americanchicken
In the Brooder
- Jun 9, 2023
- 4
- 1
- 11
Hi there!
I’m a first time flock owner. All of my girls are about a year and a half now, I have 4 ameracaunas that I got as chicks (unvaccinated).
The seeming leader of the flock, Joyce, has been acting odd since at least Monday 6/5, but probably Sunday, too.
When I found her, she was mostly sitting, which is why I didn’t catch it right away. I thought she was just dust bathing.
Turns out, she isn’t walking very well. It seems like it could be Marek’s, but at the same time I feel like it could be something else like a vitamin deficiency.
She doesn’t feel different from her sisters, rather, when she walks, she has her chest down more, and then when she walks or runs (cause she’s definitely a runner) she tumbles completely over. She still has control of her wings, sometimes she’ll use them for balance, and she’s definitely kicked her legs to get away from my dog when she came running up near her, granted not enough to actually move anywhere as she was laying on her side, but she still kicked her feet. Pretty hard actually. She can stand, but prefers to sit on her hocks; and JUST her legs tremor when she’s sitting with her feet to the side (same direction, not splayed). It’s also not constant.
Her coordination isn’t good, so I’ve been thinking whatever it is, is neurological.
She doesn’t appear to be injured.
I’ve been giving her the laying food we get from tractor supply, and today started adding poultry cell to help out hoping it might be a vitamin deficiency or something like that.
I originally thought she could be egg bound, but in the last 5 days I’ve gotten two eggs from her. Either Tuesday or Wednesday, and today.
Her poops mostly runny with some solids, but not a lot.
She’s not eating as much. I’m trying to hand feed her a bit, and she goes through the motions but she doesn’t actually eat it, and she’s been eating a little from the food I’ve given her separate from her sisters. She will drink water, I’ve added a bit of apple cider vinegar.
I will add, I recently started to try to ferment the feed (last Friday!), but have since stopped just in case.
I’m looking for guidance, and whatever advice or experience if it does sound like Marek’s.
I do have her separated, but I also walk with her outside in the grass to see if she’s gotten better, and she’s been about the same.
(*in these pictures, she’s sitting on one leg, sometimes both are to the side and that’s how she sits*)
She’s such a sweet girl, and I’d love to help her get back to normal. Thanks in advance!
I’m a first time flock owner. All of my girls are about a year and a half now, I have 4 ameracaunas that I got as chicks (unvaccinated).
The seeming leader of the flock, Joyce, has been acting odd since at least Monday 6/5, but probably Sunday, too.
When I found her, she was mostly sitting, which is why I didn’t catch it right away. I thought she was just dust bathing.
Turns out, she isn’t walking very well. It seems like it could be Marek’s, but at the same time I feel like it could be something else like a vitamin deficiency.
She doesn’t feel different from her sisters, rather, when she walks, she has her chest down more, and then when she walks or runs (cause she’s definitely a runner) she tumbles completely over. She still has control of her wings, sometimes she’ll use them for balance, and she’s definitely kicked her legs to get away from my dog when she came running up near her, granted not enough to actually move anywhere as she was laying on her side, but she still kicked her feet. Pretty hard actually. She can stand, but prefers to sit on her hocks; and JUST her legs tremor when she’s sitting with her feet to the side (same direction, not splayed). It’s also not constant.
Her coordination isn’t good, so I’ve been thinking whatever it is, is neurological.
She doesn’t appear to be injured.
I’ve been giving her the laying food we get from tractor supply, and today started adding poultry cell to help out hoping it might be a vitamin deficiency or something like that.
I originally thought she could be egg bound, but in the last 5 days I’ve gotten two eggs from her. Either Tuesday or Wednesday, and today.
Her poops mostly runny with some solids, but not a lot.
She’s not eating as much. I’m trying to hand feed her a bit, and she goes through the motions but she doesn’t actually eat it, and she’s been eating a little from the food I’ve given her separate from her sisters. She will drink water, I’ve added a bit of apple cider vinegar.
I will add, I recently started to try to ferment the feed (last Friday!), but have since stopped just in case.
I’m looking for guidance, and whatever advice or experience if it does sound like Marek’s.
I do have her separated, but I also walk with her outside in the grass to see if she’s gotten better, and she’s been about the same.
(*in these pictures, she’s sitting on one leg, sometimes both are to the side and that’s how she sits*)
She’s such a sweet girl, and I’d love to help her get back to normal. Thanks in advance!