Hen with milky diarrhea, loses balance and falling back onto hocks

[Eggcessive]

I would have to say that Mareks does sound like a possibility. If you have a local vet who would check some fresh droppings for coccidia and worms, it could rule those out. Unfortunately some do not see birds or they have to send out fecal tests to a lab for results if they don’t do them in house. Also check for egg binding which can affect legs.

I would go ahead and get Corid. Dosage is 1.5 tsp of the powder of 2 tsp (10 ml) of the liquid per gallon of water for 5-7 days. It is safe enough to treat the others. Probiotics in her food could help as well. Offer medicated water often, some choppe egg for a treat. Until you get the Corid, I would give her some vitamins in her food, then stop those while she is on the Corid. If possible, start the Corid today.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a good article about Mareks disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[SarahGfa]

The good news is her appetite's back. She made it most of the way through that cup of wet chick feed, so I topped it up and she's still eating. She also ate half of a boiled egg.

The bad news is her legs are even weaker today. I tried to pick her up and put her on her feet, and the first thing she did was take a huge broody poop (except she's not broody). You can see in the picture that the poop is even bigger than her head.

After the poop she sank back down. Can't stand up on her own.

Does this mean it is definitely Marek's and not cocci?

 

[azygous]

Lameness can be symptomatic of Marek's but it's not a definitive diagnostic. Lameness is caused by different things, one of which can be from nutritional deficiencies. When she's completed her first five-day round of Corid, try giving her a viamin B tablet each day until you give her round two of Corid. Do not do this during the time she is on Corid as Corid is a vitamin B blocker and B-complex will neutralize the effectiveness of Corid.

 

[Eggcessive]

People have reported other things that look like Mareks causing similar symptoms. On a vet show I watch on TV, one little bantam had suspected Mareks, but it turned out to be a spleen infection that put pressure on the leg nerves. You probably will only know if she dies and you can get anecrospy with testing for Mareks. Some chicks with suspected Mareks have ended up with only coccidiosis, so you cannot be sure. I would give her some more time, vitamins, and perhaps trying a chicken chair or sling for brief periods. Here are some examples in post 5:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[Eggcessive]

This is a basic design you can make out of mesh (such as a laundry bag,) a T-shirt, or fabric, and place over a dog crate bottom, a frame, a box, or hang from above:

 

[SarahGfa]

Lameness can be symptomatic of Marek's but it's not a definitive diagnostic. Lameness is caused by different things, one of which can be from nutritional deficiencies. When she's completed her first five-day round of Corid, try giving her a viamin B tablet each day until you give her round two of Corid. Do not do this during the time she is on Corid as Corid is a vitamin B blocker and B-complex will neutralize the effectiveness of Corid.

Should I do the vitamin B first, or Corid? Is cocci still a possibility even though her poops have gone back to normal?

 

[azygous]

You have a very good point. If her poops continue to be normal, if she demonstrates a decent appetite and is drinking water on her own, and she isn't behaving lethargically, you may decide to try the B-complex first, and if she continues to get better, assume coccidiosis may not be the issue here.

 

[SarahGfa]

You have a very good point. If her poops continue to be normal, if she demonstrates a decent appetite and is drinking water on her own, and she isn't behaving lethargically, you may decide to try the B-complex first, and if she continues to get better, assume coccidiosis may not be the issue here.

Okay, I gave her about half a mL of Poly-Vi-Sol (without iron). It covers Vitamin B6 and B12 and A, C, D, E in case any of those are deficient. Now to make her a chick chair...

 

[Eggcessive]

It (PVS) also has thiamine B1, riboflavin B2, and niacin B3, which are very good for legs and muscles, and other things. We love chick chairs pictures to get ideas.