Help! Droopy wing in pullet? Injury palsey?

[Rhoise]

Snow was worse when I got home today, not up on her feet at all without lifting her, and not eating or drinking much either. She seems to be loosing weight, I'll weigh her tomorrow, she was 4.5 lbs a few weeks ago when I weighed them all last, and she feels significantly lighter than the others today. It is very sad to watch her going down hill, I'm not sure I can continue this attempt at healing her much longer and watching her quality of life decline. She is all puffy and hunched and her tail is curved down now. After I gave her the vitamins she was panting and very stressed.

I contacted the State Dept of Agriculture's laboratory today.The closest place to get a chicken necropsy for Southwest Idahoans is an Avian Vet in Utah, it is about a $60-$70 cost plus shipping. I spoke to the State Extension Office person also, and they were very helpful and informative. Got the number of the vet, body prepping instructions, and contact information in case I need to and decide to go through with a necropsy.
Alot of information to think about, some relief, that they didn't think it was Marek's, for a similar reason stated here, mainly she is(well was not today) still laying, also asked about facial or comb swelling, respiratory symptoms, possible poisoning, etc etc ... I am going to continue with the vitamins, yogurt mash, and isolation, I'll make a decision whether or not to euthanize her and possibly send her for necropsy this weekend, or continue on with the Ch-icu.

Very sad and disheartening not being able to help her. If I thought a trip to the vet would make a difference and save this pullet I would, but the expense and symptoms are too vague. They will I'm sure offer xrays,steroids and baytril, and anything else I request as a last ditch effort( or pacifier for me), but I don't want to go this route, I'd rather see her euthanized and not strung along suffering. We have had $1.49 cent feeder rats as pets and I have spent hundreds on their vet care, from tumors and mites, to old age, but the simple truth was sometimes these things just happen, and there is only so much one can, or is willing to do, in the long run it still doesn't change the outcome, and I'm not sure the pets were any better off going through it all anyway.

 

[leadwolf1]

I'm so sorry, losing one is just heartbreaking. Especially after working so hard to save them

I agree with what you say about the vet. Sometimes they do things just to please us, not what is best for the animal. Give her all the TLC you can and you will know when the time is right to help her onto the next level. The necropsy is the best route to go...at least then you will know the answer.

Please keep us posted. We are all in this together.

 

[blondiebee181]

I am so sorry Julie,

I will be thinking of you and little snow today.

 

[seminolewind]

Symptoms,esp neuro, can be so hard to decipher sometimes. My 5 yr old silkie was getting slower and slower, but still made it to the food and water. (I'm thinking Marek's-I have a good flock history). I picked her up the other day to trim her bangs and beard which was getting wet all the time. Then I turned her on her side to trim the dirty feathers off. She died! She started gasping and died. 3 years ago she was one of the first to be exposed to Marek's and survived this long. She also hatched a daughter 2 years ago that had resistance. Yesterday the daughter was not moving for the 2nd day. Her pupils were different sizes, and it appeared that she couldn't see. If I lay her on her side, she just stayed in that position. She was gasping on and off. I euthanized her because she was incabable of moving and couldn't see. She looked catatonic. I would think brain tumor-Marek's or not Marek's? With my flock history, I would have to say Marek's.

I now have another one that's dying. Sits very quietly all day, not eating, but can see and move around. I have 4 in that pen that are unsymptomatic. Should I move them? Or is it too late?

 

[Rhoise]

Symptoms,esp neuro, can be so hard to decipher sometimes. My 5 yr old silkie was getting slower and slower, but still made it to the food and water. (I'm thinking Marek's-I have a good flock history). I picked her up the other day to trim her bangs and beard which was getting wet all the time. Then I turned her on her side to trim the dirty feathers off. She died! She started gasping and died. 3 years ago she was one of the first to be exposed to Marek's and survived this long. She also hatched a daughter 2 years ago that had resistance. Yesterday the daughter was not moving for the 2nd day. Her pupils were different sizes, and it appeared that she couldn't see. If I lay her on her side, she just stayed in that position. She was gasping on and off. I euthanized her because she was incapable of moving and couldn't see. She looked catatonic. I would think brain tumor-Marek's or not Marek's? With my flock history, I would have to say Marek's.

I now have another one that's dying. Sits very quietly all day, not eating, but can see and move around. I have 4 in that pen that are asymptomatic. Should I move them? Or is it too late?

Karen so so sorry to hear about your birds. It is very sad to see them suffer, to know when enough is enough, and let them pass.

I have been struggling since Thursday trying to help my little pullet but wondering if I caused her more suffering than help. Today I finally euthanized her. She had been off her feet since Thursday, but up until yesterday she would still eat if I hand fed her.

Yesterday she just seemed to give up. She layed in the corner of the pen and didn't move all day until i picked her up to try and give her food and water. She was still pooping but couldn't stand or move herself so it was horrible. I put towels under her and changed them out every few hours, while I tried to get some water in her. Today I decided to euthanize her and end the suffering.

I did speak to the vet, and one of the state poultry experts in person at the University of Idaho extension office on Friday(he was in town offering a class on chicken keeping to the master gardeners program folks and invited me to join in). Both were very helpful, and answered alot of my questions as to what to do about my pullet, and whether or not to have a necropsy.

After alot of consideration, I decided not to do a necropsy. Yes it might have given me some more definitive answers, but then again it also may not have either. The cost was considerable, and a big factor for me in the decision not to because I felt pretty confident that this was not some kind of contagious disease.

At this time the two birds I have lost so far have had completely different symptoms, and I believe, were completely unrelated. If it was Marek's, or another diagnosable condition, it will not change the way I plan on managing my little flock in the future anyway, so I will just have to live with the unknown, and wait and watch my birds closely for any more problems.

Thank you all so much for your posts, feedback, and support through all this!! I have learned so much from the helpful folks here, and am thankful you are all willing to share your experience and hope!

Julie

Snow and Betty as babies

 

[seminolewind]

So cute! I am recently finding out that my last birds that died were more likely to be opportunistic infections because Marek's has wiped out their immune system. I believe 5 died from coccidiosis, it killed them within hours. 2 appeared to have a serious eye infection and puffy face and died the next day. They were all vaccinated. But even vaccinated, I will now be on careful watch. A Polish roo I have , vaccinated, was looking listless yesterday. I'll be pumping him full of antibiotics. He looks normal today and crowing.

My free ranging birds seem to have a better chance of surviving Marek's than penned birds.

Since 2008, I've had 56 chickens over the course of 4 years. 22 have died. 10 died from Marek's. This is not including 10 chicks I hatched that all died at 6-10 weeks old.

And now, anyone who looks "off" will be treated with antibiotics just in case it's not Marek's but some opportunistic bacteria related to Marek's ruining their immune system.

 

[blondiebee181]

Karen so so sorry to hear about your birds. It is very sad to see them suffer, to know when enough is enough, and let them pass.

I have been struggling since Thursday trying to help my little pullet but wondering if I caused her more suffering than help. Today I finally euthanized her. She had been off her feet since Thursday, but up until yesterday she would still eat if I hand fed her.

Yesterday she just seemed to give up. She layed in the corner of the pen and didn't move all day until i picked her up to try and give her food and water. She was still pooping but couldn't stand or move herself so it was horrible. I put towels under her and changed them out every few hours, while I tried to get some water in her. Today I decided to euthanize her and end the suffering.

I did speak to the vet, and one of the state poultry experts in person at the University of Idaho extension office on Friday(he was in town offering a class on chicken keeping to the master gardeners program folks and invited me to join in). Both were very helpful, and answered alot of my questions as to what to do about my pullet, and whether or not to have a necropsy.

After alot of consideration, I decided not to do a necropsy. Yes it might have given me some more definitive answers, but then again it also may not have either. The cost was considerable, and a big factor for me in the decision not to because I felt pretty confident that this was not some kind of contagious disease.

At this time the two birds I have lost so far have had completely different symptoms, and I believe, were completely unrelated. If it was Marek's, or another diagnosable condition, it will not change the way I plan on managing my little flock in the future anyway, so I will just have to live with the unknown, and wait and watch my birds closely for any more problems.

Thank you all so much for your posts, feedback, and support through all this!! I have learned so much from the helpful folks here, and am thankful you are all willing to share your experience and hope!

Julie

Snow and Betty as babies

I'm sorry Julie...

Poor little Snow...she is chasing worms in chicken heaven now. I hope all continues to be well with the rest.