Bad limp, suspected hip injury

[Gizabelle]

Pretty little girl!
She's sure struggling.

I'm not sure what's going on with her, if it's injury, Marek's (she's at the right age) or ???

I don't really see any concerning in the photos, as far as, injury or swelling.
Try vitamin therapy (1/4 tablet B-Complex daily) and giving her TLC as @dawg53 described in his link.

She is definitely getting a sore on her joint from walking and/or laying on it. You can help relieve some of that pressure by placing her in a sling for monitored periods of time throughout the day.

I hope she starts to improve. It's heartbreaking to watch.

thanks for the video, I will give that a try tomorrow.

I was worried about Mareks as well. Would paralysis come about so suddenly? Totally fine one day-unable to walk the next?
I have seen none of the other common symptoms in her or in the rest of the flock, but I understand that doesn't necessarily count for much.

In the event of injury, how soon should I see some improvement?

Again, thank you for your help

 

[Gizabelle]

If you or anyone else could give your opinion...

Does this look like a euthanasia situation, or should I give her some time?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Unfortunately with Marek's it can come on very suddenly. It can also get better. It's a very puzzling disease to say the least. The paralysis in the legs affects the nerves (sciatic), so it's possible inflammation can improve, therefore mobility can as well. Some birds do get better, but then become symptomatic again during times of stress like molting or if there's an underlying illness that is taxing their system.

With injury, it can take weeks to months - there's no timeline really.

I wish I had better answers for you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you or anyone else could give your opinion...

Does this look like a euthanasia situation, or should I give her some time?

Let's get @microchick to take a look at your video and posts, see if she has any input/suggestions. She also wrote a very good article about dealing with Marek's within a flock. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/

Things to consider is - do you have time to dedicate to caring for her multiple times a day for weeks or more, will your caring for her take time from your family/commitments and if it does, is everyone agreeable in you doing so? What's your goals with your flock - pets, pet livestock, livestock/production (eggs/meat)?

Culling may be something to consider. If you do, then getting a necropsy is a good idea, this way you would have information as to whether this is Marek's or not.
Nothing wrong with giving a bird more time to see if they improve/recover either.

 

[microchick]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock for the tag and kind words.

Good morning @Gizabelle. I read through the thread and watched the video and studied the pictures. I'm so sorry your hen is having problems. She really is a beautiful girl.

I take it your hen hasn't been vaccinated for Marek's disease? From my experiences with MD, I've had a 9 week old pullet that came up suddenly with a pronounced limp one morning. Same leg as your bird. My juvenile had no other symptoms except the limp which grew steadily worse until she was dragging the foot behind her foot behind her. At that point the other leg started to be affected.

You are possibly dealing with two scenarios here.

1) She has an injury to her hip that with a bit of time and tlc may heal.

2) She has Marek's Disease. I get a gloomy feeling when I watch her rest and her left leg is stretched out in front of her. That posture looks like scissor paralysis that is seen in Marek's Disease.

This isn't one of my birds but a photo off the net. It's also interesting that she is walking for the most part on what appears to be both hocks. I didn't see her putting a lot of weight on her right leg but she seemed to be compensating for walking on her left hock by walking on her righ hock also. I looked carefully and didn't see any dragging of her left wing or wing droop.

You said that she doesn't curl her toes around your finger when you press against the bottom of her foot. That is also seen in MD.

My best suggestion is to isolate her so she isn't picked on and not trying to run around and keep up with the other birds. A dog crate is an excellent thing to use for keeping a bird quiet for a few days. They can stand move a round a little but not too much. If you do not see any improvement in 48-72 hours. If you see any worsening of the problem the you are likely dealing with Marek's Disease and may be facing the painful decision to cull her. A good vitamin probiotic that you can put in her water like Rooster Booster or Baby vitamins like Poly Vi Sol WITHOUT iron, one drop a day isn't going to hurt her. I would also give her some scrambled eggs, Tuna fish or chopped chicken (yes they are cannibals and love canned chicken) will give her extra protein.

I agree. If you go the cull route please send the remains to a lab for necropsy so you know for sure what has happened to her. If it is Marek's Disease and you will know soon if she is worsening, it's not the end of the world. You will be dealing with a Marek's positive flock as all the birds have been exposed to the virus at this point.

For the time being, close your flock. No birds in no birds out until you know for sure.

And yes, I invite you to read my article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/
I'm watching this thread so please ask questions if you like.

 

[Gizabelle]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock for the tag and kind words.

Good morning @Gizabelle. I read through the thread and watched the video and studied the pictures. I'm so sorry your hen is having problems. She really is a beautiful girl.

I take it your hen hasn't been vaccinated for Marek's disease? From my experiences with MD, I've had a 9 week old pullet that came up suddenly with a pronounced limp one morning. Same leg as your bird. My juvenile had no other symptoms except the limp which grew steadily worse until she was dragging the foot behind her foot behind her. At that point the other leg started to be affected.

You are possibly dealing with two scenarios here.

1) She has an injury to her hip that with a bit of time and tlc may heal.

2) She has Marek's Disease. I get a gloomy feeling when I watch her rest and her left leg is stretched out in front of her. That posture looks like scissor paralysis that is seen in Marek's Disease.

View attachment 2893887
This isn't one of my birds but a photo off the net. It's also interesting that she is walking for the most part on what appears to be both hocks. I didn't see her putting a lot of weight on her right leg but she seemed to be compensating for walking on her left hock by walking on her righ hock also. I looked carefully and didn't see any dragging of her left wing or wing droop.

You said that she doesn't curl her toes around your finger when you press against the bottom of her foot. That is also seen in MD.

My best suggestion is to isolate her so she isn't picked on and not trying to run around and keep up with the other birds. A dog crate is an excellent thing to use for keeping a bird quiet for a few days. They can stand move a round a little but not too much. If you do not see any improvement in 48-72 hours. If you see any worsening of the problem the you are likely dealing with Marek's Disease and may be facing the painful decision to cull her. A good vitamin probiotic that you can put in her water like Rooster Booster or Baby vitamins like Poly Vi Sol WITHOUT iron, one drop a day isn't going to hurt her. I would also give her some scrambled eggs, Tuna fish or chopped chicken (yes they are cannibals and love canned chicken) will give her extra protein.

I agree. If you go the cull route please send the remains to a lab for necropsy so you know for sure what has happened to her. If it is Marek's Disease and you will know soon if she is worsening, it's not the end of the world. You will be dealing with a Marek's positive flock as all the birds have been exposed to the virus at this point.

For the time being, close your flock. No birds in no birds out until you know for sure.

And yes, I invite you to read my article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/
I'm watching this thread so please ask questions if you like.

Thank you so much for the kind words. @Wyorp Rock linked your article also, and I read it last night. Truly, thank you for taking the time to share your story and experiences. It was beautifully written but so tough to read. I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

I too have that sinking feeling rewatching the video. Unpleasant things are starting to add up. I have a small flock of 8; all but two are spring pullets. I have been scratching my head for a few weeks trying to figure out why two of the other youngsters are not putting on enough weight. I've added feeders, dewormed, treated for coccidiosis... you know the routine.
I am also finding abnormal poops more frequently. I suppose I had been in denial of the possibility of a greater issue, but I had not imagined Marek's before now.

I've been on the phone with various vets and labs this morning, and am now preparing the necropsy submission packet just in case.

We'll recheck again this evening and decide whether or not to give her a little more time. It breaks my heart to see her struggle so, especially if there is little chance of recovery. I feel that she (and all my girls) deserve better than that.

Thank you both for your support. I will continue to post updates.

 

[microchick]

No problem Gizabelle. I know how painful this is and what you are going through right now. One of the things I forgot to mention is wondering how their weight is. My MD birds showing symptoms were always skin and bones no matter how much I fed them.

Whatever you do don't give up. It will be bad for awhile but it will get better. I'm glad you made the decision to necropsy. With MD it's not that you can do anything about having it in your flock except hanging on for dear life until the worse passes but it is the knowledge that will give you a starting place for the future.

There are a lot of us out there dealing with MD in our flocks. You aren't alone here on BYC.

 

[Gizabelle]

Today was a tough day. I made the call this evening to go ahead and let her go. I'm so grateful to my husband for handling the deed. Its been a long time since losing a bird has hit me this hard.
I checked on her throughout the day and knew from early this morning that she had gotten much worse. She would see me and try and try to get up and come over, but she just couldn't. She looked so defeated, still watching me and chattering, but unable to make her body obey her. It absolutely broke my heart.
That is the part that really got to me. She was so alert. Still ready to eat from my hand, and desperate to come over for whatever I had brought her. Never before today have I made the decision to euthanize an animal that still had some fight and will to live left. I hope I made the right decision. I think I did, but not all of me truly knows it yet.

So... I've prepared everything to send her to the state lab for testing.
I'll post results when they arrive.

Thank you for all the support.

 

[dawg53]

It never gets any easier having to put down a chicken, no matter how how old they are. I dont like doing it, but sometimes it's necessary.
Yes, please keep us posted with the results. BTW; where are you at in North Florida? We live just north of Glen St Mary close to the Georgia border.

 

[Gizabelle]

Thanks, I know its necessary sometimes, but gosh it's tough. I can really understand @microchick's encouragement not to give up... looking at the rest of my girls and wondering if that's the fate that awaits each of them... its just too awful.

Forgot to mention, yesterday I did reach out to the farm store all of my girls have come from... no vaccines. They gave me some spiel about "thats why they recommend medicated chick starter" I didn't bother explaining the irrelevance.

We're south of Tallahassee, just a few miles from the coast.