3 welsummers having trouble walking

[MrMatt83]

I have 3 of my 4 welsummers (about 20 weeks old) that are now not wanting to walk. The use their wings for support and shuffle. It started with one about 2 weeks ago, then last week another and today a third. Each time I find them they are being pecked on by some of the other chickens. They have been eating and drinking while isolated in the shed. I let them lay out in the grass during the day and they eat grass. They’ve been on Purina layer pellets for close to a month now before that flock raiser crumbles. All the other chickens seem fine I have to 1 year old tetra browns, another welsummer, 4 Easter eggers and a black australorp. I got all but the tetra browns at the same time from Meyer hatchery and all but the australorp were supposed to be vaccinated for Mareks.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If your older birds are vaccinated... they could be hiding Marek's. Since the vaccine doesn't mean they don't get it, just that they don't USUALLY get the tumors that cause paralysis.

Botulism would have killed them already. It looks like Marek's to me.

@rebrascora @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @casportpony any words of wisdom?

 

[casportpony]

There was a Dr. K episode with a rooster that looked similar. I would have bet money that it was Marek's, but it turned out to be a bacterial infection that cleared up with antibiotics.

 

[micstrachan]

My thought was botulism, but didn’t know that would have killed them by now? Is a vet an option? Sounds like a rigorous course of antibiotics might be worth a try.

 

[MrMatt83]

My 2 older chickens came from TSC so I don’t know if they were vaccinated. The first chicken to come down with this seems to be improving slowly. When she walks she’s unsteady and walks on her tip toes almost crossing one leg over the other. I’ll look for a vet in my area. I’ll try to find some antibiotics as well

 

[rebrascora]

There was a Dr. K episode with a rooster that looked similar. I would have bet money that it was Marek's, but it turned out to be a bacterial infection that cleared up with antibiotics.

Being in the UK, I'm not familiar with Dr K but getting better after a course of antibiotics does not mean it wasn't Marek's. Many people believe their bird has a vitamin deficiency because it gets better after a course of vitamin supplements or that St John's Wort is effective at treating Marek's. Some birds with Marek's will recover from an outbreak without treatment and Marek's birds are prone to secondary infections which would respond to antibiotics, so the fact that it improved after a course of antibiotics does not in my opinion prove that it didn't have Marek's.

In the OP's case, the birds are of an age to get Marek's, and she has 3 birds of that age all exhibiting paralysis consistent with Marek's. The vaccine is not effective against all strains of the virus and if they were exposed to the virus before the vaccine had a chance to become effective, it would be null and void anyway. Biosecurity needs to be pretty sharp to prevent that.

I'm not saying this definitely is Marek's but taking into consideration the extremely common nature of the disease, the fact that the 3 birds exhibiting are at point of lay which is a common stressor and that they are eating and drinking (sick birds with other ailments like botulism or other bacterial infections usually go off their food), Marek's is by far the most likely diagnosis.

Sunshine and grass and the company of other chickens but in a safe environment where they cannot be bullied, are the main things that have helped my Marek's birds, along with good food (fermented feed helps to support the gut) and a vitamin supplement to support the immune system. Personally I would not give an antibiotic because it upsets the gut which could be counter productive, especially if one of the birds is showing some improvement without it.
You might also want to start encouraging them to walk by placing treats a short distance away from them and giving them a focus to move towards it. Don't try to force or help them just let them figure it out. It may appear cruel and look ugly but over time this will help them re-coordinate their limbs if they are destined to beat this outbreak. I kept mine in a cage in the paddock and then at dust I opened the cage and allowed them to try to make their own way back to the coop. Sometimes it would just be a few steps or even wing crawling and then I would carry them, but over a period of time they could eventually make it 30 yards and even started laying again and I had to make them a nest box for their cage. Eventually they were able to return to free ranging with the flock. There will of course be some that don't make it, but perhaps, since yours have had the vaccine, they will all recover. I believe the vaccine is more effective at preventing the development of tumours which usually prove fatal, whereas the paralysis is caused by inflammation of the nerves, in this case since it is their legs affected, the sciatic nerve, but it can also affect their wings, neck, tail or eyes. Symptoms of Marek's can be as subtle as a bird that cannot focus one eye or keep one eyelid open or as dramatic as suddenly floundering on their side unable to get up. Perhaps an anti inflammatory medicine might be helpful, but I'm not sure what would be safe to use on a chicken in that respect. @casportpony may be able to advise on that.
Keeping them happy, well fed and as stress free as possible, will give them the best possible chance. for your girls. Please keep us updated with their progress.

Regards

Barbara

 

[EggSighted4Life]

There was a Dr. K episode with a rooster that looked similar. I would have bet money that it was Marek's, but it turned out to be a bacterial infection that cleared up with antibiotics.

If it were bacterial, could that be verified by a fecal float?

Another thing that can cause paralysis... but doesn't seem likely for 3 birds.. would be ticks.

 

[casportpony]

With three birds sick with the same symptoms I have a hard time believing it's Marek's. Not saying it's not, just doesn't seem likely that all three would present in the same way. Something more plausible might be hypocalcemia or some other vitamin deficiency.

 

[MrMatt83]

The hens will walk for some distance. I found out yesterday when I started the mower. They got up and took off but they walk awkwardly almost like an infant that just started to walk. I also noticed they don’t seem to spread their toes out a lot.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you tried some poultry vitamins in their water for some time? Riboflavin can be important in leg health. An inexpensive vitamin is human B complex, crushed into some feed or a treat. There are also some poultry vitamins available at most feed stores. There are also mineral deficiencies that affect poultry. Since you are giving a good brand of balanced chicken feed, it should have all of the right nutrients.

I would also look at the height of your roosts, look at foot pads for evidence of bumblefoot scabs. Look at ankle and hock joints for any swelling. Leg bone deformities can be common in all poultry, and can cause leg bones to be twisted. Hopefully, it is not Mareks. Mareks is best diagnosed with a necropsy where the state vet or poultry lab can test for it.