Cochin Hen With Injured Leg - What To Do ?

[RuffledFeathers]

I vote Marek's, too. I deal with it in my flock. Some chickens have symptoms and some don't, but it is VERY common. Look up Range paralysis or Marek's. Some birds will recover if fed and watered. I lose a hen every now and them. Some are young, some live to be older and develop tumors. They are happy and spoiled in a backyard flock, so I don't stress about it.
I did have lab testing done after one passed away to confirm the diagnosis, and now I know what to do for the birds when they get sick without guessing.

 

[mrszlopez]

okay. im thinking it may be the mareks thing too. it looks almost like she had a stroke. her wing is almost like dead to her side & her foot is rotated. I know only one rooster to a flock. they will be seperated accordingly when moved outside. Silky roo to his silkie hens, cochins with each other & so on.. but i reall ydont know what to do. i appreciate the help. do you think she will die ?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Do not move ANY of those birds outside with the rest of the flock.

The pullet is now exhibiting the classic symptoms of Marek's. The wing hanging down is another symptom.

 

[mrszlopez]

okay. is it contagous ?! how do i treat it &get rid of the problem ?

 

[mrszlopez]

please i dont know what to do. i have her in a room with my 30 baby chicks in the brooder. If this is as contagious as all the websites on google say it is than what will i have to do ? I dont know anything about this.. pelase someone lead me in the right direction. Im horrified that i might have to put all of my chicks to sleep.

 

[ajablu]

I don't think there is a treatment for mareks although I have heard some people say they had various degrees of success with homeopathic remedies. I know someone who had a mareks pullet that was handfed and held to drink for more than 3 months with no signs of recovery.
It was very sad for them and they eventually had to cull her. I guess you can give her supportive care and see if there is any improvement. If you think it is something other than mareks you could probably try an antibiotic.
If you do not have it in your flock you may want to cull her to avoid passing it to the others. It is very contagious. There is a vaccine for it.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Like ajablu said, there is supportive care (keeping food and water nearby) and the vaccine. Other than that...there is no treatment.

It is spread by a herpes virus and is spread through chicken dander, air contact, etc. It is very contagious and your males may have it as well. If they do not, they will at least be carriers if indeed your pullet has Marek's.

I would contact your local vet and if/when the pullet passes, allow him to do a necropsy on the bird to be certain. If he is not familiar with bird anatomy, ask the state vet. The sciatic nerve in the leg that is affected will be very swollen compared to the other leg.

 

[mrszlopez]

thank you to everyone. i spoke to two different vets & they said it does not sound like mareks to them. That it sounds more of a neurological thing. Apparently, it is good that shes eating & whatnot. but i guess i will just wait & see. hopefully it is neurological & she will live a healthy & happy life. I will not cull her. If needed, i would put her to sleep.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Marek's has neurological disorders within the disease.

Best to get another opinion hun...or you're not giving us the complete details???

 

[mrszlopez]

i definately am giving all of the complete details. im telling you what two different vets , from two different places said. i was told that they both thought that it was neurological. I asked "should i be worried about Merek's Disease" - they said of course no matter what the case, thats always a concern but from what they know, her symptoms are not of that of mereks. she looks like she had a stroke. she hops on one foot - eats, drinks & poops. But is not in any obvious pain. Shes the only one of ALL of my chickens showing any types of anything - what more detail would you like ?