12 week old d"uccle scooting backwards

[soukilee93]

I have two 12-week-old Millefleur dUccles, a hen and a rooster. The hen has had some issue with her right leg sliding out from under her a bit while on the roosting pole. At 5-weeks, when I got them it was minor, but then all of a sudden after putting the two out one day in a pen to enjoy the one day of warm weather last week, her leg seemed significantly worse, steadily sliding out from underneath her and she began scooting backwards around the cage until her butt was up against something. She couldn't stand and would not stop scooting until she was up against something. I treated her with vet wrap and attached her legs together like you would with spraddle leg. She seemed to improve significantly and started getting feisty and playful. When put out for a couple of hours the other day and she seemed somewhat off but not too bad. Today I put them back out for about half a day once it warmed up enough and she would not walk around. She laid down and again by the end of the day today she is scooting around backwards again and will not stand up. Please help me!! Does it sound like something neurological? Any thoughts? What can I do?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Sounds like a possible vitamin deficiency- I'd try vitamins first (some use poly vi sol without iron). Feed some scrambled egg daily if possible (lots of vitamins there). Here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck

It is common in silkies to have the walking backwards, walking in circles thing when there is a neuro problem- treated with vits many have success. It can be from brain swelling, infection, injury, or vit. deficiency.

I know that in your case it isn't neck involvement and here are other possibilites (I don't know what the cause of your chick's problem is, just trying to help):
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
mareks

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/220/slipped-tendon-perosis
perosis

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency
b2 deficiency

The only way to get a definitive diagnosis is by necropsy and for that they need a deceased bird...so vitamins is a good first treatment for anything seemingly neurological in my opinion. However, be aware that mareks can seem temporary:
"Some birds develop temporary paralysis that disappears after 1-2 days" from the UNH link above.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

"Leg paralysis is the only sign in mild intoxications, which must be differentiated from Marek’s disease, drug and chemical toxicities, or appendicular skeletal problems. In waterfowl, botulism must be differentiated from fowl cholera and chemical toxicities, especially lead poisoning."
from:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/205400.htm


here is a general link:
http://www.poultry.msstate.edu/extension/pdf/diseases_poultry_diagnosis_symptoms.pdf