Sudden paralysis of chicken

moms

In the Brooder
6 Years
Apr 25, 2013
19
0
24
My 7 month old Buff Orpinton named Butter suddenly became paralyzed Sunday afternoon last. Its now been three days and she cannot walk or stand. She is eating practically nothing and not drinking water not forced fed. She layed and egg today in a seperate cage. She looks good in the face with clear eyes and and a stand up comb. She tries to get along on her wings, but usually just lays still. How long will this paralysis last? I hate to do away with her, but i cannot keep taking care of a handicapped chicken unless i know its temporary. I suspect she was bit by spider or ingested something poisiness. Is this perhaps permanent?
 
Is it possible that she got into any moldy food? Sudden paralyisis is often caused by Botulism. I suppose a spider bite is a possiblity as well. Depending on what has caused the paralysis, it may or may not go away.

I'd give her a molasses flush. Mix four tablespoons of molasses in one quart of water. Try to get her to drinks as much of this as possible. If its poisoning, like that caused by Botulism, this will flush the poisons from her body.

Try to get her to eat. See if she wants to eat any scrambled eggs or moistened chicken feed. You can also try dripping some egg yolk on her beak.
 
Was she vaccinated as a chick for Marek's Disease? That disease is everywhere in the environment; it affects unvaccinated (and even some that are vaccinated) birds, causing paralysis of the legs and wings, tumors on the internal organs, and sometimes irregular grayish pupils and enlarged feather follicles. There is no 100% treatment, but giving the bird Hypericum/St. John's Wort can often help. Here is a link to a thread on the topic: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/135247/st-johns-wort

If not Marek's I would suspect some sort of poisoning, including botulism. Botulism can be caused when a bird eats moldy feed or other spoiled foods. It causes weakness, paralysis, loss of feathers, and eventual death if not treated. To treat, flush the bird with an Epsom salt solution or molasses solution (Wyandottes7 gave a good recipe for the molasses flush). However, I would think that botulism would have killed by now, so poisoning isn't that likely.

Certain vitamin deficiencies can caused partial paralysis/inability to walk as well. Giving vitamins, such as poultry vitamins or 1-2 drops/day of Polyvisol infant vitamins can correct this problem. But vitamin deficiencies generally come on more gradually, so I don't know.
 
Thank you for insight. Finally someone who gives me some idea what might have happened. I'm going to try the molasses flush tonite, but it will be a chore as she is not drinking anything on her own. I have not tried to feed her water with a syringe today, because i read on here that forcing food or drink causes stress. I did give her watermelon because of its water content. She ate and entire scrambled egg this morning. And pecked at the wild game seeds that i have with omega three in it. She refuses to eat any of her food.. She seems to be trying to stand, but cannot. She moves herself with her wings. I have take a photo just now and maybe i can post it here. Thank you so much, I hope I can get this molasses flush in her. Will repost with my results. Thanks a solid bunch.
 

This is my little Butter, that became paralyzed suddenly. Any hope for legs back functional?
 

This is my little Butter, that became paralyzed suddenly. Any hope for legs back functional?
 
How do i get her to drink this, she will not drink anything and fights me. I have a real crappy syringe, can you recommend a kind to get please, or tell me another way to get this molasses flush into her.?
 
You can get some syringes from most farm stores. Hope this helps you out. Have you read on mareks disease its also a possibility. But it sure won't hurt to try the flush.
 
How is Butter doing? I just had a Bantam Cochin come down with the same symptoms. She's one of my daughter's best show chickens :-( She looks just like Butter did, but she is at least drinking water and eating a little. I'm trying the molasses flush.
 

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