Chicken can’t stand up

[Dunwoody-Jen]

I’m at my wits end! My 24 week old barred rock gal has become completely immobile. Can’t walk, can’t stand, has one leg stretched out behind her and one to the front or side, can’t clean herself so I’m having to clean her butt everyday. Still eating, drinking, pooping. This started a month ago as a limp in her left leg. Took her to vet, no break maybe a sprain? She seemed to slowly improve but then 3 days ago stopped walking altogether. Not sure if muscles are atrophied? She looks so sad! Her tail has been down since the initial injury. Please help! I feel like she needs chicken pt!

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like Mareks disease. Are her toes curled under? Have you tried to make a chicken sling or chair to get her upright so she can reach food and water? Have you tried vitamin B complex, to give her extra riboflavin. Give 1/4 tablet daily. Here is some reading about Mareks disease and chicken slings:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext...Preventing Mareks Disease in Small Flocks.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

The avian vet I brought her to told me it wasn’t Mareks.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is good, but the best way to diagnose Mareks is with testing, usually during a necropsy after death. Most state poultry vets can do that. Sometimes an infection inside the body can put pressure on the sciatic nerves in the legs, and that can look like Mareks. I would just keep treating her by trying to get her to eat and drink, try B vitamins—not B12, but B complex, and give her supportive care. If she dies, get a necropsy so that you can get testing. Here is a list of state poultry vets if you want to speak with yours, and how to go about it:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[BrittChick15]

I’m at my wits end! My 24 week old barred rock gal has become completely immobile. Can’t walk, can’t stand, has one leg stretched out behind her and one to the front or side, can’t clean herself so I’m having to clean her butt everyday. Still eating, drinking, pooping. This started a month ago as a limp in her left leg. Took her to vet, no break maybe a sprain? She seemed to slowly improve but then 3 days ago stopped walking altogether. Not sure if muscles are atrophied? She looks so sad! Her tail has been down since the initial injury. Please help! I feel like she needs chicken pt!

How did this end up? Is she okay? I’m currently dealing with the exact same issue! It’s been 4-5 days that my girl won’t put any pressure on her one leg. She eat and drinks and poops but won’t stand on her one leg. I’m currently treating for coccidia as well let me know what you did and how this turned out

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

Bad news. When I brought her back to the vet, she determined that one of her legs no longer had any feeling and that she had lost a considerable amount of weight. In addition, her balance was completely gone. We made the difficult decision to put her to sleep.

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

I truly hope you have a better outcome.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m sorry you lost her.

 

[BrittChick15]

Bad news. When I brought her back to the vet, she determined that one of her legs no longer had any feeling and that she had lost a considerable amount of weight. In addition, her balance was completely gone. We made the difficult decision to put her to sleep.

I’m so sorry for you’re loss!!! I’m taking her to the vet tomorrow and we will see what they say! It’ll be a week tomorrow that she isn’t walking it’s not looking good so far