Chicken Needs Help - Updated!

[BeccaNoble]

Hello! So my two month old chicken hasn't moved in about two weeks. Eating is very difficult for her as she can't stand, she can't even really sit. She has one leg splayed out behind her and the other splayed out in front. I have to hold her food dish under her beak so she can eat, but she still has to throw her head and body around so she can swallow, she falls asleep mid bite... I'm just heartbroken. I don't have the heart to put her down, I was hoping it was a broken leg and it would heal, but she's not doing any better. She's also so much smaller than her sisters, just a tiny little girl... Is any of this ringing any bells for anyone? Any help would be very much appreciated!

 

[Pyxis]

That leg thing you are describing is the classic Marek's pose. Unfortunately, if it is Marek's, I don't think there's much you can do You can ask in this thread and get opinions: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741957/not-an-emergency-mareks-in-the-flock/3410#post_15683046

 

[BeccaNoble]

That leg thing you are describing is the classic Marek's pose. Unfortunately, if it is Marek's, I don't think there's much you can do You can ask in this thread and get opinions: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741957/not-an-emergency-mareks-in-the-flock/3410#post_15683046

Thank you, my husband and I have been reading up on it and it definitely sounds like the case. We just moved into this house and it came with one sick chicken, bad case of thrush and by the sounds of it also Marek's disease. But I nursed her back to health! She's not the picture of health, still uses her wings to balance her sometimes, but she's up and walking and so much better. But if it is Marek's it must have come from her. Have you heard of any birds surviving? I'll post in that thread next as well, thank you so much.

 

[Eggcessive]

Start some poultry vitamins in her water or food today in case of a vitamin deficiency, but it does sound like Mareks may be a possibility. You will find a lot of information in these links below:
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/#/disease/Marek's_Disease

 

[BeccaNoble]

Start some poultry vitamins in her water or food today in case of a vitamin deficiency, but it does sound like Mareks may be a possibility. You will find a lot of information in these links below:
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/#/disease/Marek's_Disease

Thanks so much!