Does my hen have Mareks Disease??

[ChickenKiera]

Sorry if this is really long it was from another thread but all in one part:
The first bit it from about a week ago and the update is from today.

I have an old English game bantam hen who has eye problems so she can’t see very well. Today I noticed that she wasn’t walking around as much as she used to and she is limping a bit. She sometimes lifts her left leg up and doesn’t put it on the ground but she can put it down (her left not looking straight at her).


Then I noticed that she lifted her left leg up to scratch her face but then her leg didn’t even touch her face, it just froze and her head just shaked. It happened a few times. I looked on the bottom of her foot and nothing is there.


Update: Today I checked on her and it look like her left foot is paralysed, I don’t know what you would call it, her foot just isn’t going flat on the floor. She can move both of her legs but her foot isn’t moving and she is like scrunching it up and walking on it.


She is eating and drinking and walking but when she steps on that foot it all gets squashed and she limps. How would I fix this, would I need to put a splint or something but if I do that I don’t want the other hens to peck it.


Does she have Mareks disease because of the symptoms paralysis and vision impairment (but she has had an eye problem for a long time)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How old is she? It may not be necessarily Mareks. Other masses or even large eggs can push on the nerves leading to the legs. A back injury or a sprain to a toe can cause weakness. I wouldn't splint it without it needing a splint.

 

[kcrandall]

It could be bumblefoot check the bottom of her foot to see if the pad is enlarged.

 

[ChickenKiera]

How old is she? It may not be necessarily Mareks. Other masses or even large eggs can push on the nerves leading to the legs. A back injury or a sprain to a toe can cause weakness. I wouldn't splint it without it needing a splint.

She is about 4 months old but she hasn’t started laying eggs yet

 

[ChickenKiera]

Update: so I checked her tonight and her foot does not have lumps on the bottom. I tried to open the curled foot and I couldn’t really do it but her foot went back to curled when I let go. She is starting to rest her left leg on the floor but when she walks it just seems really painful.
In the photos: the curled foot is the one in front and the brownish bits are just mud not blood. The other ones are what her foot looks like when she stands up and her leg resting on the floor (the other leg is up not resting)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She is about 4 months old but she hasn’t started laying eggs yet

At 4 months Mareks is a possibility unfortunately. Generally Mareks will slowly worsen, and legs end up splayed forward, and back.

 

[ChickenKiera]

At 4 months Mareks is a possibility unfortunately. Generally Mareks will slowly worsen, and legs end up splayed forward, and back.

Ok, thankyou

 

[Redchels]

Following

 

[ChickenKiera]

At 4 months Mareks is a possibility unfortunately. Generally Mareks will slowly worsen, and legs end up splayed forward, and back.

Do you think I should put a splint or something on her foot so it’s isn’t always curled or should I just leave it?

 

[Mobleymoon]

I am sorry you are going through this. It's awful when we humans feel so helpless and our birds need us. I have nothing to offer except the ache in my heart for you. If its something we just can't fix or help them with, it is so heavy and so sad. I feel I am looking down that road too. I don't give up easily and I won't quit if there is anything I can do, I just don't know what that is. That's why I turn to HERE. We are all caring souls here and we all cry with you because we know this pain. Miracles do happen. Miracles really do happen, you and your little black girl are in my thoughts and prayers.