HELP! RIR 6 week old chick; sick or injured?

[Farmer Del]

Hi there,
so about three days ago, one of my pullets (I have three, all about 6, going on 7 weeks old) began this curious thing of sitting down while the three were out and about, scratching and what not. I noticed it but didn't think anything of it, she would just sit and peck at the ground or pull at the grass and get the bugs that they usually find.
Two days later, first thing in the AM I went to let them out of their run, and there she was, sort of sprawled on one side, clearly bothered by something, lethargic, and basically immobile. I picked her up, and noticed that she was shaking or trembling, and her feet were stretched out. I noticed some gooey poop on her tail feathers, but didn't really make anything of her vent; no blood, and otherwise no obvious wounds. I immediately isolated her, but she frantically kept calling for her sisters (as did the other two, it was a bit heartbreaking). Against my judgement, I maintained close observation of her back outside - it was warm and she seemed to be where she wanted. But again, she would sit, and when she wanted to move, she struggled to get upright, when her sisters wandered off to join them. I started to suspect, maybe she ate something? Honestly, today, I expected to lose her.
Surprisingly, she seems to still have some strength, thanks to plenty of feed and fresh, cold water. No electrolytes (pedialyte) or anything drastically different. Her crop seemed to be a little empty, when compared to her two sisters. The gooey poop is consistent. No odor. No eye encrustment or anything like that. In fact, a couple of times, today she actually made it to her feet and (with some pace, I should say) was able to scurry across the yard to join her sisters, though, she would lean back over and lay on her side. It clearly labored her, perhaps even fatigued her some. When she attempts to get up, she madly moves her feet (it's almost cartoonish) but eventually, she can get back up.
Tonight, she's in isolation, with plenty of feed and cold water, comfortable, quiet and in a warm location.
I'm super worried. Any help would be hugely appreciated. Thanks for the read and advice you may have.

Mario Luna

 

[alibabba]

This is tough, could be Marek's, but could be anything. Cocci, You might have to try treatments to exclude things. Is she eating and drinking for sure? Is she thin? How does her crop feel? Can she roost?

 

[chickie-doo]

Interesting as I had something seemingly similar in one of my very young(4 or 5 wks old) some months back. Seperated her and then took her to my vet who has tons of poultry experience. He recognized it as not lameness but neurological. Thankfully not contagious since I'm. Hyper about cross contamination issues, etc. sadly my only option was to euthanize.

 

[Farmer Del]

Well, she's eating and drinking. Peeping a bit today as well. Like I mentioned, I noticed she was able to get up and scurry to meet her sisters. She's been isolated now since last night and seems rather content to be laying down, though she seems quite alert and happy otherwise.
I was thinking it could be a nerve thing, again I'm afraid she ate something.
Crop today feels normal, though a bit on the lower side I'm afraid. She can't roost. Her size hasn't really diminished, compared to her sisters.

So I just went to inspect and assess her. She's eating and drinking, and poop today is quite solid. Normal, I think, not gooey like before. Part of me thinks she may be hurt or injured, like a wing or something? She's still very content lying on her side; I have her in the garage near a lamp, with plenty of scratch feed and water available. I'm thinking of adding pedialyte to her water, perhaps even some water soluable vitamins...

Thoughts?

 

[mypurtychickens]

Sounds like Mareks. i have had a problem with this before in my turkeys but i wouldnt let her get near the other chickens, if she doesnt get any better.... i am afraid there is nothing you can do....

 

[mypurtychickens]

 

[Farmer Del]

UPDATE. So here is Carli, she's alert, peeping softly, drinking big gulps of water and pecking and eating scratch feed like a champ. I noticed that today, she had some really normal poop, not soft or gooey, but large and solid droppings. Further inspection revealed no encrustment on/near eyes. No mucus or anything blocking (or accumulating) near nose or beak. I tried to take a peak under her wings but I didn't see anything worth noting. She only tried to stand and move about once, but otherwise, she's warm, watered, fed, and to me anyways, content. I gently picked her up, and she's got some strength in her neck and blinks and looks about. Her crop feels full-ish. The trembling/shivering isn't as apparent; a quick check to the vent and still no blood or anything that I can tell is out of the ordinary.
She's in a makeshift pen with a box with some dry grass/leaves, and I noticed she's been eating all of the feed I put in front of her. A lamp is keeping her company. Tomorrow I may add Pedialyte and vitamins, but aside from her not moving about, I continue to read and educate myself as much as possible and really do appreciate any and all advice.

We're not going to give up on her and will seek a vet for euthanize information as a last resort. If it's an injury, what are we talking? Weeks?

*sigh*

 

[chickie-doo]

This is such a tough situation. You want to give her every possible chance, of course. And I truly hope she pulls thru. We all know that the one's we fuss over the most we get that much more attached to. Don't want to be a downer, but keep in the back of your head that the "weak" or compromised ones are frequently for ever sickly too

 

[alibabba]

Hmmm,

I had a pair that I tried everything with. Vitamins, silver, corid, antibiotics, EDTA, Epsom salts, tube feeding, but it was most certainly Marek's.... This went on for months. Next time I will give the chance with everything I've got for a week or so, then let them be.

The thing is, with Marek's they don't usually appear (what we would call) depressed or lethargic. They are perky, but can't move.

They had mostly normal droppings when they were eating enough. The would eat alot at times, then not eat and droppings would get watery and very green/blue.

Could be poisoning, could be botulism...no harm trying to treat and exclude these.

For Your Own Information you can check out the "Not an Emergency, Marek's in the Flock" thread. among others...

Some may recover, if it's mild, but there would still be decisions to make. If well, they don't shed much virus. But if ill they may shed alot. If Marek's, the rest of the flock is already exposed, by either this RIR or the source..wild bird...dust on boot from the farm store etc.

Personally I give everything every chance. I would want someone to do that for me...

Best of Luck!