Chicken Wheelchair Needed for Paralyzed Hen

[Eggcessive]

Check out post 177 for a video:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-ducks-together.1208896/page-18#post-22054844

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a 4 year old paralyzed hen and am looking for a chicken wheelchair. Her legs have been partially paralyzed for about 4 months but she is eating, drinking, and pooping normally...and otherwise in good spirits. She cannot sit or stand. Does anyone have a used chair to sell? Any advice on therapy for my hen? I don't think she had Marek's and suspect botulism. I rigged a t-shirt sling for her and she seems to like it, but I need something that is more durable.

I'm sorry about your hen

4months is a long time to be paralyzed. What do you think she may have ingested for this to be Botulism instead of Marek's disease? Botulism "usually" progresses and a bird dies - did you give her any flushes or did a vet give an antitoxin injection?

With Marek's, they do eat/drink well, a lot of times are in good spirits, etc. What type of treatment/supportive care have you administered?

As for a wheelchair, likely your best bet would be to take the time to build your own. You can probably easily find the materials to make it at your local hardware store. Here's a very recent thread where the OP built one for their duckling. You may be able to pm them for a more detailed material list for your build.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-ducks-together.1208896/page-18#post-22054844
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-ducks-together.1208896/page-18#post-22054798

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Good luck with your hen! I think a wheelchair would be great for her. Pvc should work and the wheels look like they are from those plastic roll around drawer sets that wally world sells,so they would be easy to get. Sew a seat and she's good to go! Best of luck to ya and your lucky hen.

You could get all the supplies at Home Depot. They have the PVC pipes and connectors and I have also seen the wheels there.

 

[hayley3]

I don't know much about other diseases that cause paralysis but I had a chicken that was paralyzed for 2 months from being trapped on her legs unable to move.
I had to move her around several times a day to keep her out of her own poo...she eventually walked on her own but it was a long 2 months. I could not believe she recovered.

 

[Awooten]

Thanks to everyone for your responses! Miss Matilda is spending New Year's Eve in the house under the Christmas tree. She has new digs...a sling that I rigged over a box that allows her to sit up and even try to stand. She's enjoying a buffet of fresh pumpkin, sage, parsley, and greens from the garden over a bed of cooked rice with vitamins and her normal organic chicken food. I plan to build her a little wheelchair when I have the time. For now, it's simply an old towel with cut outs for legs stretched over a cardboard box. The towel is attached to the sides of the box with heavy duty clips. She seems very happy that she can sit up!

 

[Awooten]

You could get all the supplies at Home Depot. They have the PVC pipes and connectors and I have also seen the wheels there.

Thanks! I do plan to make a wheelchair for her when I have the time.

 

[Awooten]

I'm sorry about your hen

4months is a long time to be paralyzed. What do you think she may have ingested for this to be Botulism instead of Marek's disease? Botulism "usually" progresses and a bird dies - did you give her any flushes or did a vet give an antitoxin injection?

With Marek's, they do eat/drink well, a lot of times are in good spirits, etc. What type of treatment/supportive care have you administered?

As for a wheelchair, likely your best bet would be to take the time to build your own. You can probably easily find the materials to make it at your local hardware store. Here's a very recent thread where the OP built one for their duckling. You may be able to pm them for a more detailed material list for your build.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-ducks-together.1208896/page-18#post-22054844
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-ducks-together.1208896/page-18#post-22054798

It could have been Marek's but I think she got into some molded apples. I plan to build a wheelchair for her when I have the time.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

When you do make a chair for her, we would love to see it!

 

[glassdragonfly]

She's a lucky girl to have you!