Chickens having trouble walking

[little_bear]

Hello friends!

About a week ago, one of my one year-old rescue girls started walking strangely: kind of rocking back and forth, and not being able to straighten out her legs - like a drunk chicken. I was worried about nutritional deficiencies so gave her vitamin water, boiled egg, etc. Did not improve, but she has had an appetite and other than her stagger, seems fine. I am not sure of her vaccination status. Today, she is a bit worse, not coming out for treats.

And then when I fed them, my Rhode (5 years old, vaccinated for Marek's) can hardly stand up - using her wings for balance and almost rolling over completely while trying to eat scratch. I picked her up and she seems fine - no scaly leg mites, no infestation of mites or lice, but she can hardly walk. These cases definitely seem neurological... they haven't gotten into any rotting food, poison etc. Is this Marek's? Or can I try something else?

Thank you all in advance <3

 

[StinkyAcres]

What vitamins were given?

 

[Eggcessive]

What are they eating? Are they on a balanced layer or all flock feed as the majority of what they eat? I would offer her 1/4-1/2 tablet daily of human super B complex vitamins for a few weeks. Those can be crushed and added to a bit of scrambled egg daily for each chicken.

 

[little_bear]

Thank you for your reply! They are eating 16% organic layer pellets, fresh fruit and veg for the occasional treat and a handful of BOSS and meal worms for scratching around (and an acre of free range). I fed water soluble chicken Poul-vite. I will try the B complex - it just seems odd that two separate hens have come down with similar symptoms?

 

[Eggcessive]

If they are rescues, it can be hard to know how their diet was previously. I would feed the layer feed primarily, since it is the minimum of protein they need with a balance of other nutrients. The more things you add, the less that the vitamins and minerals are in balance. Let us know if the B complex helps. Here is a good buy:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spring-V...MI8pyc4PPYjgMVjKhaBR3KVwPlEAQYASABEgKV5fD_BwE

 

[Cluckfactor5]

I’m wondering how your chickens are doing now after giving the supplements? A few years ago, one of my Olive Eggers presented with similar symptoms- unsteady, falling over, looking neurological. She was otherwise eating and drinking fine, laying eggs. I stumbled upon an article that suggested that it might be an amino acid deficiency. I gave her a blend of aminos and vitamins. After about three days of that- the balance problems were gone. Haven’t returned since.
I’m a relative chicken newbie and I am certainly learning a lot as I go. I hope your girls are doing better.

 

[Project Blue]

After reading your post, I'm wondering if you are dealing with a bad batch of feed. I had strange problems with turkey poults that were better fed than most. I reacted the same way you did, but a feathered out fairly big chick died and the rest were about to follow suit. People told me it was a protein shortage. Anyhow.... I bought a new small bag of game feed and continued with vegetables, mealworms, boiled egg yolks etc. Pretty rapidly the poults got better and grew out normally. Like you there was no sign of disease. They would spread their wings and kind of look weak and uncoordinated. I'm not sure how scrupulous the feed mills are, and I certainly don't won't want to lay blame, but not sure how to test animal feed that visually looks ok. I had the feeling my chicks were neurological poisoned somehow. Ergot?? I would be curious if your chicks start recovering after changing feeds. I tested my theory by buying a small bag/ different brand. My turkeys were in the garage. It also maybe the feed was exposed to high heat and humidity in my care. I had the bag outside in the garage without AC.