Chicken lacks balance, sits on heels with both legs forward

[El Federico]

Well, the title pretty much describes what needs to be described, but still...
Okay, so we have a flock of 11 chickens (4 females, 7 males). I put the males in two different pens (separated from the hens); pen A has the four dominant cocks, and pen B has the two lowest cocks and one injured cock. I noticed a while ago that one of the (uninjured) cocks in pen B is sitting in a peculiar manner: he's sitting on his heels, with his bum on the ground instead of his breast and he has both of his legs forward (very much like a baby bird of prey). He also can't stand up, being unable to maintain his balance; he keeps flopping down. When he stands, he has to lean forward, but even then, he falls down. Even when he sits, he stretches his neck to the front. Can anyone help me? Thanks

 

[Desert Rooster]

not sure but kind of sounds like Botulism to me, could he have ate moldy food or something?

 

[crtrlovr]

could also be Marek's. I lost several birds to it, and they all had those same symptoms. Not a single one of mine presented with the typical "road runner" (one foot forward, one foot back) stance that is common with Marek's. For your sake and theirs, I hope this is NOT what yours have... heartbreaking to deal with.

 

[Amanda4TCU]

I am going though something similar with my 8 month old cochin.
She cannot walk or stand right now.....only scoots backwards.
She also tips forward and has no balance.
I was told she was vaccinated againist Marek's...hopefully so.

I have also been told it could be a vitamin deficiancy.....and to try polvisol w/out iron.
Also electrolyte powder in their water is good....egg yolks, oatmeal and live yogurt.....
And if it is vitamins, it could take weeks to make well....

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

I would be wondering about Marek's -- even if it was vaccinated.

I came across a great page about Markek's. I can't find it "yet", but I've been looking for you. My understanding is that even if the chicks have been vaccinated, they can still get Marke's (which I believe is a live vaccine).

Meanwhile, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek's_disease

 

[white01]

I had this happen to a hen once, after doing some searching on here i found a thread about a vit b deficiency, let me see if i can find the thread...i fed her lots of green leafs and vit in water and kept her in the house, it took a while but she is still here and normal, and laying every day... search for vitamin B deficiency. everyone was saying Meraks, but it wasnt.. hope this helps

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

Quote:
For the sake of the rest of your flock, it would be worth taking her to the vet.

 

[crtrlovr]

Quote:
SO glad it turned out to be a vitamin issue with your hen!! At least that is treatable with a very good chance of complete recovery. That's what's so frustrating about some of these issues (like medical issues in humans) -- some symptoms "overlap" and it can be tricky to determine with certainty exactly what the problem is. I start with vitamins -- can't hurt, and may certainly help! Congrats on your hen's recovery.

 

[Amanda4TCU]

Quote:
~Thanks - - I am heading to the store in a few mintues to grab the polyvisol and the vit B complex. I am sure hoping that's what's going on! I have moved her into my house to keep her safe....

 

[Amanda4TCU]

Quote:
~Okay, thanks so much. I have been looking up everything I can find about Marek's. It's like she has the leg issues but I don't think she is actually "paralyzed" as they say with Marek's mainly because she can still scoot around on them. Also, I have read the chicken's eyes turn gray but her's are still bright yellow. And she is 8-10 months old...I am hoping she is too old to get it. Do you know if wild birds carry Marek's? She does hang out around their feeders a lot.