Hen sitting/standing on "elbows"/Mareks?

[stnkyferit]

So yesterday I went out to the coop and found one of my girls on the bottom flopping around, 1/2 in and 1/2 out of a nest box...I assumed that she was egg bound, so I did the soaking. She was kind of lethargic and would fall asleep in and out of the bath, but she enjoyed the warm water. There was still no progress on an egg and had only pooped once (runny) in a couple of hours. I gave her soaked feed (so she can get hydrated too) and she started pooping more....still no egg. I was beginning to think maybe it is Mareks, but she is getting better if that could be. She was kind of limp yesterday with little wing strength and would just flop and one toe was curled under, literally resting on her "elbows" like when they lay down. Fast forward 24 hours, and she is stronger but still not standing/walking. Poops are normal poops too. (Still no egg). Her eyes are bright and she is talkative.

I put her on my lap upside down to move her legs around - no pain when I move the hips and can extend both legs out. I can get them to retract if I put her off balance. I stood her up....and had her stand on downward slope, and she did have the instinct to try and self correct by putting her legs out...she just cannot stand or walk.


I am going to make her a "sling" in the mean time so she can gradually bear weight again. She is in no pain, and is bright and cheery (yesterday was different) and eating and pooping normal poops (able to lift her tail to do so).

I would assume that Mareks would get worse and not better. Yes/No?

 

[stnkyferit]

I put her in a sling...she is alert....eating....has her foot curled but pushes it out to re-stabilize herself (can move at the hip)...

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be Mareks disease with those symptoms, but it would be good to get her well hydrated with water, and give her vitamins with electrolytes. Make sure they contain riboflavin (vitamin B1.) Keep food and water within reach, and remove her from the sling often to let her lie down and sleep or stretch or do some range of motion exercises on her legs.