Chicken can't walk/use its legs and panting

[emmawhelan]

On Thursday I noticed a problem with my chicken. She couldn't stand and was finding it difficult to hold her head up/open her eyes. She was very weak so I brought her inside. By the end of thursday she was much brighter, drinking and eating quite happily.

She's still like this however she still has no mobility. She can support her weight and shuffle a little but can't walk. One foot looks fairly normal whereas the other is curled.

I've been feeding her usual pellets, water, actimel ( a probiotic yoghurt drink with vitamins). Her crop was entirely full of water on thursday which led me to believe she had overheated. It's now full of food and she's in a cool place.

Last night she started panting and has carried on today. It's quite humid maybe around 25degrees. I'm at a loss for what to do next really.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd greatly appreciate it!

Also she hasn't been wormed. I'm a new chicken owner - I've had them about 2 months. She does eat quite a lot of worms and insects (i live in the UK so nothing tropical).

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My first thought was heat but 25 isn't that warm for a chicken. They start panting at about 30 C. and start suffering at 35.

Is she laying?

Tapeworm is a possibility.

I lost a Welsummer to heat a couple summers ago but it stayed over 40 for many days. I brought her inside and she was ok after a day but I shouldn't have put her back outside the next day. I should have kept her in a few more days to fully recover.

 

[emmawhelan]

My first thought was heat but 25 isn't that warm for a chicken. They start panting at about 30 C. and start suffering at 35.

Is she laying?

Tapeworm is a possibility.

I lost a Welsummer to heat a couple summers ago but it stayed over 40 for many days. I brought her inside and she was ok after a day but I shouldn't have put her back outside the next day. I should have kept her in a few more days to fully recover.

She laid on Thursday. My first thought before she laid was that she was egg bound - the egg was smashed but I think this may have been due to her lack of mobility. She was laying fine before that, about 5 eggs a week.
I might try her with some worming tablets.

 

[Eggcessive]

She sounds like she could possibly have a vitamin deficiency (riboflavin,) but she may be showing symptoms of Mareks disease with the curled toes, leg weakness, and difficulty holding up her head. Was she vaccinated? Make sure that your vitamin contains riboflavin. Here are some links to read about riboflavin deficiency and Mareks, which I hope isn't the problem:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/502
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[emmawhelan]

Thanks so much for all the links - looking at them I don't think its Mareks. She's completely back to normal now apart from one claw which is curled. However when I support her wight she uncurls it and looks normal. I've brought a perch into the house and I've been putting her on it for short periods at a time.

Hopefully she's just hurt her leg and I can help her re-strengthen it!

Thanks for all the help and advice!