Cockeral can't walk

[wleigh1021]

Last Sunday I found one of my cockerals in the coop laying down. When I got him to walk he was having a really hard time. He wasn't limping so much as stomping around like he had heavy boots on. I separated him and have since noticed it's his left leg that seems to have gone lame. His toes aren't curled like in a fist but he never flexes them. I can straighten the leg even though it's stiff and do bicycle exercises every night. He can move the leg on his own but doesn't try to walk really anymore. I thought he had a vitamin deficiency from being medicated with corrid. I gave supplements in between corrid doses (followed instructions from chicken chick) but it's pelleted in feed instead of being mixed into water so I figured he didn't get his fair share. I started out giving him polyvisol 3x a day then after a few days gave him a b complex shot 2x daily and also nutri drench in his water. It has been 10 days with no improvement. It doesn't appear to be mareks as he shows no other signs and leg doesn't stick out. It is possible that he could've hurt himself coming off the roost since it's about a 3 ft drop but i don't feel a slipped tendon or any other injuries. I do have a mature rooster but never seen them have any sort of stand off. He is very skinny now since he eats but not as much as he used to plus he was in the skinny teenage stage at about 16 weeks old to begin with. His keel bone noticeably sticks out and today he started to get a red rash from irritation. I put green goo on the keel bone and elbows and put a diaper around his belly for padding.

Any idea what is wrong with him or advice on how to treat him? I could put him down but it's been a rough few months for me losing 11 chickens already and would really like to save this guy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your cockerel.
Unfortunately, Marek's does not always present with the splits like you describe. It does however present with lameness or loss of use of one or both legs. The wasting (losing weight) but still having an appetite is another indicator to me.
Since you have been giving vitamin therapy with no improvement, then I would consider re-visiting Marek's as the cause of his illness. http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

You can try placing him in a chicken sling (google it for loads of images), this may make him more comfortable.

If you happen to lose him, sending his body to your state lab for testing will give you better answers.

As for treating for Coccidiosis, the Corid is mild and not harmful. I do read per Chicken Chick instructions to offer poultry vitamins (Post Treatment) after the second round of Corid (Amprolium) is completed (offer for 5days, then again in 2weeks for 3days -then give vitamins). That particular article is a bit confusing, since she lists treatment at the very end.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken/

 

[Eggcessive]

I also agree that Mareks seems like a good possibility. What symptoms did you see in the eleven chickens that you have lost? Did any of them have coccidiosis or any signs of Mareks? Make sure that your cockerel can reach food and water. Sorry for your loss.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Sorry for your losses Wyorp Rock & Eggcessive both are very knowledgeable, hope they'll be able to steer you to more answers.

 

[wleigh1021]

Thanks everyone. I tried a sling but he flipped himself upside down so I took it away to prevent him from hurting himself or preventing access to food and water.

9 chickens were killed in a bear attack one was killed by coccidiosis (not tested but all the symptoms fit) most likely due to tight living quarters in the garage while I had to rebuild the coop from bear attack and one was crushed by the automatic chicken door and now this poor guy

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh dear! So sorry!

Can you take a fecal sample to your vet to rule out Coccidiosis?
Just asking here, what dosage did you use of the Corid?

Stress can bring on symptoms, the bear attack, moving to temporary housing while you fix the coop, etc. may have overwhelmed your cockerel as well.

I don't know what else you can do, it looks like you are on target with the vitamins. Is he eating? Wet chick starter, egg, etc. may be more acceptable to him. He's a pretty boy, I'm very sorry, I hope he gets better soon.

 

[wleigh1021]

I used 1/2 tsp per gallon for 5 days, waited 2 weeks, gave it again and was on day 2 of 3 when I found him like this. He is eating. I think part of the problem was originally his bowls were too high and hard to reach for him to continuously eat. I lowered them the other day. He is getting 18% Chick starter and I add grubblies at least once a day for added nutrition and to encourage him to eat more. I think I will probably end up culling this weekend and sending in for necropsy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm very sorry. It is probably a good idea to send him for testing. This will give you more information. A very hard decision to make.

fwiw- 1/2tsp is the "preventative" dose. Anytime you suspect Coccidiosis it is better to use the "outbreak" dosage of 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder per gallon or
2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon.

 

[rebrascora]

I'm sorry to see your cockerel so incapacitated and unfortunately I too believe it is Marek's Disease. It is likely that the other two also had it. It is unusual for grown birds to get coccidiosis unless their immune system is compromised and Marek's virus acts as an immunosuppressant. And as I understand it, those automatic doors close very slowly, so the chances of a healthy chicken getting crushed by it are slim to none. My bet would be that the bird was incapacitated by Marek's when it got caught in the door. I find that if a bird gets stuck somewhere it should not be in my flock.... ie stuck upside down in a gap etc, it is always because they have had a Marek's outbreak. That may seem far fetched to some people, but when you have been dealing with the disease for a while, you see all sorts of issues that never happened before your flock got the disease. Birds are naturally pretty agile. To get caught somewhere they shouldn't, is highly unlikely unless their motor function was compromised.

If you do decide to euthanize him and get a necropsy done, can you update this thread with the result as it is beneficial to all of us to learn from these sad events. I knew nothing about Marek's disease 3.5 years ago, but reading accounts here on BYC has helped me to understand the disease and better improve both my knowledge and flock management in order to cope with it.

PS. I will be delighted for you if it is not Marek's
PPS. Treatment is 2teaspns of liquid Corid or 1.5 teaspns of the powder to a gallon of water so you may have been under dosing for an outbreak.

 

[wleigh1021]

Thanks for the info on Corid! She was about 13 weeks old when she passed but showed stunted growth for a while before that. I didn't realize it was a symptom. I thought she was just a runt. Unfortunately I do have 2 week old chicks that hatched a few days before this guy started having problems, so I may lose some of them as well.

The chicken that got crushed by the door was roosting in the doorway. There were 3 of them that tended to do that but I figured they wouldn't be stupid enough not to move. One has gotten his toes caught in it before (not enough to crush them, he probably pulled them out right before it shut) and he still roosts in the doorway! I turned off the nighttime timer so that it only opens in the morning and I have to manually close it at night. This breed in particular seems pretty stupid.