Chicken can’t walk...

[DixieChickPa]

Approx 6 mos old Wyandette. This probably started a couple weeks ago but i didn’t notice that she had a bum leg until i saw her walking one day. First thing i noticed was she wasn’t moving around as much as my other chicks, being kind of hunkered down. I posted on a local site and she has been separated from the other chickens on Sunday), being given chick starter that’s medicated, giving her Poly-Vi-Sol couple drops twice day, and giving her epsom salt baths daily. Sadly, this morning i don’t think she can walk at all. We gave her a bath and afterwards we put her on the ground and she wouldn’t move. We put her back in the big metal dog crate and she hasn’t moved. My heart is breaking. Any suggestions? Starting to think Mareks... can’t figure out how to add video

 

[DixieChickPa]

Also, she’s eating and i think drinking, but no obvious poop after 2 days in cage. Just looked at her vent and it looks fine

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she is not doing well.

Can you post some photos of her poop and of her?
6months old - has she ever laid any eggs?
Is her crop emptying - how does it feel (hard, soft, squishy, sour breath, etc.)?
What type of food/treats do you feed?

Not having noticeable poops for 2days and she's still eating/drinking is concerning. Can you place a puppy pad or paper towels in her cage to see if you can catch some of her droppings?

With her age, Marek's is a concern. There is no cure or real treatment, except to give supportive care. But we need to try to determine if something else is the cause of not being able to walk. If she has not laid any eggs, then feel her abdomen for any signs of bloat/swelling, feeling of fluid or masses. It may be that she is having a reproductive problem. The crop needs to be checked since she is eating/drinking, but seems to not be pooping much. While this won't necessarily cause her not to walk, a sour, slow or impacted crop can be a symptom of an underlying condition.

If you have a vet that can perform a fecal float that would be good too.

Do your best to keep her hydrated, warm and comfortable.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Approx 6 mos old Wyandette. This probably started a couple weeks ago but i didn’t notice that she had a bum leg until i saw her walking one day. First thing i noticed was she wasn’t moving around as much as my other chicks, being kind of hunkered down. I posted on a local site and she has been separated from the other chickens on Sunday), being given chick starter that’s medicated, giving her Poly-Vi-Sol couple drops twice day, and giving her epsom salt baths daily. Sadly, this morning i don’t think she can walk at all. We gave her a bath and afterwards we put her on the ground and she wouldn’t move. We put her back in the big metal dog crate and she hasn’t moved. My heart is breaking. Any suggestions? Starting to think Mareks... can’t figure out how to add video

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry you are having trouble.

It does sound like Marek's to me.

But in addition why are you giving her medicated feed. Do you suspect cocci? Did you know that the Amprol in medicated feeds works to starve out cocci by blocking thiamine, a B vitamin. But feeding poly vi sol that has B's in it is defeating the purpose...

The epsom salt baths are probably just stressing her out. If she isn't egg bound I would stop that.

I agree with everything Wyorp said as well. Hydration is key.

 

[DixieChickPa]

I gave her medicated food as i was told on another site to do so. I have stopped that and went back to the original layer feed i was giving her. She also eats dried meal worms and some grains. After further inspecting her this am it looked like she has a prolapsed vent so i went thru the process i read abt online and she seemed to do a little better. Not sure what’s going on. Thinking Marek’s. Sharing pic of poop. I know it’s not supposed to be that light. She has pooped since and it’s a little darker. Crop and belly feel fine. And she LOVED the soak! Fell asleep during it

 

[DixieChickPa]

She hasn’t moved from her previous location in abt 4h. No longer eating or drinking. Gave her fluids awhile ago with some pedialyte. Don’t think we’re going to have a good outcome, especially if not eating and drinking and crop feels fine.

 

[DixieChickPa]

I'm sorry she is not doing well.

Can you post some photos of her poop and of her?
6months old - has she ever laid any eggs?
Is her crop emptying - how does it feel (hard, soft, squishy, sour breath, etc.)?
What type of food/treats do you feed?

Not having noticeable poops for 2days and she's still eating/drinking is concerning. Can you place a puppy pad or paper towels in her cage to see if you can catch some of her droppings?

With her age, Marek's is a concern. There is no cure or real treatment, except to give supportive care. But we need to try to determine if something else is the cause of not being able to walk. If she has not laid any eggs, then feel her abdomen for any signs of bloat/swelling, feeling of fluid or masses. It may be that she is having a reproductive problem. The crop needs to be checked since she is eating/drinking, but seems to not be pooping much. While this won't necessarily cause her not to walk, a sour, slow or impacted crop can be a symptom of an underlying condition.

If you have a vet that can perform a fecal float that would be good too.

Do your best to keep her hydrated, warm and comfortable.

She doesn’t seem to be in distress. Not too many aviary vets around area, but lots of BYC ppl. I’m pretty much convinced it’s Marek’s since i addressed the prolapsed vent and she’s finally pooping but can’t walk. She has stopped eating and drinking now. See poop pic in link

 

[rebrascora]

I'm wondering if she is trying to lay a soft shelled egg. Has she started laying yet? Soft shelled/shell less eggs are quite common in young pullets and can be really difficult for them to expel. It would explain the prolapse and the weakness. If she is comfortable being bathed, I would be inclined to continue that and lubricate around and inside her vent whilst she is soaking.... it may help her to pass more poop even if it is not a shell less egg and if she hasn't pooped properly for 2 days (that you know of) she will get some relief if she can evacuate some more waste.
A shell less egg could be putting pressure on her sciatic nerve, so not necessarily Marek's..... I am usually the first to suggest Marek's Disease because it is so common, but I've not seen it cause a prolapse before and she is the right age for laying shell less eggs. Of course it might be a combination of both, trying to lay a soft shelled egg has caused stress that has triggered a Marek's attack... The disease has so many different and varied symptoms that may or may not present it is always hard to predict of diagnose it unless it show some of the more classic signs.
Good luck with her. I would be inclined to give her a half a crushed tums tablet just in case and some vitamin supplement/electrolyte drops directly into her mouth.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm wondering if she is trying to lay a soft shelled egg. Has she started laying yet? Soft shelled/shell less eggs are quite common in young pullets and can be really difficult for them to expel. It would explain the prolapse and the weakness. If she is comfortable being bathed, I would be inclined to continue that and lubricate around and inside her vent whilst she is soaking.... it may help her to pass more poop even if it is not a shell less egg and if she hasn't pooped properly for 2 days (that you know of) she will get some relief if she can evacuate some more waste.
A shell less egg could be putting pressure on her sciatic nerve, so not necessarily Marek's..... I am usually the first to suggest Marek's Disease because it is so common, but I've not seen it cause a prolapse before and she is the right age for laying shell less eggs. Of course it might be a combination of both, trying to lay a soft shelled egg has caused stress that has triggered a Marek's attack... The disease has so many different and varied symptoms that may or may not present it is always hard to predict of diagnose it unless it show some of the more classic signs.
Good luck with her. I would be inclined to give her a half a crushed tums tablet just in case and some vitamin supplement/electrolyte drops directly into her mouth.

Agreed

 

[DixieChickPa]

I'm wondering if she is trying to lay a soft shelled egg. Has she started laying yet? Soft shelled/shell less eggs are quite common in young pullets and can be really difficult for them to expel. It would explain the prolapse and the weakness. If she is comfortable being bathed, I would be inclined to continue that and lubricate around and inside her vent whilst she is soaking.... it may help her to pass more poop even if it is not a shell less egg and if she hasn't pooped properly for 2 days (that you know of) she will get some relief if she can evacuate some more waste.
A shell less egg could be putting pressure on her sciatic nerve, so not necessarily Marek's..... I am usually the first to suggest Marek's Disease because it is so common, but I've not seen it cause a prolapse before and she is the right age for laying shell less eggs. Of course it might be a combination of both, trying to lay a soft shelled egg has caused stress that has triggered a Marek's attack... The disease has so many different and varied symptoms that may or may not present it is always hard to predict of diagnose it unless it show some of the more classic signs.
Good luck with her. I would be inclined to give her a half a crushed tums tablet just in case and some vitamin supplement/electrolyte drops directly into her mouth.

Thank you!! Giving her vitamins and electrolyte solution. How would i give her Tums? Do i crush them up and put in water or food?