Help! My young boy is wobbly can't walk laying around :-(

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

No improvement as yet, and now has occasional droopy head like he can't keep his head up. Toes aren't curled. He's eating and drinking well though and does stand up although wobbly. Maybe another day on vitamins will help... His poo looks completely normal light brown/white formed... I'll give him another day and see how he goes.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

ok well he went downhill last night and was half dead looking like he couldn't breathe, he didn't move and didn't even make a sound when I picked him up then I quickly dislocated his neck to end his suffering in a fast painless way with the broomstick. RIP Burtle
My other chickens are fine so I wonder what it could have been and similar to my previous cockerel but not the backwards head though. I might have to buy some fertile eggs from a breeder for my next broody in case its a genetic thing.. Or if it is mareks then wouldn't the others have this disease too?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry

Is there a way for you to get a necropsy through your vet or do you have something like a vet college, an agricultural extension - anything like that? I don't have any info for what may be available to you in AU.

If it's Marek's or Avian Leucosis, then yes, the others would have been exposed and carriers. Not all birds will ever show symptoms of these diseases.
I'm like you, I find it a bit of a puzzle that only the males have been affected. I don't know quite what to make of it. Possibly it is something genetic, but then again, I would expect at least a few females to be impacted as well.