Chicken falling over any ideas?

[Boergoatlover]

My 1 year old Silkie was absolutely fine this morning she was up in the nest box and an hour later when I went to check her she was down but completely unable to stand, it’s like she can’t balance herself she’s wobbling forwards and backwards and falls flat on her face when she tries to walk forward.

My first fear is mareks, she’s on 3 occasions been staring up at the sky and walks funny for a couple of seconds and then snaps out of it this has happened only 3 times in the last 6 months.

I rushed her to the vet who was also stumped and was not sure if it was neurological or a trauma, we noticed that her left outside toe literally looks like it’s upside down, the nail is facing the wrong way and I wondered if she had dislocated it. Could this cause her to be wobbly and unable to stand ? She was extremely stressed at the vets so she’s got another appointment friday for X-ray and further tests, in the meantime she has loxicom twice a day. Is there anything I can do to help the foot such as splinting ?

I’m hoping it is just a fracture and nothing sinister but the vet is unsure if the toe alone would cause her to be so unsteady on her feet.

Thank you!

 

[nuthatched]

Hi there, It's wry neck (aka stargazing), a vitamin deficiency. Silkies are prone to it.
Give 400 i.u vitamin E gel cap and about one third of a people b complex tablet every day for a few weeks.
No need for further vet appointments. :]
No offense, but I suggest you find a different vet. Wry neck is a common ailment that's easy to spot and treat, so either the vet isn't familiar enough with chicken issues or they're soaking you. The toe is also normal for silkies, they have wonky feet. Most chickens have a wonky toe. She doesn't need meloxicam. :]

 

[Boergoatlover]

Hi there, It's wry neck (aka stargazing), a vitamin deficiency. Silkies are prone to it.
Give 400 i.u vitamin E gel cap and about one third of a people b complex tablet every day for a few weeks.
No need for further vet appointments. :]
No offense, but I suggest you find a different vet. Wry neck is a common ailment that's easy to spot and treat, so either the vet isn't familiar enough with chicken issues or they're soaking you. The toe is also normal for silkies, they have wonky feet. Most chickens have a wonky toe. She doesn't need meloxicam. :]

Thank you so much for your advice, do I just crush the vitamins and syringe it in how quickly should she improve ? I’ve been so so worried

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you so much for your advice, do I just crush the vitamins and syringe it in how quickly should she improve ? I’ve been so so worried

Nope, just pull down on her wattles and pop it into her mouth. :] it depends how bad it is but it can be a few days to a few weeks to improve.

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Vitamin E works best with selenium so I also give a little scrambled egg with vitamin e treatment.

Your silkie is aging out of the Marek's "danger zone" so hopefully a vitamin deficiency is all it is and your girl gets back to her usual self soon.