Cold right leg - almost paralysed

[Woombye Chookie]

A few days my chook (Australian expression for a chicken) became less active, preferring to sit in the dirt rather than scratch around for food. But, she was still able to walk and run around if she wished. Today, she has developed a cold and mostly paralyzed right leg. She is still awake, drinking water and pecking at the bird feed I have offered her in my hand. However, she cannot stand. Her comb is still full and she still sticks her head up and looks around. No overt sign of trauma. No overt sign of pain. What to do?

 

[Squishychicken]

Can you post a picture

 

[Eggcessive]

Try adding poultry vitamins to her water, or crush a vitamin B complex tablet into some food daily. Liquid baby vitamins without iron also would work, in case of a bitamin deficiency. Mareks disease is sometimes responsible for paralysis in one or both legs or wings. It is found throughout the world in chickens, and is a virus. Many chickens die from starving or infections due to immune deficiency, later they may develop tumors, and some have eye changes. Leg injuries or vitamin deficiency should be ruled out. Keep her in a small area able to reach food and water. A chicken sling for a few hours can sometimes be helpful to get them upright and in front of food and water.

 

[Woombye Chookie]

Hi. I have uploaded some pics. The right leg looks a little contracted, but otherwise normal (no breaks or dislocations). Today, she continues to be non-weight bearing on the right leg and it is not moving and is colder than the left. She can partially weight bear on the left, but cannot balance. There is also this loss of feathers in the middle of her back. That started about a week ago. She was drinking at the beginning of today, but has slowed as the day progressed. Likewise with any feed I hand fed her or yogurt. Her comb is shrinking. She is (understandably) incontinent and I have been keeping her in a box with straw that I have changed a couple of times. I am suspicious she will not last and am considering a mercy killing first thing tomorrow. I tried the Vitamins, but she is not drinking enough to make it matter.