Help! Crippled hens!

[Chickenlover104]

Hi, my hens have been doing this for a while now. One at a time they slowly lose ability to walk and then they die. I have lost 3 to this and I am about to lose another. She is starting to limp. They do not act sick or show any signs of problems. We took our first hen to the vet who said she either had cancer or a neurological problem. We have tried Epsom salt in warm water but it did not help. These hens are full grown and laying. I was curious if hens can get polio. I would appreciate it if anyone knew what this is or how to cure it. Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

There are several illnesses that can cause lameness in chickens, but you may have Mareks disease in your flock unfortunately. How old were the chickens when you got them and at what age did they start with symptoms. Here are some links for reading: http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/502
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf

 

[Eggcessive]

Botulism is another neurological illness that chickens get from eating decayed meat, fish, maggots, or vegetation near ponds, streams, or compost heaps. Here is alink: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism

 

[seminolewind]

Hi, my hens have been doing this for a while now. One at a time they slowly lose ability to walk and then they die. I have lost 3 to this and I am about to lose another. She is starting to limp. They do not act sick or show any signs of problems. We took our first hen to the vet who said she either had cancer or a neurological problem. We have tried Epsom salt in warm water but it did not help. These hens are full grown and laying. I was curious if hens can get polio. I would appreciate it if anyone knew what this is or how to cure it. Thanks

You also may want to look into Marek's Virus. Click on the link at the bottom of my post that says "The big Marek's FAQ, etc".

 

[Chickenlover104]

I don't think it is mareks because they are over a year old.

 

[casportpony]

I don't think it is mareks because they are over a year old.

I lost a 3 year old to Marek's, which surprised me, so just keep an open mind.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

You also may want to look into Marek's Virus. Click on the link at the bottom of my post that says "The big Marek's FAQ, etc".

I'm blind, lol, I never noticed all of those links in your sig.

-Kathy

 

[seminolewind]

I don't think it is mareks because they are over a year old.

Chickens can die of Marek's at any age over 3 weeks . The young ones seem to get paralysis and wasting, and the older ones seem to waste. There are no "always" rules with Marek's . Marek's has no rules, just "most likely"

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
I could actually eliminate them all but Nambroth's Big Giant FAQ. But if offers more reading.

I still have a hen who walks with great effort. Then sits to eat. She's skin and bones, she can still find the oats I drop on the ground and the water. I'm really surprised she gets around. I just don't know if I should do the deed or put an end to her life. I'm not sure how bad her quality of life is. But I guess starving to death is not humane. I just don't know.

 

[Peter Bangkok]

Hi, my hens have been doing this for a while now. One at a time they slowly lose ability to walk and then they die. I have lost 3 to this and I am about to lose another. She is starting to limp. They do not act sick or show any signs of problems. We took our first hen to the vet who said she either had cancer or a neurological problem. We have tried Epsom salt in warm water but it did not help. These hens are full grown and laying. I was curious if hens can get polio. I would appreciate it if anyone knew what this is or how to cure it. Thanks

Hi, my hens have been doing this for a while now. One at a time they slowly lose ability to walk and then they die. I have lost 3 to this and I am about to lose another. She is starting to limp. They do not act sick or show any signs of problems. We took our first hen to the vet who said she either had cancer or a neurological problem. We have tried Epsom salt in warm water but it did not help. These hens are full grown and laying. I was curious if hens can get polio. I would appreciate it if anyone knew what this is or how to cure it. Thanks

Hi from Thailand,
I have exactly the same question. One of my chickens who had been doing well, being active and running around, suddenly turned crippled and couldn't walk (and couldn't even walk) despite no injuries. Two days later, she died. I couldn't figure out why.