The link I found didn't discuss it, but from what I've learned, some lines of chickens have an inability to either synthesize or efficiently use dietary choline, so that they need exceptionally high levels in their food. It sounds like chicks cannot synthesize it, but older chickens can..perhaps some strains never develop the ability. I don't think it would suddenly show up in an older chicken.
Sick (Weak) Chicken
Yeah, that's the beauty of these kinds of threads.. sparks one's curiosity and the search is on.. :)
I think it's mind boggling how many diseases chickens can get! So many with symptoms that are just general decline.. (ruffled feathers, weakness, etc.)
Interesting reading none the less.. :)
I had a hen like this about 2 months ago. She was fine, eating drinking active from the neck up, but both of her legs did not work. the right was worse than the left. I gave her about 3 weeks on antibiotics, (penacilin injections) and did physical therapy with her every day. She is fine now. It jus took some doing. Never really figured out what happened. Maybe a spider bite or something that caused the nevervous system to react that way. Not sure.
InnBetween, what sort of physical therapy did you do?
WOW, great info here everyone! Its like an episode of Chicken ER. There is truely so many things to look for and many symptoms that over lap. I have heard of the vitamin E deficiency and I hope what my feed contains is enough. Anyone add vitamin E and how often?
Hey All! I've put this in the stickie...(fair warning;-)
Alas, my ailing Jersey Giant hen died this morning. She had been weaker the last couple of days though still eating well, and I had been thinking it might be best to put her down. I guess I'll never know what was really wrong. Thanks again for all your advice.
I believe it's possible to take it to the extension office or some sub-branch of your local ag agency and get it checked for contagion. I know that's no consolation, but it may be good to find out what you were dealing with...
I am very sorry about the little girl. It is so sad when you try so hard to save them and it ends badly. Grow is right. She can be checked for disease at a place like that. Ours is in Courtland. Please know I am thinking of you. {{HUGS}}
Jeanmarie
sorry to hear that she didn't make it. It is always difficult to lose a hen, especially when you have put extra effort into helping her.
"I believe it's possible to take it to the extension office or some sub-branch of your local ag agency and get it checked for contagion. I know that's no consolation, but it may be good to find out what you were dealing with..."
I have a VERY funny story about that but I'll save if for next week.
So sorry....Hard to lose a critter.
Ginger
I'm sorry for your loss Porkpal.. I know the heartache.. and appreciate your efforts to save her.
Well, I already buried the hen, but I'm pretty sure she didn't have anything infectious. All the others are fine, including those that formerly shared her coop. Thanks for the support.
I do think there is a chance that she had Marek's...it doesn't mean any or the others would necessarily come down with it. But the symptoms of partial paralysis with continued appetite and wasting does sound like some forms of Marek's.
I am so sorry you lost her, but I think animals know and appreciate whenever you do your best for them.
That's what I thought too Catscan.. but there is always hope.
Since I read that "if you have chickens, and they are breathing, you have Marek's" Now I see how common it is.. and how it can strike some and not others.. kill some and not others..
sorry it took me so long to get back to ya. The physical therepy I did with my hen was hold her up and make her put weight on her legs every day for a few minutes in the morning and in the evening.
After a couple weeks she was able to hold her own weight if I braced her against my legs, and then I helped her keep her balance and take a few steps. After 4 weeks she was a little wobbly, but could motovate on her own. She is fine now.
I too am very sorry for your loss.
This message was edited Apr 15, 2009 4:55 PM
We got a young white leghorn rooster from a friend. Named him Spike The rooster could no longer stand and was going to be trampled in the coop by all the others so he was given to us. We put him in a 20 gallon plastic tub and put a big bread tray over the top. We put sawdust in the tub and fed him good. He had chick crumbles, horse mix, alfalfa cubes and the water off soaked beet pulp. He slowly improved and we put him in a horse stall so he could get plenty of exercise. He made a complete recovery in about 6 weeks time. He grew to be a big, pretty roo. Unfortunately he was killed by a predator outside the barn. DGS thinks he left to find himself some hens. And I ain't tellin' him any different.
Sorry about your hen. I cried like a baby when Charlie died. They are easy to get attached to.