Help! Chicken cannot move on her own at all!

[Henhen]

She has been separated from the other chickens since we first noticed her not feeling well. My other 4 chickens are fine and showing no signs of illness. She can move her legs and neck she just cannot stand or walk at all. She is 4 years old and has never had any sort of issues in the past. We checked for egg binding and that is not the issue. Should we take her to the vet to be put down? It is Sunday so we cannot find an open avia vet at the moment

 

[hannahsflock]

Maybe, she has been eating layer mash/ and chick feed.

What type of chick feed is it? And how long was she eating it prior to her condition? Is she sitting/already hatched out chicks?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your weak silkie hen. Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease, and have you recently added any new birds to your flock? Does she normally free range? Besides Mareks, botulism from eating a toxin found in animal and fish carcasses, or vegetation buried underground or underwater, can cause progressive paralysis going up from the legs to wings to the neck and head. Mold in the feed can also cause sudden paralysis and death. I would look at the possibility of Mareks disease, although it is more common in chickens under a year old, unless a carrier has come into the flock. Dehydration or even coccidiosis can sometimes look this way, so I would give fluids containing electrolytes. Tube feeding is usually necessary to get them to take enough when they won't drink. She sounds like she won't make it, so if you lose her, I would contact your state vet or poultry lab to test for Mareks during a necropsy. The body needs to be kept refrigerated in a plastic bag, and shipped on ice. Here is some info about necropsy, and some on Mareks:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[Henhen]

She eats a corn feed called Manna pro show bird feed. This is what she and all
My chickens have always eaten. She is older and rarely lays eggs. She has never hatched chicks but she is half silkie so sometimes she is broody but only for about 3 days at a time. Should I continue to syringe feed her the pedialyte? She is swallowing it fine but does not seem like she is going to make it

 

[Henhen]

Sorry about your weak silkie hen. Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease, and have you recently added any new birds to your flock? Does she normally free range? Besides Mareks, botulism from eating a toxin found in animal and fish carcasses, or vegetation buried underground or underwater, can cause progressive paralysis going up from the legs to wings to the neck and head. Mold in the feed can also cause sudden paralysis and death. I would look at the possibility of Mareks disease, although it is more common in chickens under a year old, unless a carrier has come into the flock. Dehydration or even coccidiosis can sometimes look this way, so I would give fluids containing electrolytes. Tube feeding is usually necessary to get them to take enough when they won't drink. She sounds like she won't make it, so if you lose her, I would contact your state vet or poultry lab to test for Mareks during a necropsy. The body needs to be kept refrigerated in a plastic bag, and shipped on ice. Here is some info about necropsy, and some on Mareks:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

I do not think it is mereks bevause she is 4 years old and the other chickens are fine. She also doesn't have mishapen pupils. Possibly dehydration bevause we live in Florida but she was drinking fine and before this and we have been giving her lots of water and pedialyte. The chickens are in a medium size coop and spend the day in a small portion of our yard that is fenced off so they don't really free range. She doesn't have any blood or worms in her poop. She also has no feather follicle issues that we can see or injuries or tumors. We have thoroughly checked her body for injuries and tumors and egg binding. We have given her a few baths with dawn and also put diamatious earth on her in case of bus issues. We really are unsure of what's wrong bevause she shows no signs other than not being able to move and none of our other 4 chickens have any issues. We have not introduced a new chicken to our flock in at least 6 months and she is at least a year old as well.

 

[RodNTN]

What type of chick feed is it? And how long was she eating it prior to her condition? Is she sitting/already hatched out chicks?

Its Dumor chick starter, and no, she hasn't been setting.

 

[hannahsflock]

Its Dumor chick starter, and no, she hasn't been setting.

Is there a specific reason why she's on chick starter? I wouldn't feed my hens starter at any point in time, if they have chicks I would give the hen and her brood rolled oats and mixed fowl grain/seeds.

I suppose there are different types of chick starter, but most of the ones I've seen have hormones to aid growth, especially for commercial use. They include things that laying hens certainly don't need and can lead to more harm than good.

I'm sure there's a reason you are feeding her starter though, just trying to figure out how this is happening so we can prevent it in the future.

 

[RodNTN]

Is there a specific reason why she's on chick starter? I wouldn't feed my hens starter at any point in time, if they have chicks I would give the hen and her brood rolled oats and mixed fowl grain/seeds.

I suppose there are different types of chick starter, but most of the ones I've seen have hormones to aid growth, especially for commercial use. They include things that laying hens certainly don't need and can lead to more harm than good.

I'm sure there's a reason you are feeding her starter though, just trying to figure out how this is happening so we can prevent it in the future.

She's not on starter, she is on layer feed. But sometimes she sees the chicks feeder and eats some, its not a daily thing.

 

[RodNTN]

I just have no idea what happened to her

 

[hannahsflock]

I just have no idea what happened to her

It is a mystery. Maybe try separating her for a while and keeping an eye on her? Perhaps try giving her probiotics and apple cider vinegar in her water, as well as fresh greens, and see if she improves. Maybe it would also be beneficial for her to stay away from the starter for a while, just in case.