading things like this at the moment. I suspect the other two are excluding her as they know she is ill or weak. I have no idea what this could be despite three weeks of Internet googling after my traumas. I hope one of the chicken ladies comes along soon to help you out. Have you thought about bringing her inside in a cardboard box. Giving her some TLC!?

[VirginVegGrower]

Oh I think tail down and hunched indicates sick bird. Normally they are tail upright. I do know this because it's been one of my sick hen symptoms. Have you looked up Mareks disease? Think I saw something about that affecting legs. She really does need to see a vet I would think. She may have injured her leg.

[nellie-m]

Hi KathyD, I really don't like to say this, but I fear VVG's thought about Marek's might not be too far off the mark

Definitely time to see a vet, and be prepared not to take her home again. Remember, they don't deserve to suffer.

Sorry, I really hope the vet will come to a different conclusion and will be able to help her...

[kathyd]

Hi VVG

I'm hoping she has injured her leg to be honest - it's the least bad of a range of bad options! I suspect she's depressed, probably because her brother fancies her sister more than he fancies her, and he pullies her into submission all the time, but the hunching is because she's deformed - she arrived like this, it's not just a recent change in her stance, and her 'personality' is on the whole very friendly and positive. The tail is down for the same reason. A bit like a physical deformity in people. But the falling over and inability to support her weight properly is definitely recent. I'll check out Marek's disease online, thanks.

[nellie-m]

I suspect she's depressed, probably because her brother fancies her sister more than he fancies her

Hi kathyd, that's now how a chicken's mind works

A hen is not only fine with her husband having more than one wife, in fact she's far better off that way as he won't try to mate her all day - the more males, the harder it gets for the ladies!

With an injured leg, she would limp. Not fall on her back, flapping her wings with her legs up in the air.

[kathyd]

Hi nellie-m

I'm sure you're right, although the birds aren't at an age where they're mating yet, although the cockerel is trying out all that strutting and showing off stuff to his sisters, one of whom does it back to him but the poorly one just goes submissive straight away. Anyway, that's the least of our worries from the sound of it . I've been reading about Marek's and I'll watch her tomorrow for further signs. If necessary I'll take her to the vet, but I'm not sure how helpful our Franglais conversation will get us... fingers crossed

[RichmondHens]

This is going to sound harsh, and I've got into trouble before for being blunt, but here goes:

Firstly, why on earth did you buy a deformed chicken? I'm sure you know in your heart of hearts it was not a wise thing. I would get someone to despatch her for you asap, tbh. She will have no real quality of life and will always be bottom of the pecking order if in fact she makes it at all.

Also, if you think, on top of the deformity, she is actually ill, then you should isolate her to prevent spread of any disease to the others. You say you think it may kill her, what if she is carrying something and it kills your other birds? Please think sensibly about this, and again, apologies for being blunt.

[kathyd]

Hi RH

I don't mind you being blunt at all - it's people who lecture or patronise or who get self righteous that wind me up . It also means I can be blunt back if I choose, and hopefully we won't fall out!

In answer to your first point, you will have noticed the phrase 'new to chicken keeping' in my initial post. Also, I got these 3 birds from the friend of a lady I was collecting our rescue dog from - she's a chicken keeper herself and seems to know what she's doing, and told me her friend had a couple of arancaunas for sale if I'd like to buy them. I said great (I'd love blue eggs!) - although as it turned out, they're Shetland chickens not arancaunas at all). Then I was offered a free cockerel with twisted toes to go with them - he'd be put down if I didn't take him, so I said OK - he was their brother, and I had no intention of breeding with him so it seemed fine. Basically I hadn't seen the birds, I just collected them on trust. They were packed into a box for me, and I didn't really get to look at them until I got home. OK, it won't happen again, but anyone's entitled to one mistake surely? At present the deformed one is accepted by everyone, and isn't picked on although yes, she's bottom of that little group's pecking order - but then to be blunt, 'someone' has to be bottom of the pecking order, don't they? On the whole she seems happy and joins in with everything, and it was only a couple of days ago I noticed her leg(s) seemed a bit wobbly and I started to worry. I posted my forum request because I wanted to know what possible signs of illness I should be looking out for which might accompany wobbly legs, but I'm not 100% sure yet that she's actually ill... in terms of Marek's, people talk of paralysis - but so far (touch wood) she doesn't appear paralysed - her legs still move, she grips tight with her feet, her wings still flap and don't appear to droop... I'm praying she's just tripped over an apple or something and twisted a muscle. Yes, probably naive, but until I can see some more definite sign of actual illness, I'm loathe to take the terminal action you recommend. Although I can absolutely see where you're coming from, and of course I wouldn't let her suffer.

In terms of her infecting the others, to be honest that will already have happened if it's going to. They've all been together since we got them, and sharing the same little coop, and snuggling up together. But if she appears actually ill then naturally I'll separate her from them. But since there's apparently no cure for Marek's, I suspect I'll be shutting the door after the horse has bolted so to speak.

Three of the hens are adults, and therefore hopefully immune. 2 of the others are her brother and sister, and therefore likely to be suffering from it too if this one is. The only 2 I'm really worried about are 2 relative newbies who've been here about a week, and are about 15 or 16 weeks old. So I'll watch them all like a hawk, trust me.

If/when I do decide to isolate her, is she better in a box in the house, or left outside in a partitioned part of the run?

You live and learn don't you? And yes, if I get any more in the future I'll keep them apart until the youngest are more than 5 months old .

Thx for your input.

[VirginVegGrower]

KathyD - "you live and learn" - yes you certainly do. So am I

[Suechooks]

Kathyd - she could have an ear infection or even ear mites. Difficult to tell without loking into ears. This could cause loss of balance. Treatment of either of these is straightforward but a proper diagnosis is really essential but I realise from Nicos' posts over the years that this may be something of a problem for you!

[kathyd]

hmmm.. that's worth bearing in mind Suechooks, thanks . I have to go back to the vet's this week anyway to check up on opening times at new year, so I'll ask if they can check a chicken's ears at the same time, lol . *gets dictionary out quick *

[VirginVegGrower]

The downside to living En France hey

[kathyd]

One of the very few, VVG! We love it here on the whole . How are your two birds today by the way? Or do I have to go back to one of your previous messages to ask you that question...