Broken Back???

[Peaceful Chick]

Hello, I need help! Two days ago I came home to find one of my girls laying in the back yard. She looked like she was basking in the sun. Her sisters came running over to me but she continued to sit like she was roosting. Eventually she came over but couldn't walk. She was pulling herself over with her wings and can't move either leg. When I picked her up, she was able to flap her wings but her tail is very low and no movement in her legs. She was definitely hungry as she still is. I put her in the coop but she hasn't moved at all. She won't even talk which is unlike her since she's a very friendly chatter box. I've only had hens for a little over a year and am just not sure what to do. She is still drinking, eating and laying. I'm attaching pictures if anyone can help our little Midnight out. There are no bones protruding that I can see. There was no blood and no feathers to be found.

 

[Eggcessive]

Place her in a basket or crate close to food and water. A vitamin B complex tablet or poultry vitamins can be added to the water or feed daily in case of a deficiency. An injury may well be the problem, but some other possibilities would be temporary paralysis from egg binding, Mareks disease, botulism from eating a dead animal or rotted vegetaion, lead poisoning, or moldy feed poisoning. Was she vaccinated for Mareks, and have you added any new birds to the flock recently? Here is a good article about Mareks disease that includes other things that can look like Mareks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[Peaceful Chick]

Thank you Eggcessive for your insight, I really appreciate it. I will pick up a vitamin at Tractor Supply today. I put her in a bird cage (it's about 18"x12") and placed her inside the coop because her sisters were constantly calling for her. I have a water and food bowl in her cage as well. I don't think its egg binding, she's the only girl we have that lays like clockwork, even now she is still laying. As for eating someting rotten, it's possible but all our girls are spoiled and very picky. I did not vaccinate her or any of them from Mareks, I didn't know I needed to. We got this girls from our children's school as day old chiks. We have had them since May 12, 2015 with no problems at all. She is our Alpha and sweetest girl ever. We only have 3 girls and there are NO chickens in our neighborhood. We had to fight the township to keep our girls. We haven't introduced any new girls nor have we changed their diets. I'll read the article and keep you posted. Thank you again for your help.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think that you should have seen symptoms of Mareks when she was younger, since the common age for symptoms to show up is under 25 weeks old, or 3 weeks after exposure by a new bird. Check your feed since it can unexpectedly become moldy and turn blue or green during hot humid summer weather. Dehydration can sometimes cause lameness and overall weakness. I would say that an injury may be likely, but you may want to explore the use of a chicken sling for her recovery.

 

[Peaceful Chick]

Thank you again Eggcessive for all your insight, I really appreciate it.
I did not notice anything unusual about their food. For the most part they are free-range chickens. They do prefer eating bugs and grass over eating their pellets. A friend of mine who has chickens tell me how their chickens eat everything including dinner scraps. My girls are so picky they turn their beaks up at dinner scraps! I don't believe their diet has changed at all in the past year.
I took your advice on building a sling, I think it's an excellent idea. I adapted the diagram you sent to the birdcage we are keeping her in. I flipped the cage upside down for easier access. She seems to be happy having her feet up off the ground. Her sisters are very inquisitive and are trying to steal her food through the Birdcage!
Her vent is a little red and I was wondering what your thoughts on putting a little bit of Aquaphor on it were. It just looks a little ouchie and I don't want her to be uncomfortable.
I will keep you up-to-date as to her recovery. We are hoping that she recovers quickly and can get back out into the yard.

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[Peaceful Chick]

Here's a picture of her crazy sisters!

 

[perke]

I know I'm bringing back a super old thread. But, I think something along the lines of this is wrong with my girl. She's been basically paralyzed from the bottom for almost a week. I went and got her some poly vi sol without iron and have been giving that to her. You can tell she's getting stronger and she's still eating like a horse. She drinks water just fine and eats treats fine as well. Other than not being able to move from the bottom she seems just like a normal bird. She has gotten some strength back and is trying to move her legs more. She's able to scoot herself to a side and flop over if she's pooped or wants something to eat and drink. Which is a huge step! Do you think one of these slings could help her? Or am I completely wrong and she has something like Mareks?

 

[EggeAcres]

I’m dealing with a similar situation. One of my stops stepped on my polish. She is only about 4 months old. I feel like I’m dealing with a broken back. We are over 48hrs in and I made her a sling today to hang out in for awhile. Fingers crossed she makes it. I’m giving electrolytes every 2 hrs and watching her like a hawk. Legs are able to move and she wants to walk though she just almost falls backwards when trying to do so

 

[ChickenFriends234]

You might have to send it to the vet.

 

[EggeAcres]

You might have to send it to the vet.

mom weighing that this coming week. She is still holding on.No mouth breathing at night or in the morning. Only through the day so that’s my biggest concern besides the not able to have balance