Leg Paralysis in Silver Laced Wyandotte: ONLY Affecting the SLW's

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HorseLady1

HorseLady1

In the Brooder
5 Years
Apr 7, 2014
50
2
41
I have a flock of SLW's, Rhode Island Reds, some random breed from Tractor Supply, and Ameraucana's. Out of this flock 5 of my SLW's out of 7, are all showing the same symptoms as the ones that cannot move their legs. The symptoms seem to be the same, no eggs, leg swelling, dragging that leg, then paralysis. The thing is, there is no signs of Merricks, and it's happening in all my SLW's, no other bird has gotten it.
Also, out of the 9 SLW flock, 3 have died already, and only 3 aren't paralyzed. And one more thing. They were separated. There were 3 (chicks) in one area, 1 (chick w/ broody hen) in another, and 5 (adults) in the other area.
Please help me, we don't know what to do... and our flock is running out. Thanks for any help.
 
Just one leg?
Scaly leg mites seems like a possibility. An infection requiring antibiotics (the feed store kind is really only for intestinal parasites.) avian pox. hmm but it seems like any of those would affect both legs. It could really be worth a vet trip since so many have it and to make sure no more get it. You can probably just take one of them and receive treatment for all.
Things that may help: soaking in Epsom salt bath and coating against the grain with antibiotic cream.
 
In some birds it affects one, and in others it's affecting both... Also, they seem to be losing one or two scales... I have no idea why... And if it helps, they were laying (top side only) soft shelled eggs a few weeks before they got sick. We tried to get them to eat oyster shells, boiled eggs, and such. But, they didn't improve that much.
Scaly leg mites seems plausible, but we have already tried treating them for it... The affected leg(s) seem to swell a considerable amount, usually on the sides. And I would take them to a vet, however we don't have any bird specialized vets around here...
I think we've decided if we lose another bird to euthanize the entire flock of SLW before it spreads through the entire flock... Which quite honestly I'd hate to do. These birds are heritage stock and were the last of a heritage breeders flock. Which means we wouldn't have a way to get more...
I'd love to treat them, but this is getting a little crazy. I don't know what to do...
 
Hi, Just found your thread about the paralysis and wondered how your SLW are doing. I bought a young Wyandotte couple a few months ago and all fine until the hen suddenly showed same symptoms as you described. Have been to the vet, got antibiotics but didn't help. Hope you or anyone else managed to find out what it is and how to treat this disease.
 
Hi Anna69, I'm sorry about your hen. We never found out exactly what happened, but we did put them down. They started to sit there with their necks flopped to one side and wouldn't eat or drink. I hope your hen is better and you found a way to help her.
 

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