Crippled Chick please help!!

[jill0844]

So yesterday I go to check on my 3 silkies about 6 weeks old one has a limp to her thought she done something to her leg. Then last night I went back to check on her when I got home and she is crippled has no control over legs or wings looks healthy eats and drinks as long as she can get to it. They were vaccinated for mareks disease before I bought them . Can it still be mareks? My vet is out til Monday and cant find another one that sees chickens any suggestions ? she is now isolated from the others

 

[Clucksworth]

So yesterday I go to check on my 3 silkies about 6 weeks old one has a limp to her thought she done something to her leg. Then last night I went back to check on her when I got home and she is crippled has no control over legs or wings looks healthy eats and drinks as long as she can get to it. They were vaccinated for mareks disease before I bought them . Can it still be mareks? My vet is out til Monday and cant find another one that sees chickens any suggestions ? she is now isolated from the others

It sounds like it does have Marek's, are you 100% sure they were vaccinated?

 

[realsis]

sometimes this can be due to vitamin deficiencies. did this just start? if it was a vitamin deficiency it would likely be vitamin B6 or pyrdioxine. this deficiency causes chicks to walk with jerkey type movements, limping,they may run around flapping there wings then fall down to the sides they may jerk their head or legs or may not be able to walk. I would try giving a B6 vitamin to see if it would help. as for Mareks, sadly if they were exposed to Mareks BEFORE they got the vaccine, yes they can contract the disease as i understand it.i could be wrong but i believe this is so. also equally as sad 5% of vaccinated birds although vaccinated STILL come down with Mareks disease. although they are vaccinated. however i believe the vaccine prevents the tumors. how long has she had the limp? your chick is 6 weeks old correct. i think Mareks strikes most commonly at ages 12 to 30 weeks. but can strike younger. would you say she is paralyzed? is her limbs stiff or just hanging? are the wings drooping or stiff? perhaps another member who has expirenced Mareks can be of more help. in my health book it says stilted gait,lack of coordination, pale skin, wings or leg paralysis,it says when both legs are paralyzed one points foward one points backward. rapid weight loss although eating. thats the nerve form. I would try the vitamin and see if it helps it wont hurt to try,as for Mareks i wish i could be of more help but im sure someone with expirence can chime in to help. hopefully its not that. i hope ive helped somehow and wish you the very best. i do hope she gets well soon. i wish i knew more to help. good luck.

 

[jill0844]

She was prob ,7-8 wks she didn't make it shebecame paralyzed and wings drooped. The limp started worsened very quickly . In a two day time frame

 

[realsis]

I'm so sorry for your loss! do you think it was mareks?

 

[jill0844]

Yes think so