loss of leg use when laying ?????

[oldguy]

has anyone come across a problem when the hen lays an egg she loses the use of her legs,

 

in every other way she is perfectly fit, eats drinks, but can not walk, all the other birds appear to treat her as if nothing is wrong

 

she was laying for the second time and is an early bred 2009 bird, she has been eating a mixed diet with occaisional added wheat germ oil and gratted cuttlefish/iodine.. grit and fresh greens have also been available

 

kev

[Guest grizzler]

lack of calcium

[clyde]

yes it will be ok in 2 or 3 days

[clyde]

lack of calcium

thats not the problem ,

 

[Guest strapper]

give her some calcium wether milk in a syringe into her throat or you can get some calcium tablets in tescoe,s..give her this as soon as you can, she will be right as rain next day if given early enough.

[Guest grizzler]

thats not the problem ,

 

it is

[Guest cloudview]

old guy , was the grit on the loft floor or in the nest box , as this happens with an over agressive cock not giving her time to get at the grit , put some in nest box if this is the case

[Guest]

had exactly same prob with a hen last year after laying, 3 days later she was back to normal, was told by another fancier maybe a trapped nerve.

[clyde]

had exactly same prob with a hen last year after laying, 3 days later she was back to normal, was told by another fancier maybe a trapped nerve.

 

and he was right

[Guest stb-]

SOME TIMES WHEN LAYING THE SEATIC NERVE CAN GET AFFECTED AND THE HEN GOES OF HER FEET FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS.

 

If its only the one bird thats happened to it will more than likly be this.

 

happens more if they are unfit or slightly over weight

[dal2]

had exactly same prob with a hen last year after laying, 3 days later she was back to normal, was told by another fancier maybe a trapped nerve.

 

Ye have it quite regular and thats wot I out it down to

 

 

[pigeonscout]

Both legs or just one leg? could need some vit D

[Guest]

no prob with same hen this year.

[Guest IB]

thats not the problem ,

 

Agree. My understanding is its because the nerve going to the legs passes close to the 'egg works' and a little pressure on it during laying will lead to temporary paralysis that will wear off in a day or so.

 

Calcium that forms egg shell also comes from birds legs, not from its food, so it's not a deficiency problem.

[Guest Owen]

Get down to the local Chemist and buy some Calcium Tablets and keep them handy. Give your hen one tablet for two days running. You have probably got a major Calcium/Magnesium deficiency in your loft.

Give your pigeons the following every day of their lives. 3 parts mixed grit 1 part clay block and 1 part vitamineral. It must be fresh every day. Mix 3 teaspoons of poultry spice into their 3 kilos of feed. It contains 24% calcium. The reason your bird is lame is because she has used her calcium reserves to lay. It is something that can happen to mothers of all species when they give birth. Food alone is no use to pigeons. They have to have the correct balance of minerals in their diet so that their bodies can make use of other dietry ingredients.

When you offer them the above mix, you will see them eat it every day with great gusto. And by their actions they will tell you what you need to do for them. In a couple of weeks you should see that your birds will look much better.  

[pigeonscout]

Looking at what you are feeding I do not think the hen is lacking in calcium. This may give you something to think about.

http://www.silvio-co.com/pigeons/Parathyroid.htm

[billt]

Small cube of bread with marmite or bovril on open beak and push down the throat to swallow, stand back and be amazed, it only takes a short while, Vit. B deficiency

[Guest Owen]

I have just reread what I have written and I think I have missed a bit out. If you carry on as you are, your youngsters will probably be next to useless. I have seen youngsters with deficiency problems when their legs become bendy just like rubber dolls. You have just had the warning signs so you have time to act. The next stage of this problem will be when you have a hen with an egg stuck inside her which will probably result in her death. It is condition called, Egg Binding. If neccessary you can treat your birds with liquid calcium for a short period until they get over this. You can buy liquid calcium in a lot of Chemists and Holland and Barrett shops.

[dal2]

I have just reread what I have written and I think I have missed a bit out. If you carry on as you are, your youngsters will probably be next to useless. I have seen youngsters with deficiency problems when their legs become bendy just like rubber dolls. You have just had the warning signs so you have time to act. The next stage of this problem will be when you have a hen with an egg stuck inside her which will probably result in her death. It is condition called, Egg Binding. If neccessary you can treat your birds with liquid calcium for a short period until they get over this. You can buy liquid calcium in a lot of Chemists and Holland and Barrett shops.

 

Owen, might no be that serious mate, in my experince sometimes young hens or overwieght can suffer with this especially first nest and usually fit again in day or so with no detrement to the rearing of youngsters.

 

[holmsidelofts]

Get down to the local Chemist and buy some Calcium Tablets and keep them handy. Give your hen one tablet for two days running. You have probably got a major Calcium/Magnesium deficiency in your loft.

Give your pigeons the following every day of their lives. 3 parts mixed grit 1 part clay block and 1 part vitamineral. It must be fresh every day. Mix 3 teaspoons of poultry spice into their 3 kilos of feed. It contains 24% calcium. The reason your bird is lame is because she has used her calcium reserves to lay. It is something that can happen to mothers of all species when they give birth. Food alone is no use to pigeons. They have to have the correct balance of minerals in their diet so that their bodies can make use of other dietry ingredients.

When you offer them the above mix, you will see them eat it every day with great gusto. And by their actions they will tell you what you need to do for them. In a couple of weeks you should see that your birds will look much better.  

 

Totally agree with owen, ive seen many times before when there is a calcium/magnesium deficiency, remember also that the body needs vitamin D otherwise the body cannot absorb calcium correctly. Without enough vitamin D, one can’t form enough of the hormone calcitriol (known as the “active vitamin Dâ€). This in turn leads to insufficient calcium absorption from the diet. In this situation, the body must take calcium from its stores in the skeleton, which weakens existing bone and prevents the formation of strong, new bone.

 

when hens lay they use a huge amount of calcium to produce there egg shell, thats why its important to supply it to them before for about a month. then continue throughout rearing.

I use osteocare calcium liquid from any good health shop.

I have been using it for years and have never seen a reoccurrence of hens leg going on them. Got the tip from john halstead.

 

[pigeonscout]

old hand use to do a tab that had them back on their feet in couple of hours anyone know its name. I think it was as Owen says something to do with Magnesium. I have only seen very old stock birds go of their legs both hens and cocks but after 2 of theses tabs they are back on their feet in hours.  

[Guest joshdonlan]

Has anyone heard of giving cows milk for calcium. Ive heard stories of one old guy who was a dairy farmer and he gave his birds milk, sometimes even instead of water, and they were always fighting fit  :-/

[Guest Jargre-]

thats not the problem ,

Sorry mate but it is, when a bird runs low on calcium the nerves and muscles stop functioning, replenish the calcium and the problem is solved.  

 

 

[Guest beautyhomer]

Sorry mate but it is, when a bird runs low on calcium the nerves and muscles stop functioning, replenish the calcium and the problem is solved.  

 

 

That is true for calcium deficiency but in this case it is only one leg not all the muscles so it cannot be that!

[pigeonscout]

Has anyone heard of giving cows milk for calcium. Ive heard stories of one old guy who was a dairy farmer and he gave his birds milk, sometimes even instead of water, and they were always fighting fit  :-/

 

Butter milk is very high in calcium