- Jul 3, 2009
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First our rooster attacked my children so we had to rehome him. Then 6 weeks ago our welsummer became lame and we can't find a cause. Then 2 weeks ago both buff orps became broody and we can't break them. Now Amelia is down. This is becoming very stressful. I am so frustrated because so many diseases end up with them not being able to walk. I am just so sick of not knowing what the is going on with them. We have 13 hens and have been getting 8-10 eggs per day. We had three today.
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Barred rock, 26 weeks old, average weight
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Went in to check the coop this am. All birds still on the roost except Amelia the barred rock. She was on the floor. Seemed to be staring up. Had difficulty walking. Falling over to the left side. Balance self with wing.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
No symptoms yesterday. Began this am 12 hours ago
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
None in the coop but one welsummer became lame 6 weeks ago. She is living in the kitchen. She is unable to stand at all really and could not from the beginning, it did not look the same as this. Have tried many remedies. None effective. I think she was injured. She is still laying and eating well but has extreme difficulty walking. She walks a little on her toes then sinks to her hocks. Never has exhibited classic Mareks pose with legs. No eye or feather follicle problems.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No. Her face seems very red. I don't know if it is more red than usual or not.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Don't know.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Eats kent brand layer pellets. Today gave her scrambled egg with polyvisol. Tonight put electrolytes in all the water. A few days ago somehow (?!?!?!) the tray that was screwed to the wall that held their oyster shell was broken off the wall. They have not had additional oyster shell for 4 days or so?
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
The one I saw was (very) green and soft
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Scrambled egg with polyvisol. Electrolytes in water. Isolated this am. Took her out this afternoon. Could walk normally but would fall to the side maybe 5 times in the 5 minutes I watched her. Would balance with wing. Tonight took her out and as we were setting up the new broody cages she got back into the coop. She was walking fairly normally and was able to get up onto the roost. I saw her loose her balance 3-4 times. ****SO SHE IS NO LONGER ISOLATED> MY HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WAS MORE STRESSFUL FOR HER IN THE CRATE. SHE WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY AND I DIDN'T WANT HER TO GET INJURED WHILE CHASING HER. i AM WORRIED ABOUT THIS SPREADING.......................
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
No vets nearby that will see chickens.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
No pic
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
10x11 coop with pine shavings, large run with sand. Free range evenings and weekends. 14 birds outside. One in kitchen.
If it at all possible that the chicken in the kitchen has Mareks and I am endangering my flock by keeping her I will put her down tomorrow.
edited for spacing
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Barred rock, 26 weeks old, average weight
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Went in to check the coop this am. All birds still on the roost except Amelia the barred rock. She was on the floor. Seemed to be staring up. Had difficulty walking. Falling over to the left side. Balance self with wing.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
No symptoms yesterday. Began this am 12 hours ago
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
None in the coop but one welsummer became lame 6 weeks ago. She is living in the kitchen. She is unable to stand at all really and could not from the beginning, it did not look the same as this. Have tried many remedies. None effective. I think she was injured. She is still laying and eating well but has extreme difficulty walking. She walks a little on her toes then sinks to her hocks. Never has exhibited classic Mareks pose with legs. No eye or feather follicle problems.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No. Her face seems very red. I don't know if it is more red than usual or not.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Don't know.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Eats kent brand layer pellets. Today gave her scrambled egg with polyvisol. Tonight put electrolytes in all the water. A few days ago somehow (?!?!?!) the tray that was screwed to the wall that held their oyster shell was broken off the wall. They have not had additional oyster shell for 4 days or so?
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
The one I saw was (very) green and soft
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Scrambled egg with polyvisol. Electrolytes in water. Isolated this am. Took her out this afternoon. Could walk normally but would fall to the side maybe 5 times in the 5 minutes I watched her. Would balance with wing. Tonight took her out and as we were setting up the new broody cages she got back into the coop. She was walking fairly normally and was able to get up onto the roost. I saw her loose her balance 3-4 times. ****SO SHE IS NO LONGER ISOLATED> MY HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WAS MORE STRESSFUL FOR HER IN THE CRATE. SHE WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY AND I DIDN'T WANT HER TO GET INJURED WHILE CHASING HER. i AM WORRIED ABOUT THIS SPREADING.......................
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
No vets nearby that will see chickens.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
No pic
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
10x11 coop with pine shavings, large run with sand. Free range evenings and weekends. 14 birds outside. One in kitchen.
If it at all possible that the chicken in the kitchen has Mareks and I am endangering my flock by keeping her I will put her down tomorrow.
edited for spacing
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