Creative Living

[tangerine]

Has anyone had any experience of a chicken having a stroke?
One of my pullets in the field is very unsteady on her legs and one of her feet isn't working, the back toe is curled under. I've brought her back to the garden in the case the rowdy boys do any damage to her. She's eating fine but not drinking so I've syringed some water into her, and preening her feathers a bit but she walking like a drunken sailor and keeps closing her eyes and looking quite sad.
She seemed fine last night and unless she had hurt her foot/leg before bed, she couldn't have damaged it over night.
I'm wondering if maybe she's had a stroke during the night.

Any one have any ideas? I can't get her to the vet until monday and I have made a sort of splint for her foot out of cotton wool and plasters.
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Its good for you, It's character building.

Tang x

http://lavenderthyme.blogspot.com/

http://tangerineandlavender.blogspot.com/

[nita]

sorry tang i dont know, but i hope shes ok and recovers , worrying when you dont know whats wrong .
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Anita xx
http://thekentishlass.blogspot.com/
The Cat has too much spirit to have no heart. Ernest Menault

[tangerine]

Thanks nita, She seems reasonably ok in herself when shes just standing still but I can tell shes not right, she's the second hen from the field that I've had problems with in the last two weeks. And there are only two definite hens over there (still waiting to see how the rest of the youngesters turn out)
Her walk is getting less wobbly pirate, more monty python now. which is a slight improvement.
_________________
Its good for you, It's character building.

Tang x

http://lavenderthyme.blogspot.com/

http://tangerineandlavender.blogspot.com/

[North Devon Dumpling]

Hi

I hope your hen gets better. I know that there are lots of experienced chicken keepers on here, but this is also a good site for advice. (I hate putting links to other forums on here, feel I am being disloyal )

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?board=3.0

There are nasty things like Mareks disease which hens can get if they have not been vaccinated but I think their legs get sort of splayed, one pointing in a different direction to the other. I am really not an expert and have only learned these things from the forum above.

I do hope all is well, they can be such a worry.
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http://www.lottisdevondiary.blogspot.com/

[tangerine]

Thanks NDD.
I've had a look through various poultry forums and she's seems to have sypmtoms of everything going but nothing conclusive, so I'll just have to wait and see. Seperating her is probably stressing her out too. Its amazing how they can go downhill so quick, and whys it the flipping hens are getting poorly, I know this may sound a bit mercenery but I'd rather lose one of the vast number of boys than one of the few girls
_________________
Its good for you, It's character building.

Tang x

http://lavenderthyme.blogspot.com/

http://tangerineandlavender.blogspot.com/

[North Devon Dumpling]

Not mercenary at all. I am afraid we aren't very good at this kind of thing at all. We had a very sick one and should have done the deed, but kept putting it off. Luckily it didn't affect the other hens (whatever she had) and eventually she passed away. I still feel guilty that we didn't do the decent thing earlier though.

I do hope she gets better or at least that the others don't get sick.

Bestest wishes. NDD
_________________
I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. (Douglas Adams)

http://www.lottisdevondiary.blogspot.com/

[tangerine]

Well my poor little Tilly is still going, every morninng when I lift her out of her box, I keep expecting her to be gone, but she's still fighting. Her movement hasn't improved much but she's still eating and drinking although she has lost some weight. Hmm I think I need to keep monitering her and make a decision about her quality of life. I'm quite happy to have a lame pet chicken in the garden but if she looks like she's suffering I'd rather give her a swift exit
_________________
Its good for you, It's character building.

Tang x

http://lavenderthyme.blogspot.com/

http://tangerineandlavender.blogspot.com/

[Wotta Wally]

Aw bless. Unfortunately, one of my chickens went like that - Mrs Brown. She couldn't walk in the end but I would keep bringing her titbits to eat (which she did). Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end. I still miss her. Hope yours gets better tho Tangerine
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What would you achieve if you didn't fear failure?

[tangerine]

Thanks WW, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
_________________
Its good for you, It's character building.

Tang x

http://lavenderthyme.blogspot.com/

http://tangerineandlavender.blogspot.com/

[tangerine]

Well I made the tough decision to put her to sleep.
Poor little things legs had given up and she was flitting between very distressed and closing her eyes and drooping her head. So it wasn't really that tough, as I couldn't bear to see her suffering.
Still have no idea what happened to her.
_________________
Its good for you, It's character building.

Tang x

http://lavenderthyme.blogspot.com/

http://tangerineandlavender.blogspot.com/

[kate]

So sorry to hear that, Tang . It's a horrible decision to have had to make but it was for the best if she wasn't showing any signs of recovery. (((Hugs)))
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~Kate~

"These are crticial times, but we shall get through them, and the harder we dig for victory the sooner will the roses be with us" - Mr Middleton 1942

[Applewood]

You did the right thing for Tilly Tang, bless her. It must have been hard and I am sending you lots of hugs. Take care.

A.
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CL is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time, thank you.

[Wotta Wally]

I'm so sorry Tangerine but it was the right decision
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What would you achieve if you didn't fear failure?

[nita]

so sorry tang, but it was the right decision {{{hugs}}}
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Anita xx
http://thekentishlass.blogspot.com/
The Cat has too much spirit to have no heart. Ernest Menault

[Anne A]

A very hard thing to do, but the right decision I think, hope you are all ok, xxx
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Menopausal and Mad