The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: maddy on March 17, 2015, 06:45:47 pm

Title: what is wrong with my hen?
Post by: maddy on March 17, 2015, 06:45:47 pm

I wonder if anyone has any ideas what is wrong with my hen.  She is one of 8, looks perfectly well, eating, laying eggs but I have noticed that she sits to eat and if I touch her she falls to one side like she has lost her balance.  She can walk but doesn't extend her legs fully.  I have looked at her wings and legs and all seem to move ok so doesn't appear broken.  The other 7 girls seem fine.

Title: Re: what is wrong with my hen?
Post by: chrismahon on March 18, 2015, 08:19:08 am

Would need to know her age and breed/ origin Maddy. What is her weight like because it could be loss of energy, could be under-development and it could be a hip injury?

Title: Re: what is wrong with my hen?
Post by: Eve on March 18, 2015, 09:05:45 am

How long has it been going on for and is it getting worse or stable?

Title: Re: what is wrong with my hen?
Post by: maddy on March 19, 2015, 07:53:55 am

She is 4 years old, a black rock breed and I have noticed it for about a week.  She manages to get up onto her perch at night and this morning jumped off but fell onto her side but then gets up and runs to get her breakfast.  She is a little more heavier than the others I notice.

Title: Re: what is wrong with my hen?
Post by: chrismahon on March 19, 2015, 09:14:42 am

All our Black Rocks developed peritonitis at three years, which comes with a swollen warm abdomen and not laying. Some yolks miss the oviduct and end up harmlessly absorbed in the abdomen (up to 13% I have read), but in large quantities they can't be absorbed and this can lead to chronic swelling and infection. It may be she can't move well because of a swollen abdomen Maddy?