4 month old sussex hen can't stand up

[MoodyChicken]

How's the muscling on her leg? A friend of mine had a bird that suddenly lost the ability to walk. I came over and noticed that the bird's leg muscles had completely disintegrated, for lack of a better definition. There was nothing but bone and skin.

 

[Barn Maid Ann]

Are there other common diseases/infections that cause limping? I mean besides Mareks. I have had so many birds (in my short poultry experience) that have developed a limp. We mostly have let nature take its course, except for one, which we treated with antibiotics from the vet. This was a 3 week old chick who also went off feed. She is alive and well today. All of her group were purchased from McM's and vaccinated for Mareks. I suppose one could get missed?

Anyway, the only limping bird I ever had die was a Guinea. She developed a limp, but her appetite was good. She eventually stopped walking all together. It was winter and I put her in my horse's empty stall. It had soft bedding and the Guinea seemed comfy (not really touchable) and I threw food for her and she ate and drank. I would find her in different positions, so she was moving some, but she just kind of scooted around. As she healed and started going outside again, I felt she was out of the woods. But my DH found her dead in the yard one day.

All the rest of my fowl that ever developed a limp seemed to just get better on their own.
My point is that limping seems to be a common symptom of illness.