sudden onset of bilateral leg weakness

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talya

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Hi,
I hope you don't mind me joining just to ask a question. I have a pekin Bantam about 2.5 - 3 years old and has lost use of her legs. I think she may have been getting away from a cat that wanted to play.
She will not walk or grip and curls her toes under. She is able to move slightly by flapping her wings but does not move much. I spend my days moving her in or out of her house and around the garden to find dry or sunny spots.
A friend vet saw her and suggested it is neurological and that she will probably not walk again. It has been a week now. I have started her on loxicon just to see if it helps but it is not.
My dilemma is that I only have 2 chickens left, and the other chickens spends her day near the injured one as if she is looking after her. I presume this is no life for a chicken but how long would you wait before making the decision to end her suffering? She is still eating but I have no way of knowing if she is in pain.
As we will not have any other chickens I will have to give the last one away and that breaks my heart as I had her for over 4 years.
Any idea if chickens do recover from such symptoms and would the other chicken cope with loosing her friend and being moved to a new place? would the chicken left behind be better off re homed or left with me by herself.

Thank you for your advise in advance
Talya
 
On most occasions when chickens go off their legs as you describe, it's for a 'neurological reason' and unfortunately it's quite common. Seldom can anyone accurately pin point what the actual cause is. Also on most occasions, they don't get better and as it's not possible to anticipate whether the bird is suffering or not, in my opinion, they are best put down. Ill chickens are also always at risk in that the others can attack them and cause serious injury. Fortunately, any chickens left, just get on with their normal routine and though one on it's own might seem a bit lost for a day or two, they quickly adjust. If the opportunity came up to re-home the last one, I think most people agree that it's better if they have the company of their own like but some cope well on thier own and sometimes pal up with other birds or animals.
You are clearly thinking of what's in the best intetest of your bantam and that's how it should be.
 
Hi Talya. We had the same problem with a leghorn bantam cock. One day he had a limp, next day worse and no sign of injury, next day leg collapsed and he couldn't walk or even sit up properly. Tried absolutely everything and the leg seemed to be improving when suddenly the other one went. At that stage we had to let him go as he was clearly miserable. His previous owner said he thought it was a problem with the breed and several of the hens, the ones the fox didn't get, went 'off their legs' as well. Don't think its the breed, just that particular strain of it.

I think you will soon tell if the remaining one will settle on her own and will make your decision accordingly.
 
Thank you for the reassurance and it helps to know that there are other people that care about chickens as much as I do.
I think I will give her a few more days.
How do you put down a chicken? Is it best to take her to the vet? I could not do it myself but wonder what is the most humane way?
I so hope she will just start walking or at least moving so I will not have to resort to this.

Thanks again
 
Hi Tayla. Our vet recommended we despatch on site as it removes the stress of transportation. We do this at night when the bird is settled and quiet using a wall mounted hand operated machine. There are lots of methods, many carry a risk of unnecessary pain for the bird because of inexperience or the technique (like Carbon Dioxide gassing). I won't go into more detail. This subject is regularly being debated by all concerned and everyone selects a method that either suits them or the bird. Eventually there will be some legislation I hope.

In the meantime I would advise taking to the vet if it becomes necessary.
 
Hi Talya
When I started with chickens I considered it was my responsibility to know how to cull a chicken in an emergency so I found out how to do it and when the first of mine needed to go I tried it, but it was harder than I thought it would be, for her as well as for me, and it upset me very much. After several years of her companionship and hundreds if eggs it just felt like a betrayal of trust to take her out and break her neck. So after that I decided that in future my elderly or sick hens would go to the vet to be PTS just like any other of my pets. When the next one went I did that and it was an enormous relief to see her just going to sleep in front of me and the trip wasn't stressful at all for her as she was on a comfortable dark box. On an emergency such as a fox attack I wouldn't hesitate to act myself rather than delay and prolong suffering, but I think where I went wrong the first time was to try it without help from someone experienced in culling chickens. My vet said its actually not very easy until you have the knack and with only a few pet birds it's hard to get enough practice to do it well.
Of course people who have lots of chickens need to be able to cull for themselves, but as yours is a pet bird and it doesn't sound as though you'll be needing this skill ATM you would save distress by taking her to the vet. Nobody would expect you to put your dog or cat down yourself so why should you feel you have to kill your lovely chicken? Do check before you book that your vet will do this - my 'dog vet' referred me to a 'chicken vet' locally as this was the first time I'd needed a vet for any of my birds.
Of course if you know any experienced poultry keepers who would come and help you, that's fine. It's a difficult enough decision isn't it, you shouldn't need to take it all alone.
 
Thank you for the advise. My little one is the same, not moving much but still interested in food so no decision yet. I don't think i will be able to end her life myself so I think a trip to vet will be best.
This is all very upsetting.
will post the final outcome
Thank you again

talya
 
Are you sure it's neurological, Talya? You said you thought she might have been trying to get away from a cat - is it possible she's just strained her leg or even been injured? Maybe, as she's such a special girl, a trip to the vet for his advice might be a good idea before taking any decisions?

It's quite common for a pair of hens in a small flock to get really attached to each other, especially if they've been brought up together, and I understand how your other girl wants to be with the injured one for company. Are they both quite elderly? If you do go down to just one, I think Chuck is right to recommend just seeing how she gets on by herself, rather than have to try to start again in another flock of strange, younger hens who will be sure to bully her. It's always difficult to introduce a single bird, especially a small breed hen who is 4 years old already, and I think she might find it a cruel shock to have to make her way on her own, without her friend, and away from the home she has known for so long. Both these birds are obviously very tame pets, and have bonded with you, so she may well be more happy with you,on her own in familiar surroundings then in the company of other hens who will make her life a misery.
Hang on in there with her for a while - whilst she's eating and drinking she's probably not in great pain, and then if you feel it's good to get the vet's advice on the cause of the problem and possible outcomes or treatment, you'll know you've done your best for her. In the past, with various animals, I've just known when their time had come, so trust your intuition about how you feel she is. Do let us know how it goes. Most of us are just the same about our particular 'special ones'!
 
Hi Marigold
Thanks for that. I did get a vet to have a look at her and he was the one that said it was most likely neurological as she will not grip with her toes. The reflex is gone. She will not stand up for more than 1-2 seconds as I think she can't, she will not perch and I am afraid she will start getting sores or other problems from sitting down all the time.
Unfortunately I am going away in 3 weeks and if she is not better I will have to make the decision as I can't think of anyone that will be willing to hand feed her several times a day and keep moving her around the garden :-) she is not eating much and her crop is not full as it used to be so she will probably let me know when she had enough living this way.
As for my other girl 'dilbert' (my husband names her) I have a friend that has 4 older girls that Dilbert could go to but I think you are right, I will keep her and see how things go first before I re home her.
will post later in the week how things are going.
 
Hi there
Just thought I will update my chicken story, Took her out of the house this morning and she took 4-5 steps. I stood there so happy, is she getting better? I so hope so. she actually also got herself back in to the house. I built her a small ramp and she managed to walk/fly in.
so, will hold off on the vet (he agreed to come over and give her an injection when the time comes) and will see how she gets.
Go girl!!!
 
Brill! :-)08 :-)08 :-)08 :-)08
Go little Dilbert, great news. Will keep everything crossed she gets stronger. And well done to you for being super mum and not giving up on her x
 
Hi Everyone
Little girls is moving!! she is perching and gets herself in and out of the house!! She still has a limp and not very strong on the right leg but she is doing good. I am so pleased. Just goes to show, we need to give them time and love and not rush in to things.

Thank you again for your support
 
I forgot to mention, I fed her for the first week a mixture of egg yolk, honey, yogurt, and oats with some meals added rice or sunflower seeds. I gave this to her twice a day. I dont know if that gave her the energy she needed to keep going. I thought it was worth a try.
 
Glad to hear you have had a happy outcome :D What you fed her was IMO a good idea as when they arent well I feed whatever they will eat to give them energy.
We had to dispatch one with similar symptons a few weeks ago :(
 
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