- Aug 14, 2013
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Hi everyone,
New member here but have been reading the forums for the last couple of years. Last spring my wife and I started our small backyard flock and currently have 4 hens and 3 pullets (that are now 19 weeks old). Hoping you can help us out with our first major health issue! Our EE pullet Hazel has been having some issues. I'm worried about Marek's but from what I've read about it the symptoms don't completely match up....
The symptoms:
10 days ago we noticed her limping when running around with the other birds. She acted like she couldn’t put any weight on her left leg. I checked her foot and then her leg all the way to the hip, comparing it to the normal leg. Couldn't find anything wrong so I suspected she might have a sprain. The next day her limp was worse and she starting sitting more (on her hocks). That's how she's been for the last week, sitting on her hocks all the time unless something really motivates her to move. Then she can get up on her toes and shuffle forward for 6-7 steps before sitting back down. She gets around the run and into a little coop that’s close to the ground every night. She's extremely alert, eats & drinks fine and even still keeps her place in the pecking order. The other 2 pullets she grew up with have learned the hard way not to mess with her, even in her state! Her droppings have stayed normal the entire time. Her legs aren’t paralyzed; when you pick her up she vigorously kicks both legs and moves her toes. Twice a day we give her a wet mash of layer feed with half a scrambled egg mixed in. The water that’s used to make the mash is supplemented with Duravet Vitamin & Electrolytes (3/4 tsp per gallon). We also have that in the waterers in the run.
Hazel surprised us with her first egg at 16 weeks old and has actually been laying almost everyday since then even in her current condition. She’s still in a run with the other pullets that aren’t laying so until last week we were feeding them all chick starter with crushed oyster shells on the side for her. Maybe her condition was caused by a calcium or vit. D deficiency? Has anyone seen this happen before?
Also, all our birds were vaccinated for Marek’s at the hatchery but I know that doesn’t completely protect them. It that’s what it is maybe it’s just progressing slowly…
I’ll try to get some pics tonight and maybe a video too. Thanks for reading and all the help you’ve already given us over the past 2 years!
New member here but have been reading the forums for the last couple of years. Last spring my wife and I started our small backyard flock and currently have 4 hens and 3 pullets (that are now 19 weeks old). Hoping you can help us out with our first major health issue! Our EE pullet Hazel has been having some issues. I'm worried about Marek's but from what I've read about it the symptoms don't completely match up....
The symptoms:
10 days ago we noticed her limping when running around with the other birds. She acted like she couldn’t put any weight on her left leg. I checked her foot and then her leg all the way to the hip, comparing it to the normal leg. Couldn't find anything wrong so I suspected she might have a sprain. The next day her limp was worse and she starting sitting more (on her hocks). That's how she's been for the last week, sitting on her hocks all the time unless something really motivates her to move. Then she can get up on her toes and shuffle forward for 6-7 steps before sitting back down. She gets around the run and into a little coop that’s close to the ground every night. She's extremely alert, eats & drinks fine and even still keeps her place in the pecking order. The other 2 pullets she grew up with have learned the hard way not to mess with her, even in her state! Her droppings have stayed normal the entire time. Her legs aren’t paralyzed; when you pick her up she vigorously kicks both legs and moves her toes. Twice a day we give her a wet mash of layer feed with half a scrambled egg mixed in. The water that’s used to make the mash is supplemented with Duravet Vitamin & Electrolytes (3/4 tsp per gallon). We also have that in the waterers in the run.
Hazel surprised us with her first egg at 16 weeks old and has actually been laying almost everyday since then even in her current condition. She’s still in a run with the other pullets that aren’t laying so until last week we were feeding them all chick starter with crushed oyster shells on the side for her. Maybe her condition was caused by a calcium or vit. D deficiency? Has anyone seen this happen before?
Also, all our birds were vaccinated for Marek’s at the hatchery but I know that doesn’t completely protect them. It that’s what it is maybe it’s just progressing slowly…
I’ll try to get some pics tonight and maybe a video too. Thanks for reading and all the help you’ve already given us over the past 2 years!
