Chicken unable to stand, not eating/drinking, lethargic...

[awakenpeace]

Greetings. I've been scouring the web trying to find out what might be going on with my sick chicken but I'm starting to drown in all the information. Hen can't walk or hold itself up, isn't eating/drinking, has a slight wheeze, cranking its head around a lot., and generally overly docile.

I've felt the crop and it doesn't feel bulged or obstructed.
Eyes are not getting glossy/white and appear responsive.
No mucus forming around airway.
Vent didn't appear obstructed.

Here's the requested info:

1) Not positive on type, may be a Blue Orphington. Age ~ 5-6 months. Lighter/Thinner than the other same-aged chicken I got at same the time as her
2) Found bird outside of coop one morning one its side in dirt. Was unable to pick itself up and wasn't responding/protesting to me. Legs were not working. Eyes were closed and chicken was very lethargic. Have had bird separated for three days now and she isn't eating or drinking on her own as far as I can tell. Laying in contorted positions with it's legs and neck. Legs move but very little and typically remain straight. She is opening her beak in an interval that seems she is breathing that way
3) Exhibiting behavior about 72 hours
4) None of the other 10 birds are exhibiting concerning behavior
5) No known bleeding, injury, or trauma
6) Uncertain about any potential cause
7) Bird was eating grower crumbles and drinking water with Apple Cider Vinegar before losing appetite
8) Poop is a little runny and slightly green
9) On day one I started feeding her yogurt with flax seed and helping her drink via a pipette. Also giving a bit of flax oil daily and rubbing crop. Day two continued treatments and that evening purchased VetRX and vitamins (Poly-Vi-Sol). Administered 1ml of VetRX orally as well as 1ml of vitamin supplement that night and this morning.
10) Would like to self-treat as 'naturally' as is fit for the situation
11) See picture
12) Straw and dried grass cuttings

I'm hoping this is just a vitamin deficiency. She seems to be getting slightly better as far as having a bit more energy and being more responsive but her lack of mobility is very concerning. if it is respiratory then I'm hoping the VetRX takes care of that (doesn't appear to treat Gapeworm though). A friend suggested that she likely needs her crop drained but I'm not feeling any build-up and don't want to stress her out if that isn't the problem (also read their stomach acids can cause issues). The contorting of the neck that I am seeing with examples of Newcastle seem much more extreme than my hen is exhibiting but the danger it poses to the others not to mention my family frightens me.

Thank you all very much in advance for your advice! These forums have been very helpful but I wasn't able to find other posts with the same set of symptoms.

 

[azygous]

Have you looked at her eyes and feather follicles? This has the look of Marek's.
Symptoms of Marek's Disease in Birds

• Vision impairment, with a change in the eye colour showing a grey iris or irregular pupil
• Skin change in texture around the feather follicles, often appearing raised and bumpy
• Lameness and leg weakness without any visible signs of swelling or heat within the limb
• Partial or progressive paralysis of the limbs is a typical symptom of Marek’s disease
• The paralysis can also affect your chicken’s neck or wings causing your bird distress
• Loss of weight due to the inability to reach the water and their feed
• Difficulty in breathing
• Diarrhea

 

[awakenpeace]

Thank you for such a prompt response! I don't have a lot of chicken experience so I'm not certain. Some of the symptoms do seem to fit but, from what I understand, the characteristic change in the eye is not something I'm observing. Her pupil and iris seem normal, just not opening them a lot. I hadn't checked her skin for texture changes (thank you!) but I just did and it appeared normal and smooth.

 

[Eggcessive]

Mareks has 4 types of symptoms that affect the nerves, the skin, the eyes, and theinternal organs. Birds may exhibit one type of symptoms, but not all 4 . I am sorry that Mareks might be a possible diagnosis. Sometimes other things may cause the lameness that looks like Mareks, so good to explore other possible causes. I usually will recommend a multivitamin for poultry, just in case of a deficiency. If you lose your chicken, it might be helpful to refrigerate his body and send it to your state poultry lab for a necropsy. Here is a good link to read about Mareks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[awakenpeace]

@Eggscessive Thank you for the link. I'll review and keep Mareks as a heightened possibility.

If it is the case of a deficiency, how long until you would expect normality to return? i started her on multivitamins yesterday evening. Administering 1-2ml per day of Enfamil Ply-Vi-Sol.

 

[awakenpeace]

Giving this thread a bump. Uncertain how long I should go before a mercy kill (probably will this evening). Any sort of improvement I initially saw has plateaued. I began adding to the treatment regimen some diatomaceous earth in case it is worms.

If it is a vitamin deficiency, what would a typical time frame look like for recovery?
Is this pretty clearly a case of Marek's or are there other, treatable possibilities?

 

[azygous]

I've been dealing with sickness in my flock lately, and I had to euthanize one patient. My criteria for when to end treatment and euthanize is when, after being treated for a week, my patient declines instead of improving.

 

[awakenpeace]

Thanks, azygous, that is helpful advice. Sorry to hear of your own troubles.

 

[Eggcessive]

It can take several days to a week to see improvement in a vitamin deficiency. If you decide to put him down or he dies, I would try to get a necropsy performed by your state poultry lab to get a diagnosis. Here is a link with contact info:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[rebrascora]

It looks very much like Marek's to me and she is of an age to get it. I have had some recover from a Marek's attack after months of treatment and I give supportive care as long as they are bright eyed and keen to eat. My trigger for euthanizing Marek's birds is when they lose interest in food as I have not had one come back from that.
If you decide to continue with your bird then making her a sling might be helpful to hold her in a more comfortable and upright position. They can be made simply from everyday items....

It is important to adjust the height so that the bird can feel the floor as otherwise they can panic and struggle. Pots can be clipped to the front of the box for food and water and a third hole cut under her vent for poop to drop through.

Good luck with her. There are no right and wrong answers for when to euthanize. You are the person who loves and cares for the bird, so only you can know when to end it for them. All we can do is tell you how we decide.

Good luck.