Help, please! Hens legs not working!

[8isenuff]

My 26 week old hen was doing great and all of a sudden her legs seem partially paralized. She has just started laying and has laid 3 eggs so far. I went to make sure they were all in the coop tonight and she was laying underneath it where they normally hang out. Her legs were out behind her and she couldnt get up. No trouble breathing, no mucus, good color and shes eating fine. Doesnt seem thirsty though. I only have 3 chickens right now and I hate to loose this sweet girl. She's a Gold Laced Wyandotte. Please help! And thanks!

 

[circesfire]

Do you know if they were vaccinated for marecks disease? Are her droppings normal? Have you checked for any signs of trauma to her legs or head?

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds a bit like Mareks disease. Was she vaccinated? I can't post links now, but Google "Mareks disease" and do a little reading. I will post some links tomorrow.

 

[8isenuff]

Just contacted the lady i got her fromand she and the other two were not vaccinated... No visible injuries to any part of her body. When i picked her up i felt something like a click near her breast bone...? I have her separated but havent seen her droppings yet. if its mereks, is my lttle flock doomed? Poor thing...she is just such a sweet hen..

 

[8isenuff]

I read some on Mereks....I just realized that one of the photos of my Rooster that I had to rehome the other day, looks like one of his eyes is gray...i thought it was just a weird glar on the photo or flash...but maybe Mereks? He was older though. About 9 months...but would that be a totally different strain of Mereks?

 

[circesfire]

Sorry I don't know too much about Mareck's I am still very new to chickens myself. I do know that some chickens do have naturally grey or green eyes. Do you have any pictures of the rooster in question? Someone might be able to tell you if it Marecks or not.

On a personal note, I hope it's not marecks and that your hen gets better. I have a gold laced wyandotte that is a sweet heart as well, so I can really relate.

 

[8isenuff]

She seems to be in the same state this morning...

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. The gray eye on the rooster may be a sign of ocular Mareks. There are 4 types of Mareks disease, so some chickens will have different symptoms. Here is some reading--look at all 18 pictures in the Cornell site, and fill free to post questions on the Mareks thread:

http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/502
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=not+an+emergency,+mareks+in+the+flock

 

[8isenuff]

Thanks so much!

 

[8isenuff]

Botulism? From feeding egg shells or maybe my fodder sprouts are moldy? I save egg shells in a jar in the house for a few days then put them in the broiler for a few minutes, crush and feed. Could the broiler not be cooking all the way down and leaving some uncooked egg in the shells? Could that cause botulism? (my oven door is off ...long story,....so I can only use the broiler). I also feed fodder sprouts to them. Could they be getting molded and causing botulism or some other illness?

Seems Botulism causes similar effects...?