Help with hen, uncoordinated, stumbling

[fatnfur]

Hi everyone,
One of my 8 chickens is in trouble, she started stumbling and was walking around with an outstretched neck. I also noticed some toe curling when walking.Her neck is not twisted and has seemed normal after I first noticed her condition. She is approx 8 -12 months old and laying, Her eyes are clear with good yellow color, her nasal passages are clear and no signs of respritory trouble,
she is eating and poop looks normal, no signs of injury to the bottoms of her feet.I currently have her quarantined, and have been giving her vitimine water (with riboflavin) for 3 days with no signs of improvement. My bird are free range and all have seemed very healthy until now. No other birds seem affected.
Thank you for you input

 

[DanielleinLA]

I had a similar issue with a hen. Upon inspection I found lice all over her. I gave her a bath & nursed her inside for a week but she never seemed to be able to balance for more than three steps. She also started panting often for no reason. Not sure what happened to her to cause this. I wish I had an answer. Good luck to you and your hen.

 

[DanielleinLA]

Do you have an update?

 

[marthacolleen]

It's almost certainly Mareck's, which is a viral disease, HIGHLY contagious, and carried in their "dander" - so any feathers they shed, etc... will carry the virus for months. There is a vaccination that can be given for it, it's a sub-cut injection that needs to be given at one day of age. I'm sorry you had this also, it's horrific to watch them succumb to it. There is no "cure" and they will all die different "deaths". For their sake, just hope it's quick. Breaks your heart. They are so confused as to why their little legs no longer work, they fall over... it's horrible.