The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: RonMinch on August 05, 2012, 08:29:29 am
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Hi I have a 21 week old hen which has suddenly gone off her legs, I do have 2 cockerels same age which had started to give the hens a hard time, now separated. Its been 2 days with no improvement does anyone have any ideas? She seems fine otherwise, just won’t stand/walk.
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I'm wondering if she could be broody already? Seems quite young though ??? .
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Has she started laying yet? POL is a very stressful time for pullets, and if there is an underlying problem it will often tend to surface then
How does she look? Is she eating a drinking well, but just can't get around? A photo might be helpful. ;)
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Thanks for the replies, yes she seems to be drinking and eating OK. Just cleaned the house out and had chance to observe her, I would say it looks like from the knee down to her feet look almost paralysed. She has made her way out into the run this morning. She is about POL could this be the issue. will try and get a photo later.
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Either an injury caused by the cockerel's weight on her young frame or as DBE says an inherent problem has surfaced with the surge of hormones before lay. We had a legbar developed Lymphoid Lucosis at that point. But if she has managed to get into the run today RonMinch it sounds like injury.
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Thanks Chrismahon, if its an injury is it likely she will improve or should I count this one as a loss, one of the cockerels is going in the pot, so t speak, so hopefully the other will settle down. Ron.
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Hopefully it's an injury and she will recover or it could be mareks. Check mareks symptoms to see if they tally with your pullet.