Chicken hurt leg

[Summer1]

Hello! I am concerned about my 2 yr old chicken named Kentucky. I found her yesterday in the chicken coop laying on the floor. She seems to have no control of her right leg and it sticks straight behind her. She does not get up at all but still adjusts herself using her wings. She doesn't still eat and drink when I give it to her. Is this a hip problem? What can I do? Vet doesn't treat chickens.
P.s. I am think it's her hip because it rained a lot yesterday and their run was muddy.

 

[Summer1]

*She DOES still eat and drink when I give it to her.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Have you checked for breaks or tenderness. Otherwise Mareks comes to mind with legs sticking out forward or backward and some paralysis. Also things like botulism can cause paralysis, but generally it includes the neck too.

 

[Summer1]

No breaks or tenderness. I read some on Mareks. But I really think it's just her hip. With Mareks, can you bend their leg/knee still? As I can bend hers without resistance. She just doesn't move it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you added any new birds to the flock in recent weeks or months that might be a carrier of Mareks, but not showing symptoms? Could she have been injured jumping off the roost? If you have a vet locally who could xray her leg and hip, you might get some answers. I would try to touch her toes and leg to see if she can bend, move, or curl them. Poultry vitamins or some vitamin B complex in the food or water would not hurt. With her condition, she may need some help getting to food and water. A chicken sling for part of the day at intervals may help to get her up and in front of droppings. Let us know how she is doing.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

No breaks or tenderness. I read some on Mareks. But I really think it's just her hip. With Mareks, can you bend their leg/knee still? As I can bend hers without resistance. She just doesn't move it.

You can move their limbs with Mareks, the bird cannot because internal tumors press on the nerves. Injuries stay the same or improve, but Mareks will only worsen. You should know in a few weeks.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

I'm thinking Mareks. I had a very long post with information, so I will try to find that. Let me get back to you!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Here is the information on Marek's I posted to another thread. Best wishes!

There are multiple types of Marek's Disease. I will go through each including symptoms. Then we can go from there.

The first form is the Cutaneous form or the skin form. This is when there are large, red feather follicles and white bumps on the skin. These will form brown, crusty scabs.

The next form the Neurological form. This is one of the most common. It's caused by lesions that affect the nervous system. The symptoms are: Temporary paralysis which can resolve itself spontaneously; Progressive paralysis in the wings and/or legs; The twisting of the neck (similar to wry neck, but not permanent); Respiratory problems; Darkened comb due to lack of oxygen; And diarrhea.

The third form is Ocular or eye. The symptoms are: Graying of the eye; Misshapen iris; Blindness; And a non-reactive pupil.

The last form is Visceral or internal. Its symptoms are weight loss and cancerous tumors on internal organs.

It's also quite likely that your chicken will stop laying eggs.

It's untreatable in most cases and usually, results in the death of the bird. If your chicken has Marek's, culling would be the best option. Even if she survives, she would be a carrier for life which would put your flock in danger. Not to mention the disease would stay in the soil for 7 years.


My best wishes for you and your chooks!

 

[Summer1]

Have you added any new birds to the flock in recent weeks or months that might be a carrier of Mareks, but not showing symptoms? Could she have been injured jumping off the roost? If you have a vet locally who could xray her leg and hip, you might get some answers. I would try to touch her toes and leg to see if she can bend, move, or curl them. Poultry vitamins or some vitamin B complex in the food or water would not hurt. With her condition, she may need some help getting to food and water. A chicken sling for part of the day at intervals may help to get her up and in front of droppings. Let us know how she is doing.

I think she might have hurt it jumping off the roost yesterday. It had rained all night and day. So their yard is muddy. I just checked and she can curl her toes. But she doesn't move the leg.

 

[Summer1]

Here is the information on Marek's I posted to another thread. Best wishes!

There are multiple types of Marek's Disease. I will go through each including symptoms. Then we can go from there.

The first form is the Cutaneous form or the skin form. This is when there are large, red feather follicles and white bumps on the skin. These will form brown, crusty scabs.

The next form the Neurological form. This is one of the most common. It's caused by lesions that affect the nervous system. The symptoms are: Temporary paralysis which can resolve itself spontaneously; Progressive paralysis in the wings and/or legs; The twisting of the neck (similar to wry neck, but not permanent); Respiratory problems; Darkened comb due to lack of oxygen; And diarrhea.

The third form is Ocular or eye. The symptoms are: Graying of the eye; Misshapen iris; Blindness; And a non-reactive pupil.

The last form is Visceral or internal. Its symptoms are weight loss and cancerous tumors on internal organs.

It's also quite likely that your chicken will stop laying eggs.

It's untreatable in most cases and usually, results in the death of the bird. If your chicken has Marek's, culling would be the best option. Even if she survives, she would be a carrier for life which would put your flock in danger. Not to mention the disease would stay in the soil for 7 years.


My best wishes for you and your chooks!

Thank you. She doesn't have a lot of those symptoms. I just checked her foot. She can curl her toes. But she still doesn't move her leg.