Help please!

[TPeers]

Went to let the hens out yesterday and across the day noticed that Kentucky - my leghorn - was moving in a funny way, as if walking on her ankles. Assumed she must have bumped her leg going down the ramp and as she was eating and drinking left her to it...

Had a closer look at her in the evening as she refused to climb the ramp and one leg (the left) is warmer than the other. No sign of any visible injury or scales lifted or anything obvious. Put her back with the others overnight.

This morning she won't come down and is still 'crawling' when she moves.

Anyone got any ideas what is wrong?

Can't phone the vet yet - the lines aren't open!

Terry

[kirsty b]

No idea Terry.

Let us know how it goes at the vet though. I'll keep my fingers crossed for it to be something that can be remedied.

Kirsty

[shirlthegirl43]

No idea what that could be. Hope the vet can help. Good luck and hope it is soon fixed.

[Birdie Wife]

She's still eating and drinking, that's the main thing. If there are no other obvious signs of injury and she's not getting better, it sounds like a vet job. Hope it all goes well.

[TPeers]

Steve (the head of the practice) is comming over to the Banstead surgery specially so I can bring Kentucky in - the appointment is at 3.20.

She is drinking, but I'm not sure if she is eating today. She laid an egg this morning so not egg-bound which is good and knocks another possible off the list.......

Steve is guessing at a low grade infection of some kind.....

Terry

[Birdie Wife]

All the best, hopefully a short run of antibiotics will help her back to full health in a very short time.

[Headfry]

Terry, Hope all goes well for you both, please let us know how you got on.
20 mins to go good luck thinking of you.
HF
xx

[moggssue]

Hope it turns to be something not very serious Terry - good luck, let us know how you get on

[TPeers]

Back from the Vet!

Well were all back!

Nothing physical but she has hot joints and a mild temperature. The vet is fairly certain that this is *not* Mareks desease - hurray! and that she is not infectious - another hurray!

She would seem to be generally floppy with a noticable worstening on the left hand side - so the vet thinks she has had a stroke!

He has given an injection of steroids to reduce the inflamation in the joints and a course of antibiotics as a catch all and I need to keep her away from the others until she is moving well (or given the anitbiotics - until the course runs out!). We can't eat her eggs for 4 weeks.

So all in all not too bad - if she is going to get better I will know by Friday, which is good - I'm off on holiday then!

My poor petsitter........

Terry

[mandyballantyne]

Hi,

Poor thing, hope she gets better soon, Mandy

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh, poor chook. Hope you all get through it okay.

[Birdie Wife]

Oh dear! But as you say, at least it's not infectious. It's good you have a vet near you that knows about chickens, many people don't. Hope she gets better soon.

[TPeers]

Not entirely sure if she will recover. She is standing better today, still eating and drinking but her left wing is totally useless and dragging on the ground.

We shall have to wait and see....

Have put her in the little ark on her own, next to the big run so the girls can chat through the wire as we won't be here to give her any TLC for a few days.

It never ends, does it?

[Headfry]

Terry, boy you have had it tough of late, Hope the girls all settle down and that Kentucky gets better.......How is Kiev these days, is she with the others yet?
HF
xx

[yoanbob]

bless her TP.
sending healing thoughts.
Its proberbly good that they are seperated you know how the others get ay any sign of weekness.
good luck!