Another limping question

[Foramendog]

I have year old Silkies and Millie fluers. Silkies healthy and broody. One Millie started limping over a month ago. No bumblefoot, mites or palpable injury or swelling. She also laid a few shellless eggs. No issues with the rest of my 4 hens. Given the shelled egg i figured something nutritional. They have a layer feed, they get a blended scratch that has oyster shells seeds and I had a mash from my local poultry feed store. In the mornings they get a small amount of thawed corn with the scratch. Water I alternate apple cider vinegar and poultry vitamin. I’ve up the calcium and added Aragonite calcium, ground flaxseed and probiotics. Now my other millie is limping. Siloed are fine and hard eggshells. I’m at a loss Suggestions? I’m willing to go to vet but in August I lost 2 Millies from Mareks. Then another from an abscess maybe or a Mareks tumor. I spent over $1000 on vet bills for two of those that died.

 

[Stipenvlerk]

I have year old Silkies and Millie fluers. Silkies healthy and broody. One Millie started limping over a month ago. No bumblefoot, mites or palpable injury or swelling. She also laid a few shellless eggs. No issues with the rest of my 4 hens. Given the shelled egg i figured something nutritional. They have a layer feed, they get a blended scratch that has oyster shells seeds and I had a mash from my local poultry feed store. In the mornings they get a small amount of thawed corn with the scratch. Water I alternate apple cider vinegar and poultry vitamin. I’ve up the calcium and added Aragonite calcium, ground flaxseed and probiotics. Now my other millie is limping. Siloed are fine and hard eggshells. I’m at a loss Suggestions? I’m willing to go to vet but in August I lost 2 Millies from Mareks. Then another from an abscess maybe or a Mareks tumor. I spent over $1000 on vet bills for two of those that died.

I’m so sorry for your problems. I hope someone will be able to help you figure out what’s wrong without additional extreme vet costs!

 

[Foramendog]

Thanks i’m opting to figure this out. i love these girls

 

[Mtnboomer]

Once you have mareks, you always have mareks. But, limping is not the same as a neurological issues most associated with MD.
I have had both md and limping issues in the past. The limps we have had have come from a couple causes:
1. Injury. We have an elevated coop and on occasion when a 8-13lb bird flies down it can break a toe nail, or injure a joint. These have resolved themselves in a few days or up to a week.
2. Frost/cold - likely not the cause here but just to be mindful of it.
3. Breeding or over breeding from heavy males. A rooster much larger than a female can chase, grab, and hold the hen as he climbs on and the rough treatment or his shear size can cause injury.
4. Illness or infection

The md neurological signs we have seen are loss of motor skill control and is obviously not a bird than knows what its doing and just not comfortable doing it. If that makes sense.

 

[Foramendog]

Once you have mareks, you always have mareks. But, limping is not the same as a neurological issues most associated with MD.
I have had both md and limping issues in the past. The limps we have had have come from a couple causes:
1. Injury. We have an elevated coop and on occasion when a 8-13lb bird flies down it can break a toe nail, or injure a joint. These have resolved themselves in a few days or up to a week.
2. Frost/cold - likely not the cause here but just to be mindful of it.
3. Breeding or over breeding from heavy males. A rooster much larger than a female can chase, grab, and hold the hen as he climbs on and the rough treatment or his shear size can cause injury.
4. Illness or infection

The md neurological signs we have seen are loss of motor skill control and is obviously not a bird than knows what its doing and just not comfortable doing it. If that makes sense.

 

[Foramendog]

makes sense. I don’t believe this is Mareks either as there are no other neurological symptoms. There is a elevated area and roost that i have see. the millies prior to this jump from. I had attributed the one bird to an injury. Then the egg issue sent me to nutrition. I suppose the other could have an injury also. Im considering epsom salt warm bath for the Millies and still staying feet and legs with Vetericyn. I read about aspirin i. other posts. My concern with that is the silkies needlessly being dosed. comments? thanks for taking time to respond I really appreciate it. These are my first chickens since childhood.

 

[Mtnboomer]

I am not a good resource for medications. My birds are livestock and I do not medicate. Gimpy birds that do not recover in 3-4 days are rested in a separate pen where they do not have to fly up or down for up to a week. If they are still hobbled and/or have not improved, they are euthanized and eaten for dinner.

Soft tissue damage or joints in the legs or hips can be sore and cause the limp. Try isolation, restriction of movement and rest for a few days up to a week.

As far as the egg issue, if its only the occasional soft egg, i wouldn't worry about it. Your dietary provisions are far beyond the minimum requirements for healthy birds. If it becomes routine or at least frequent, then consider changes. That being said, you do feed a lot of what I would consider treats. You may want to consider cutting back a little and rely of basic feed and oyster shell supplement while reserving the rest as an occasional snack.

 

[Foramendog]

I am not a good resource for medications. My birds are livestock and I do not medicate. Gimpy birds that do not recover in 3-4 days are rested in a separate pen where they do not have to fly up or down for up to a week. If they are still hobbled and/or have not improved, they are euthanized and eaten for dinner.

Soft tissue damage or joints in the legs or hips can be sore and cause the limp. Try isolation, restriction of movement and rest for a few days up to a week.

As far as the egg issue, if its only the occasional soft egg, i wouldn't worry about it. Your dietary provisions are far beyond the minimum requirements for healthy birds. If it becomes routine or at least frequent, then consider changes. That being said, you do feed a lot of what I would consider treats. You may want to consider cutting back a little and rely of basic feed and oyster shell supplement while reserving the rest as an occasional snack.

I think i you have several great points. I think i will cut back on the “treats”. And isolation may help too. I appreciate your comments and suggestions. thank you

 

[Mtnboomer]

I think i you have several great points. I think i will cut back on the “treats”. And isolation may help too. I appreciate your comments and suggestions. thank you

Its my pleasure. Hopefully they have a minor issue that will resolve itself. If it persists, please keep us posted. Others may be more insightful.

 

[Foramendog]

No changes in chicken conditions. They’ve been in a small space eating well with extra B complex less treats and additives of oyster shells and argonite calcium. I even did a a day of hock supports, after epsom salt bath and soak. Will continue with quarantine and feeding. No eggs in the past few days so no changes in shells or no shells. it’s still early to tell anyone with anything else to add? Starting to feel a bit guilty about the poor girls