The Poultry Keeper

eskimo · Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 10

I have a Silkie hen that for the last week since Monday has seemed to be quite down & is having balance problems.

When i moved her on Monday she seemed to be having trouble keeping her balance. Ive checked her legs & the only thing i can find is one leg isnt as strong as the other. Ive had her for 3 months & she has never had a problem up until this week, she's a lovely weight & condition.

She is able to run & walk around but would rarther not, walking she's very tentative but running seems easier but she does fall over. She doesnt really want to interact with the rest of the Hens at all & prefers to go & sit alone some where.
She had been getting up on the perches up until tonight when she opted for the floor, i picked her up & put her on the perch & she has stayed there.
She is eating but doesnt want to forage around in the grass at all. I put Mealworm out this morning & she didnt even come over so i went & got her & she ate a few. She then went in the coop & ate a few pellets. So she is eating but it's less than normal.

No discharge & her breathing seems fine, but she's really down & does seem in pain to me. Ive put some Hilton Herbs Immunity Gold & releaf gold in there water in the hope that it might help her.

Can anyone suggest what more i can do?? Should i bring her in or leave her with the others??

I have a Cockerel thats come of age so to speak could he of injured her??

Im just at a bit of a loss at what to do for the best for her as she isnt getting any better & im worried about her.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1219 Location: Cornwall

She could be off balance due to aneamia, has she been dusted for mites and lice?

eskimo · Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 10

Hi, thanks Pekinout. Yes she's been dusted & the coop is reguarly done also i cant find any trace of Mites in the coop. But can dust her again just in case.
Im willing to do anything for her.

Is there anyway i could i tell if she's suffering Aneamia normally i would go for gums & check eyes in Dogs, cats & horses. But have no idea how with a Hen??

Oh another thing is we have had Rats around the coop, im clinging at straws here, but all info helps you knowledgable people to help me. The coop is cleaned out totally about every 4-5 days. New water everyday in both containers & there feed is re-newed twice daily & never is allowed to get wet or damp.

All the other Hens & Cockerel are really well atm.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3540 Location: Monmouthshire

Regardless of what could be wrong, isolate her. An unwell bird wants to hide away and be left in peace. I have found that big cat carriers make excellent isolation boxes as food and water containers can be clipped to the door, you can keep an eye on the bird and they can hide at the back if they feel inclined. How old is she - you've had her 3 months, do you know how old she was when you had her?

eskimo · Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 10

She's around 5 months old. I have plenty of Cat carriers i can use, when you say isolate do you mean bring her into the house ( sorry i sound dim). Ive been worried about bringing her in, in case it stresses her. I have room in the coop to put a Cat carrier in as well.

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Hi eskimoo, sorry to hear about your girl.

I'd put her in a cat carrier as suggested and place her somewhere quiet away from the others.......... a dry shed???

I isolated one of mine when it was poorly in a home made broody box which had a run so she could come out and stretech her legs if she wanted. She tended to sit at the entrance and watch the world go by until she recovered.

Not essential but I gave mine a moist mash of chick crumbs and egg food to give her extra protein to keep her strength up and it was easier to digest and nibble at than pellets. plus I could add garlic powder etc to it.

During cold nights I made sure she was surrounded with straw to keep her warm .

Hope she recovers. You do tend to worry about them like kids.

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3540 Location: Monmouthshire

Eskimo - I've PM'd you

eskimo · Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 10

Just to keep everyone updated who kindly replied.

My Hen has been in Isolation for a few days now & today i took her to the vets. Nothing has really been found so we have put her on Antibiotics for a week & then we will go from there if no improvement my vets know me well.

Fingers crossed, she's eating really well & spends a few hours a day in my kitchen being fed Rolling Eyes

. Trouble is im really attached to her now. Embarassed

We think she may of been injured by the over enthusiastic young Cockerel so i guess time will be the great factor.

IrishFowl · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Carlow, Ireland

Hi There,

I dont want to alarm you, but the age, breed and symptons of the bird would suggest that the problem may be Mareks. The first visiable signs of this is apparent loss of balance in an otherwise healthy young bird.

As far as I'm aware Seabrights and Silkies have a particular problem with this.

Teasal · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject:

I was just going to suggest that, as I think thats what my young silkie hen had. The other young one, a cockerel who was with her survived. I do hope this is not what your silkie is suffering from - it really upset me to see her like that, and although she was eating and drinking, it was obvious she was not going to get better, so my friend dispatched her for me.

eskimo · Joined: 24 Aug 2008 Posts: 10

Thanks everyone the Hen was PTS this afternoon. She was isolated quickly. We dont know if it was Marecks tbh, but she was very anemic when she saw my new Vet today who was brilliant.

The Hen is the 3rd animal ive lost in just 12 days had an unbelievable time of it recently.

ETA - the Anemia wasnt caused by any Mite's or Lice she was very clean, just wanted to point that out. Vet thought she could possibly have a Bleed internally. But also she could of been Anemic due to a possible disease.

Sorry just wanted to point that out as when i just read my post some could of construed that i had not looked after her properly. I did everything i could for her.