Bird unable to walk os stand

[bear33]

I am watching my neighbors chicken that is not standing at all. One leg is tucked under its body the other is straight out in front. They got this bird from a hatchery the last week in June along with 7 other birds each set of birds are different. All for egg laying. This bird became lame about four weeks later. Separated it from the flock. In the beginning there was some blood in the stool and it was a tad soft. Started giving it yogurt and the blood went away the next day . The bird is eating and very alert and has been living like this for two weeks now. It was vaccinated for Merak's Disease. I don't really think it has Merak's , but what do I know? It's bottom legs where the scaly skin is -is cold to the touch and it lets me message it's legs which it seems to like. It also tries to stand when it defecates to get out of the way of its feces. I have done some research and I think the little bird suffers from B vitamin deficiency and have read somewhere that cooked beef liver really helps this. Anyone ever tried this. Thanks, bear33
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[ranchhand]

Hello bear33,

, wish it were under better circumstances.

The chicken may have an injury, but I'm wondering if it has had any access to moldy food. I had a very similar case, and it turned out the runt was being pushed away from the feeder.

He was eating the spillage, which had gotten damp and molded a little bit. It caused permanant neurological damage and he was killed.

Are they on medicated chick starter? Blood in the stool is usually attributed to coccidiosis, but medicated starter would prevent that normally.

You can get infant vitamins at any pharmacy- they are called Poly Vi Sol, make sure it's the one without iron. 3-4 drops along the side of the beak daily.

 

[bear33]

Ranch Hand,

Thanks for the info. I don't know if it is medicated feed. They discarded the feed bag. I will ask them when they return. I will also give them your info. Thanks.
Virginia

 

[Pathfinders]

Marek's vaccine isn't 100% effective, and it's possible that a chick that was vaccinated for it will come down with Marek's later, I've had it happen here (we vaccinate our own birds.)

The one leg in front and one leg dragging thing is pretty indicative. It's also referred to as "range paralysis", as the bird affected just can't move that leg.

Sadly, there is no cure, and the affected bird (if that's indeed what it is) will likely have to be put down.

Sorry.

 

[threehorses]

Sadly, this does sound like range paralysis ("The splits" is what I call it) but then again it's still possibly vitamin B deficiency, particularly if the people aren't feeding the right feed (medicated chick starter).

I would recommend the polyvisol, and then that they make a 'damp mash' for a week for the bird of yogurt (1 teaspoon or so), crumbles, water, and a crushed B-complex vitamin for humans. Do the polyvisol 3 drops in the beak for a week. They should also put the bird up where it doesn't have to go far for food or water. If they really want to do it, adding a vitamin E/selenium treatment would be advised. E in 400-700 IU range, selenium LESS THAN 50 MICROgrams of selenium. (Micrograms are denoted as ug, not mg.) With the E/selenium, oil capsules are the best choice, but a dry one can be mixed into the daily damp mash.

See if they're feeding medicated chick starter as they should until 8 weeks, and then grower until at least 16 weeks - more likely 20 weeks. If they're feeding grains, try to get them to feed less than 5% of the diet in grains. If they're feeding scratch grains, ask them to please just use that as a treat or they'll have more problems with paralyzed birds.

Of course, mycotoxins (the fungus) needs to be ruled out. I suspect the bird also had coccidiosis but that yogurt removed the worst symptom of it. It's possible it still could have it as it will make the birds so weak that they do this, but usually at that point they either die or have mucousy diarrhea or blood in the diarrhea. So I'm thinking at least treat for nutritional deficiency as it harms nothing but could help greatly no matter what the situation (unless it's Marek's).

If the bird doesn't respond at all in a week, I'd suspect Marek's highly.