Bird off her legs

[chickenfan]

I have an 8 year old Marans girl that has become really wobbly and staggery on her legs. Does anyone have any idea what this could be? Is it some sort of arthritis? She has been like this for several months now.

 

[Marigold]

Well.... 8 years a great age for a hen..... coming up to 80 myself I know how she feels some days!
She's obviously a well-loved and healthy bird. I'm sure you're doing all you can to make her comfortable.

 

[bigyetiman]

Grand age, she has been well looked after.
Not something I have come across in a hen. If she is eating well and not losing weight I suppose it could be arthritis

 

[Icemaiden]

When I saw something similar in a 9 year old araucana, I confess that I assumed it was "fair wear & tear", as my old gp used to say.
The hen lived for a few more months, sometimes rallying for a bit, before passing away.

 

[chickenfan]

Thanks for the kind messages. She couldn't get up on her legs at all today or put any weight on one painful leg so I'm afraid I decided her time has come. Still pecking happily in the lying down position when food was in front of her, but its no fun confined to the ground unable to do anything.

 

[Marigold]

She was a very lucky bird to have had you to care for her, Chickenfan.

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you Marigold. She was one of the first birds I hatched from an egg.

 

[Tweetypie]

So sorry to hear about your hen, Chickenfan, but you did the best and kindest thing for her. x

 

[bigyetiman]

Sorry to hear about your hen also.
you did all you could for her and didn't let her suffer at the end. You will always have lovely memories of her