Chicken Unable to Balance?

[HappyTrailsKal]

I work at animal rescue and we currently have a chicken who suddenly is having issues standing and supporting his weight without falling over. We have very few poultry vets nearby and the one we do use diagnoses everything as neurological and prescribes antibiotics which in the past has never helped, we always inevitably put them down because nothing helps. He is old, he was used for cockfighting and I would estimate he is about 6 years old. We've given him save-a-chick and have tried supplementing vitamins in case it's something nutritional. Any advice?

 

[Abriana]

Mareks? Or a vitamin deficiency possibly. I would read a BYC article called the big bad mareks.

 

[birdofhermes]

I work at animal rescue and we currently have a chicken who suddenly is having issues standing and supporting his weight without falling over. We have very few poultry vets nearby and the one we do use diagnoses everything as neurological and prescribes antibiotics which in the past has never helped, we always inevitably put them down because nothing helps. He is old, he was used for cockfighting and I would estimate he is about 6 years old. We've given him save-a-chick and have tried supplementing vitamins in case it's something nutritional. Any advice?

how long has he been sick? my one got sick when he got into some old rotten meat pie and he had similar symptoms. I put a bit of molasses and vitamin stuff in his water then he woke up in the night and took 5 dumps in a row. 3 months later he is still perfect

 

[HappyTrailsKal]

He developed symptoms this morning, nothing changed with his diet. They all get the same feed.

 

[birdofhermes]

He developed symptoms this morning, nothing changed with his diet. They all get the same feed.

when my guy got sick it looked really bad and I was ready to put him out of his misery because everything I read online pointed to something bad. that would have been a huge mistake so I'd try to wait it out at least a couple days

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be that you have Mareks disease in your flock. That could be why your vet keeps suggesting neurological problems. Dehydration and weakness from not eating, or an injury can look similar to Mareks. If he seems paralyzed in one or more legs or wings, or has a twisted neck, those are symptoms of Mareks. Coccidiosis, which can affect very young birds or older birds with immunity problems can cause weakness and lameness, diarrhea (sometimes with blood,) and sleepiness. Corid treats that in the water for 5 days.

 

[HappyTrailsKal]

It could be that you have Mareks disease in your flock. That could be why your vet keeps suggesting neurological problems. Dehydration and weakness from not eating, or an injury can look similar to Mareks. If he seems paralyzed in one or more legs or wings, or has a twisted neck, those are symptoms of Mareks. Coccidiosis, which can affect very young birds or older birds with immunity problems can cause weakness and lameness, diarrhea (sometimes with blood,) and sleepiness. Corid treats that in the water for 5 days.

Is there any downside to treating for coccidiosis as a preventative if he does have it?

 

[junebuggena]

Is there any downside to treating for coccidiosis as a preventative if he does have it?

There is no harm in treating for coccidiosis, but the symptoms don't fit with coccidiosis. Coccidiosis doesn't present with balance issues.
What do you feed? Can you post a photo of the ill bird?

 

[casportpony]

There is no harm in treating for coccidiosis, but the symptoms don't fit with coccidiosis. Coccidiosis doesn't present with balance issues.
What do you feed? Can you post a photo of the ill bird?

A friend of mine had a peahen with coccidiosis (confirmed by fecal float) that did present with balance problems, and I once had a peahen do the same, though I didn't have a fecal done, so I have no idea what caused it in mine. Both of our hens made complete recoveries with intensive supportive care.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Coccidiosis doesn't present with balance issues.

I must respectfully disagree with the statement that Coccidiosis does not present with balance issues. Case in point take a look at this chick with Coccidiosis - behavior starts at 1:55 mark - I can see why if we saw this type of behavior/symptoms, we might automatically think Marek's or possibly a neurological problem -since both Coccidiosis and Marek's are opportunist and can affect a chicken at any age, getting a fecal float would be a good idea to see if there is an overload. If a fecal test is not available, then it wouldn't hurt to treat with Corid to see if there is improvement.