Help Please!!!!! My Silkie is paralysed!!!!! UPDATED!! VIDEO!!!

[Reurra]

My 6 week old silkie Juicey is sick!!!!

I noticed the problem just a few minutes ago. He was fine this morning. Now he is staggering around his cage with one leg forward. Ive Isolated him to a cat carrier.

His left leg juts forward and when i pick him up, it just hangs limp. He does wiggle it, but he does not have much strength in it.

When he tries to sleep, his head rolls to one side.

No lethargic behavior.

He is eating and drinking with the other chicks.

Poop is normal.

No discharge.

No panting.

No sneezing.

He is shaking his head frequently, but he kinda always did that.

There may be paralysis in his left wing too. Its hard to tell at this point.

I have had them in a brooder with 3 chicks and Stumpy. None of the other birds seem to be sick that I can see.

I have no idea whats going on and I dont know what to do if its Mereks. I was going to put the chicks out into the coop this week, but now Im glad I procrastinated it. Even so though, all my birds would have been exposed. I have had this silky for 5 weeks so I stopped quarentineing everything a week ago.

Im really scared here.

This picture does not show the stumbling or falling over. Sorry its blurry, but she would not stand up for when she was out of the brooder.





Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEwMhGZCFTU&feature=youtu.be

 

[Reurra]

Ok, I saw her do something interesting.

I took her out of her cage and worked her leg around to see if there were any injuries such as dislocation, a sliver or something long those lines.

After I was done, I put her back down and she lifted her her bad leg and looked at the bottom of her foot??

She is still acting unsteady on that leg though.

 

[Reurra]

No ideas? Im pretty desperate here. Im very concerned for my baby!

 

[winekntrychicks]

Awe. I am so sorry about your baby. When things like this happen we feel so helpless. Make sure he is warm all by himself. When my babies are sick I put a little apple cider vinegar in their water and put a red light on them for warmth. You are doing the right things. Where did you get these from? If you got them from a farm supply they should have been vaccinated for Merecks. Keeps us posted. Hugs to you and your baby...

 

[Mskayladog]

No I'm sorry,wish I could help.

 

[Reurra]

Thank you for your replies!!

No I dindnt get them from a supplier. Its hard to get hatchery eggs here. I got them from a lady up the road from me. All her birds are healthy, none of them are sick.

I cant tell if its just a booboo on the leg or what. She straightens it out and is hobbling on it. If I work it around, she walks better, but as time goes on, it stiffens out straight and she is back to wobbling and stumbling. I dont know what to think of this.

 

[FlyHigher]

I hope it's not MD, but the neurological symptoms do match MD a lot. I hope I was wrong.

 

[Reurra]

Me too...Im going to go to bed now....I dont know what to expect in the morning. If they are all doing it, I guess it will be a terrible day for me.

Im in love with all my babies. It will be hard to let them go.

 

[leadwolf1]

First, take a deep breath.

Now, silkies are prone to both neurological problems, vitamin deficiencies and Marek's.
My first advice to you is to start her on a vitamin program.....5mls poly vi sol, without iron, daily plus 400 ius of vitamin E twice daily. Do this for 2 weeks. If you don't see any improvement in that time, it isn't a vitamin deficiency.

Now for neurologic...does her head appear swollen? Could she have been pecked in the head or hit her head on something? Silkies have open skulls and can do damage to themselves very easily. I would put her into a darkened, quiet area where she can recover...I would do this along with the vitamin therapy.

If it is Marek's...she would be one of the youngest chicks to exhibit these symptoms that I have ever heard of. It takes longer for symptoms to appear..usually between 10 - 12 weeks. If she dies, i would have a necropsy performed to find out just what happened and if you have to worry about your other chicks. Good luck and keep us informed. Find a place now for the necropsy so that when you need it, you already know exactly what you are going to do.

Good luck and I hope your baby improves for you!

 

[madisonmama]

I had a problem with one of mine, similar to yours. The first thing I did was separate her from the others. Put her on chick starter for the added protein. Put vitamins and an antibiotic in her water. She back to herself in about 5 days. I kept her be herself for 10 days, along with the food, vitamins and antibiotic. She has been hardy ever since.