Pullet With Muscle Wasting in Right Leg

When I let my Swedish Flower flock out to forage 3 days ago I noticed one of the pullets hopping on one leg and using her right wing for balance, placing the tip on the ground.

I picked her up, went all over her and found her right leg has no muscle mass, her left leg is strong and muscled. The first night in Sick Bay she didn't eat, but did drink. I took her out of her crate in the morning and went over her again. She seems perfectly fine, doesn't mind being held or having her leg examined. She's not lethargic. She was eating that second day. She alert and seems content in the crate. Today, she was up hopping around, still holding her right foot up but not using her wing for balance.

Does anyone know if this is a disease? Neurologic problem? Worms? Genetic? Anything? I have no idea what to do for her, other than ACV, electrolytes, protein and minerals. I do have Corid and Kocci-Free (?) Just didn't think something like worms would waste muscle in one place. She doesn't seem to have lost weight.

Would love some help. She's a sweet and I really don't want to lose her.

Thanks!
Connie

SassysMom said:

Does anyone know if this is a disease? Neurologic problem? Worms? Genetic? Anything? I have no idea what to do for her, other than ACV, electrolytes, protein and minerals. I do have Corid and Kocci-Free (?) Just didn't think something like worms would waste muscle in one place. She doesn't seem to have lost weight.

Click to expand...

Could be any of the above. Worms like tapeworm for example can cause cysts in tissue which can end up literally just about anywhere, causing nerve damage and tissue death, spasms, etc; the only cure for that is surgery.

Some breeds have some kind of nerve death that occurs after a certain age, pretty young, causing the femur heads to rot, causing lameness and wasting of the legs; however I've only heard of that in meat breeds and the likes, not SFHs or other less commercialized breeds.

An injury could have done it, could be genetic, could be worms. Impossible to say, I think this is a vet case because it's advanced. Have you noticed her limping before?

Best wishes.

chooks4life said:

Could be any of the above. Worms like tapeworm for example can cause cysts in tissue which can end up literally just about anywhere, causing nerve damage and tissue death, spasms, etc; the only cure for that is surgery.

Some breeds have some kind of nerve death that occurs after a certain age, pretty young, causing the femur heads to rot, causing lameness and wasting of the legs; however I've only heard of that in meat breeds and the likes, not SFHs or other less commercialized breeds.

An injury could have done it, could be genetic, could be worms. Impossible to say, I think this is a vet case because it's advanced. Have you noticed her limping before?

Best wishes.

Click to expand...

Thank you for responding, Chooks for Life. My girl is doing well...at least she can stand and put her right leg down (before she would just hold it up). She seems content in Sick Bay, alert, friendly, eating and drinking. I'm not saying she's all healed, and I don't know if she ever will be, but at least she shows no signs of pain. She seems content away from her flock rather than having to keep up with them. Tomorrow, I will call the Avian Vet and ask if he wants to see her, or try something else first.

I've found the Swedish Flower girls to be so sweet. She just looks at me like she wants to have a chat : ) Will report back if I have any news. Finally was able to get wormer for everyone so I'll see if that affects her in any way.

Hoping for the best...
Connie

Looking forward to hearing how it goes. Sounds somewhat hopeful at least, though it's a strange case. Always valuable to learn this stuff 'just in case'.

Hope all goes well. Best wishes.