[Oliveview]

First let me wish you all a Happy Christmas.
Jim went to let out the hens this morning and found one was not well.  She has been in moult now for 3 months or so, she is quite bald in places, she has feathers growing back though.  She is walking sideways and stumbling about.  I have put here in a plastic crate (big) and given her antibiotics in the water and food and spinach, she is eating and drinking and trying to clean her feathers.  She is trying to jump out the crate, so she can go upwards, just not forwards!
Is it a cull job?
Pamela

[Vember]

Hi Pamela

Merry Christmas  :santa:

Sorry to hear your girls not good

I think if it were me I'd be tempted to cover the crate she's in to try & stop her jumping, if it's dark she might rest :?
Give the antibiotics time to start working

Sarah

[Oliveview]

Hi Vember, (Sarah)  
Hen has another box on top of her crate (weighted down with empty beer bottles- and believe me, our friends are going through plenty!)  Her temperature has come down, she was really (and I mean really) hot.  She has eaten the food and drunk some of the water/antibiotics.  I put her on the garage floor and she was walking a bit better, not quiet so wonky.  
Pamela

[Vember]

Ahh Glad there has been some improvement Pamela

Keep up the good work

Sarah

[Porffor]

fingers x'd for you chook - hope the anti-biotics do the trick

[Oliveview]

I took the hen out of the crate this morning and she is still walking all wonky, she was pecking at the straw on the ground though.  She is eating, when I topped up her food she was straight in to eat it.
I´ve been trying to find the illness where hens have a ´brain disorder´or something like that and it effects their balance.
Any suggestions?
Pamela

[poultrygeist]

Hi Pamela.

I think Mareks affects the brain and can show itself in poor balance and odd movements, but there's other possibilities too.

I can't advise beyond that because I have no experience of it.

Rob

[Oliveview]

I´ve googles Mareks  and it doesn´t sound like my hen (hopefully)  The vet is shut till Monday, so she will remain in isolation till Tuesday, we have to take the son to the airport Monday- the vet is only open mornings.
I´ll give hen a good looking over tomorrow- eyes the lot.
Pamela

[poultrygeist]

Fingers crossed for you Pamela. They're masters at faking symptoms so you can't be sure what's wrong. :roll:

We still have one that makes odd neck movements every now and then. But otherwise she's fit and fine.

Good luck.

Rob