One of my old girls is not right, Advice needed!

4Chicks · **Joined:** Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:36 am **Posts:** 37

I need a bit of help to find out what is going on with one of my nearly 5yo Isa. ( I know that is old but she has lead a pampered life.She has been malting very heavy this year as has one other
mixed breed.
This morning I saw her walking kind of sideways,sometimes squating a bit as she walks.Then she will walk normal.She rubs her beak on the ground as if she is cleaning it after having eaten.
Her poop is ok, she is eating and picking at the grass etc.Her crop is full but looks tilted to one side. Eyes are clear, she seems fine otherwise apart from the heavy malt.I can see her new quills growing back.
Do chickens have strokes, like people? Or is this a result of her heavy moulting. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Maybe she is egg bound? Sour crop perhaps? Does her breath smell?

Being an Isa Brown maybe she has lost her bone density and become weak in the legs? Especially taking her age into consideration, as commercial hybrids lay so many eggs especially in the first year of their laying lives. Maybe she needs extra calcium and protein to improve her condition?

There is a post on Increasing Condition On Chickens

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=17650

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Hi 4Chicks

I think we're all going to have a cold one this winter so I think that is why a few people have had their girls start their moult early & quite heavily this year. They need all new feathers for the winter coming.

5yrs is old for an Isa but if she is being pampered then that's great!

PP's right about the bone density though. Do you give your girls calcium supplement? Isa's need calcium due to the large amount of eggs they lay, as it helps replace what they lose due to the fact that their little bodies work so hard to give us so many lovely eggs.

Anatomically their crops sit to the right of their chest so they do look lopsided when full. Is her crop empty/gone down in the morning? If not she could be crop bound. :?:

Parvo might be able to answer your question about chickens having strokes. I would only imagine that if a chicken had a stroke it would either kill her or you would have to put it down.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

4Chicks · **Joined:** Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:36 am **Posts:** 37

Thanks for the replies. I doubt she is egg bound as she hasnt laid in a few weeks due to moulting.I will check her crop this morning.
The only calcium I feed is shell grit, cooked egg shells and yogurt sometimes in their mash.I dont know if that is enough when they are laying so I will have to look into that.
This year I have noticed that the moulting is worse than last year. Two of my chooks just sat around for a few days like they are off colour.
I have goggled the walking sideways and found on a few sites that others have had a similiar probem when their chook is having a heavy moult and the weather is cold.
Has anyone on here had this happen.I am inclined to think along those lines.

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

4Chicks wrote:

The only calcium I feed is shell grit, cooked egg shells and yogurt sometimes in their mash.I dont know if that is enough when they are laying so I will have to look into that.

I have goggled the walking sideways and found on a few sites that others have had a similiar probem when their chook is having a heavy moult and the weather is cold.
Has anyone on here had this happen.I am inclined to think along those lines.

Hey 4chicks

They do require a lot of calcium due to the mass egg production, so I would give them a calcium & vitamin supplement in their water as well every couple of months on top of what you do now. My girls have shell grit always available to them, yoghurt once a week, cheese and every couple of months I give them the calcium & vitamin supplement in their water. Plus extra vitamins while they're moulting couldn't hurt either.

I hope my Isa's live to be 5yrs old. [smilie=a_goodjobson.gif]

The walking sideways thing is weird, but sounds like you've found some good info from your research there.

The one thing I found from getting chooks is you certainly start doing a lot of reading & research! :lol:

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

4Chicks · **Joined:** Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:36 am **Posts:** 37

Well Miss Chooky is no worse which is a good sign.
I have been feeding her a crushed calcium tablet in her mash ( my version of a ricketts diet)
This morning when I put food out she crouched and acted like she was clucky! Very odd!
Whatever the problem it does not stop her getting around. My chooks free range from 8.30am till bedtime.

4Chicks · **Joined:** Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:36 am **Posts:** 37

Happily my chook seems to be on the mend after some 5-6 days. I have never seen this problem in nearly 40 years of having chickens.
After reading some web sites I can only assume that it is a side effect(if that is the word) of a heavy moult.The other common denominator I found was cold weather. Age does not seem to enter into it.
I have continued to feed a mash of weetbix, rolled oats, pellets, grated carrot & apple, honey mixed with milk as I am out of yogurt. I added a crushed human calcium tablet,and also some mince meat.I mixed in meatmeal but my dogs became attracted to it so I decided to use fresh meat in balls.
Maybe this will be of benefit to someone else down the track if this occurs.

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Oh that's great news 4Chicks woohoo4

I think that diet is terrific.

I may use it for my girls as just a treat [smilie=a_goodjobson.gif]

Even after 40 years you never stop learning about these precious little creatures.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

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