Chicken stumbles

[GodofPecking]

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)

a) chick, full crop, looked healthy except couldn't get up, died after a week ?
b) year or two old maran hen. normal weight
c) year or two old maran hen. normal weight

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

Cannot get to their feet from sitting position, it takes them much effort, they stumble and crawl until on their feet and then they can walk, but will stumble and fall occasionally. Hunger and thirst, eating and drinking normal. I would carry chick to water or food sometimes, it was grateful, would come back later and it has moved about by itself somehow.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

chick dead after a week or so, living hens, a few days up to maybe a week or two

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?

Dozens of healthy birds around them,

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.

no

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.

seem normal,

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.

unknown as yet

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

none

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?

i have some sheep dip stuff that works for chook parasites, might try it, vet too expensive

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

busy chicken coop, free range

 

[Wyorp Rock]

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

Cannot get to their feet from sitting position, it takes them much effort, they stumble and crawl until on their feet and then they can walk, but will stumble and fall occasionally. Hunger and thirst, eating and drinking normal. I would carry chick to water or food sometimes, it was grateful, would come back later and it has moved about by itself somehow.

Is this the chicks you are talking about or the older hens?
How many chicks and how old?

It's hard to know what's going on, with chickens it could be a lot of things. Keep them eating age appropriate feed and see that they are drinking. Offer poultry vitamins that contain B2 and E.
Stumbling can be from genetics or developmental disorders to disease like Marek's. Getting vet care is always advisable so you can have some testing to help you identify the problem.
Here's more info on Marek's http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[GodofPecking]

The two hens are getting worse and Ive put them in their own enclosure away from roosters who take advantage.

The dead chick is still dead.

The chickens are freerange, they get wheat, scraps and what they can find roaming several blocks. I wouldnt know where to start counseling them on what is and is not age appropriate feed because I have no idea myself how it applies to free-range chooks.

Classical Marek's (nerolymphatosis), also known separately as neural and visceral forms. This form of Marek's is generally thought to be the most common. Sadly, it is also often the most deadly:

• Paralysis of one or both legs, and sometimes wings. This can include staggering, increasing loss of motor control in one or both legs, inability to stand or balance. This may present sometimes as one leg forward and one leg back (“the splits”) or simple paralysis of the legs. This is caused by lesions to the sciatic nerve, that controls the legs movement.

looks like they'll die, shame as they are very very good birds specially bred. I guess that is how it goes.

 

[GodofPecking]

I think I will give them supermarket vitamins in their water.

 

[GodofPecking]

Three adult hens were separated, they seem to be standing again and one was let out. a chick that belonged to one of them managed to get into the cage, but one of the not mum hens must have pecked it to death. not the same chick as mentioned previously.