HELP!!, I think my chicken might be egg-bound!!

[Animals970]

Ok, about 2 weeks ago, my chicken started limping. I didn't think much about it 'cause my chickens get their feet slightly cut every now and then and they make a big deal about it and limp. But she kept on limping and limping, so I called my neighbor up (she used to be a vet-assistant) and she couldn't find anything wrong with her except that her right leg had simply NO tension. It was almost like she had tore a muscle or something.

I just gave it some time since I knew she didn't have a broken leg or anything. Now she is just lying around on her belly or side and is not eating or drinking. I don't know what is wrong, please HELP!!!!

She is a RSL Hen, about 3-4 years old. And to re-cap, here are her symptoms...

-Weak
-Can't Walk
-Doesn't eat or drink
-Lies around
-Pale-ish Comb and Wattles


And since she is lying around, she has poop sticking to her butt, I can tell she's really uncomfortable D:

PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Those aren't symptoms of egg binding.

It could be botulism.
Separate her and get some cool water into her crop a few times a day. You could try a flush with Epsom salts or molasses.

 

[Eggcessive]

I don't think she would be alive if she was egg bound. Did she have a Mareks vaccine? Mareks can cause limping, weakness in legs or wings, and lying around. If you stand her up, does she fall over or become unbalanced? Other possible causes are mycoplasma synoviae or viral arthritis (tenosynovitis.) How do her poops look? Does she mites or lice? Any swelling in her legs? Check her breast for a blister. You can always do a vent exam with a rubber glove and lubricant to check for egg binding. Here are 3 links to read:
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/164/viral-arthritis

 

[Animals970]

Ok, Thanks.

What is her chance of survival?

Also, can people get Botulism?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Botulism is food poisoning so people can and do get botulism.
It's from eating something that contains clostridium botulinum, a soil borne bacteria that is quite common. It multiplies in warm moist decaying vegetable or animal matter, like bedding or wet feed.

 

[Animals970]

Yes, she kinda just falls over when I stand her back up. And no, she hasn't had a Marek's Vaccine. How exactly should I treat her botulism?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

"~~Separate her and get some cool water into her crop a few times a day. You could try a flush with Epsom salts or molasses."

If you think the bedding is infected, clean out the coop and disinfect with a iodine based disinfectant.

She's most likely to old for it to be Marek's.

 

[Animals970]

That is true, mostly 5 month old chickens get Marek's, don't they? I know, I read your post. But, how should I get it into her. Should I just let her drink it herself, or, should I syringe feed her?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

syringe
If she's not drinking that's the only way.

They won't drink the Epsom salts of their own accord anyway. Those two things absorb the toxins.

For a single bird the Epsom salts is the best bet. 1 teaspoon per 1/2 cup water squirted down the throat twice a day for 2 or 3 days or till it recovers.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would doubt it being botulism since the chicken has been limping for over 2 weeks. Usually with botulism, there needs to be a history of eating rotting vegetation, maggot, or an animal or fish carcass. The paralysis is in both legs, then progressing to the wings, and then the neck, so the neck rests on the floor. It kills very quickly with just a pin-head size of the toxin, and if they live for 2 days, they usually recover. Here is a link on botulism:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism
http://www.avianweb.com/botulism.html