HELP!

[Lexiee's Chicks]

Hi. I have a 6 week old bantom/leghorn chicken that was doing great....until 5 days ago. All of my chickens are free range. I let them out in the am, and she was limping, taking a few steps and then falling over. Her left foot seemed to be the problem. I brought her inside, and she is now worse. Both feet have curled up and she is unable to stand. I have to hold her to eat and drink because she falls over trying to bend her head/body over to eat. Her cone is normal, poop is fine. This morning she was laying in her own poop due to her not being able to walk around. I have been giving her the electrolyte and probiotic powder packages in her water. I don't know what it could be! Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

[h2oratt]

Do you have any nutridrench? It doesn't sound good. I am no expert but it could be mareks disease. Google it. I don't think much can be done for everyone it

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry you are having trouble.

Sounds a lot like Marek's to me also...

Other than supportive care and hope for recovery, which might include a chicken sling over a box to get them out of the poo and let them try to put weight on their legs... I have had one recover from the illness but not the paralysis and had to cull after 3 weeks because I can't do it long term. How would they ever lay an egg if they are sitting in their own poo.

Sorry, as an experienced keeper... I would cull right NOW!.

It is spread through dander... is she separated from the others? Chances are it's on your land. Your other birds may still catch it or never show symptoms. Also, they may not show ALL the symptoms

I suggest a necropsy for verification once the bird passes so you will know for sure what you are dealing with...

http://www.poultrydvm.com/symptoms

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Again, sorry... it's especially difficult for first timers.

Hope I'm wrong and your chick feels better!

 

[Lexiee's Chicks]

Thank you both for responding. How does 1 chick get Mareks dz? I have a bantom rooster, 2 RIRs, 2 Orpingtons, and 3 leghorns that will all be a year old in January. 2 star reds that will be 2 years old in a month, and 2 polish, and 3 silkies that are 6 months old. My question is, how do I know which chicken she got it from if all of the others are healthy? And all are at different ages. i checked for a tumor on legs, and didn't see or feel anything. This is a crazy question, but can it be passed to my dogs? I have a yorkie that is pregnant that lives inside, and I've had the chick inside too. This makes me ill to think that the rest of my flock could actually get this......
Oh. And 1 of the week old chicks flew out of its brooder, and got into the sick chicks box, and has been trying to help her. Is she going to get it?

 

[Lexiee's Chicks]

Do you have any nutridrench? It doesn't sound good. I am no expert but it could be mareks disease. Google it. I don't think much can be done for everyone it

I don't have any, but I can get it. What does it help with?

 

[h2oratt]

It has a bunch of vitamins that can give an energy boost. You can also cook her an egg. Keep her energy up.

 

[lilmillefleur]

You and your dog are fine. Marek's is only spread between birds, I think.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you both for responding. How does 1 chick get Mareks dz? I have a bantom rooster, 2 RIRs, 2 Orpingtons, and 3 leghorns that will all be a year old in January. 2 star reds that will be 2 years old in a month, and 2 polish, and 3 silkies that are 6 months old. My question is, how do I know which chicken she got it from if all of the others are healthy? And all are at different ages. i checked for a tumor on legs, and didn't see or feel anything. This is a crazy question, but can it be passed to my dogs? I have a yorkie that is pregnant that lives inside, and I've had the chick inside too. This makes me ill to think that the rest of my flock could actually get this......
Oh. And 1 of the week old chicks flew out of its brooder, and got into the sick chicks box, and has been trying to help her. Is she going to get it?

It may not be mareks. If it is, your other birds are already exposed. They may get it or not. There are no guarantees with Marek when it will rear it's ugly head. The state vet in Davis says as far as they are concerned it is in EVERY poultry environment. That is just one possibility. And the tumors associated with it would not be visible to you, but when they cut open the deceased bird. I culled 2 birds and the rest have yet to show any symptoms of 72 total at the time. But I know they could. In the future you can get birds are vaccinated for Marek's but that won't change anything for your current flock.

Any poultry/bird vitamins will work (even baby Poly Vi Sol with NO iron will work). Nutri drench is not my favorite because it doesn't have any B's... which is crucial to help in recovery from shipping and other stress IMO.

Cocci could be another possibility (loss of balance) but *usually* indicated by standing around sleeping and puffed up.

There could be other causes... vitamin E, or selenium deficiency..

 

[sylviethecochin]

Look up riboflavin (B2) deficiency. One of my pullets got that at about two months old once, and after some vitamin supplements, she perked up fine. I've read that it's often confused with marek's.

If it is Mareks, then your prognosis isn't good--but I just had one little black pullet recover from that a month ago. it took her nearly six weeks, but she made it.

Good luck.

EDT: I stoled this picture of B2 deficiency off the internet.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

6 week old bantom/leghorn chicken...All of my chickens are free range...limping, taking a few steps and then falling over. Her left foot seemed to be the problem. I brought her inside, and she is now worse. Both feet have curled up and she is unable to stand.

@Lexiee's Chicks
How is your chick?
Can you post some photos?
What type of food/treats do you feed?

While it could be Marek's (6wks is a little young, imho) investigating further to see if adding Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) to her daily feed will make any difference.

Poultry Nutri-Drench does not contain Riboflavin (B2), so look for a poultry vitamin that does or you can use human B-Complex Vitamins (no iron), just crush 1 tablet and add it to her feed daily. Watch to see that she is drinking well and eating her chick starter.

Let us know how she is doing.