Cockerel legs buckling, crouching, losing balance

[BridgettePardo]

Go to your feed store and look for Poultry Cell vitamins and give 3 ml per day orally. Other brands may be put in the water or food, just read the label, and make sure that they contain riboflavin (vitamin B2.) I have used Poultry Booster in feed, Vitamins With Lactobacillus, ans SaveAChick, all brands you may find. A cheaper alternative would be to give 1/2 of a vitamin B complex tablet for humans, crushed into some egg or yogurt daily. Just make sure there is riboflavin. Mareks could be a possibility, but injuries and vitamin or mineral deficiency should be ruled out.

Thank you so, so much. I have just given him the vitamins I could find at the feed store. He is still eating and drinking, with normal poop. I spoke with my agricultural extension office's head veterinarian and he believes it is Marek's, possibly botulism or a vitamin deficiency. He echoed what you all said. Basically supportive care, and he'll either die or get better. Thank you all again for your help. Let's hope he pulls through.

 

[Eggcessive]

Botulism is a pretty dramatic illness. It first affects the feet, then legs, wings and spreads upward causing paralysis finally in the neck and breathing muscles over 12-24 hours. It is caused by eating dead animal remains or vegetation that has been underground or underwater. Here are a couple of articles that you may want to read:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[BridgettePardo]

Thank you all again for your advice and references. Unfortunately we had to euthanize poor little Kevin tonight. The paralysis continued to worsen and we just didn't feel it was humane to continue to let him suffer. ((( The rest of the flock is getting electrolytes and vitamins, in an attempt to give everyone an immune system boost. Fingers crossed everyone continues to stay healthy.

 

[Leighe]

So sorry for your loss.....so hard when you don't know what to do or even what's wrong.

 

[jvls1942]

diagnosing chicken illness is very difficult.
we have a thick book of illnesses,
and there are so many, and such slight
variations between the symptoms ,
even the vet you talked to came up with at least
three different possibilities.
having livestock = having deadstock
it is all part of the game..

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you all again for your advice and references. Unfortunately we had to euthanize poor little Kevin tonight. The paralysis continued to worsen and we just didn't feel it was humane to continue to let him suffer. ((( The rest of the flock is getting electrolytes and vitamins, in an attempt to give everyone an immune system boost. Fingers crossed everyone continues to stay healthy.

So sorry, making that decision is a hard thing.