[organicbeanful]

Hi, today I noticed my chicken penguin didn't imediatley emerge from his house once he was released, so I checked on him to find him keeled over on his side, legs kicking away. Having found a chicken like this before, I thought it was rather ominous, but he seems different as he is eating enthusiastically and seeming to want to be moving but unable to.
he has been to the vets and they gave him some injections, he has had nutri-drops and is now inside in a basket on the kitchen floor! he is very alert to whats happening, just unable to move.
he can move his legs, they just seem a bit feeble, although at times he is kicking very strongly in attempt to stand. his wings and every othe rpart of him seems fine.
any ideas what this is?
he lives with 1 other chicken, a silkie bantam hen, (called speedy!) should they be seperated, will the henhouse need disinfecting and stuff?? advise please as its quite worrying

[joyfull]

I had a hen like this and put it down to her having a stroke. I kept her seperate in a cat basket and gave her water with critical care powder in it. Every day I opened the basket (so I could clean it out) and also to allow her to try and walk. Over the next couple of weeks she got stronger and stronger and now you can't tell her apart from her sisters.

[Aylesbury]

Hi, I,ve also got an unwell chicken since sunday, but I cant work out whats wrong with her. she is 1 of 4 ex batts I got a couple of months ago , she is very lethargic, last one & walking out on a morning Isn;t to bothered about eating a great deal ,seems to be falling asleep stood up just about anywhere, she appears "puffed up"  as if  she is going to shake her feathers & her head is tucked down(in) so when she walks you cant really see her neck. she will still run over to me but is slow. for what its worth I've adding Cider Vinegar everyday to the water (instead of 1 day a wk) . Had a couple of really big eggs back end of last week,  83 & 86 g normally have 60-73g although these might not be from her . If I go digging worms shes as keen as the others. And shes become a bit of a loner recently. she also drinks out of my pond as do the others. As she was an ex batt she was missing quite alot of feathers on one wing but in the last week some noticably new feathers have started to appear . sorry for  long post , any idea's/ suggestions as to whats wrong? Any advice? Thanks

[kegs]

Has she been wormed recently?  What is she eating at the moment and have you tried tempting her to eat more by putting some warm water on her pellets?

[organicbeanful]

thank you joyfull, that's reassuring! still hasn't made any improvements though is it possible that it is mareks?
visiting the vet today again, what do I do if he asks to put him to sleep? he seems happy, eating and drinking, but frustrated he can't move (he was VERY active before!) I don't know what to do for the bes 

[joyfull]

see what the vet thinks it is, if they think it is wise to put him to sleep then the choice is yours - you have to think of quality of life. If it is a stroke then recovery is possible over time for some, my girl took a couple of weeks all together.

[organicbeanful]

Vet decided to give him a few more days as he is still alert, eating and drinking. if he makes no recovery he may have to go the the chicken coop in the sky he recomened we do a little physio with him- I was wondering whether there is any point using water? not his whole body, just his legs in the water to encourage him to move?
thank you for your words of wisdom 

[joyfull]

strangely chickens do like being in a sink of warm water for a while, so try that and then towel dry followed with using a hairdryer on a warm (not hot) setting.

[Aylesbury]

Has she been wormed recently?  What is she eating at the moment and have you tried tempting her to eat more by putting some warm water on her pellets?

Hi, thanks, I didn't respond sooner as I wanted to give it a go. Got some vermex and have given them all a dose Friday and today (done her seperately from the others.) She hasn't eaten it really today, just a couple of meal worms, but she is drinking. Much the same as before. We have bought her in to the house in a seperate cage and she did seem to pick up a little for a short while but then closes her eyes and sleeps standing up. She is on the perch in her cage now (sat down). Thinking of keeping the cage covered for a while tomorrow too, what does anyone else think? Is there anything else anyone can suggest please.

[joyfull]

sorry but verm-x is not proven to work on worms, you need to use a wormer that has been proven and the best one to use is Flubenvet.

[Aylesbury]

thank you, does anyone know if  there is anywhere that I can buy it locally to me (Buckinghamshire), or can i only get it online  Thanks for all your help!

[ANHBUC]

This Farm is listed as a stockist of Marriages animal feed on the Marriages website

Mill House Farm
Risborough Road
Stoke Mandeville
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP22 5XL
Phone: 01296 613 991

they may have layers pellets with flubenvet premixed.  Worth a phone call. 

www.mill-house-farm.co.uk/index_files/feedersanddrinkers.html

[Aylesbury]

Thanks very much, will give them a go in the morning.