How often do chickens get keel injuries? Or maybe my girl has botulism?

[Kiki]

Have you read anything about Marek's disease yet?

 

[The_Flock]

Have you read anything about Marek's disease yet?

Yes I've done quite a bit of reading on Marek's. I'm not ruling it out. But I am hoping it's not that as I'm not at all happy to cull my beautiful and healthy flock. ☹ I love them so much.
But I do know that there are a large number of other diseases and ailments that look alot like Marek's. I'm putting all my vibes into it being an injury related issue. Knowing this sweet girl and how much she loves to jump over anything that is high...like my 7' fence (I just now remembered that she loved to jump and tried to escape the coop from the top a few times when she first came here) leads me to think that to her her daredevil days were worth this untimely condition.

 

[The_Flock]

Have you thought about her possibly having kinky back (also called roach back,) which is a spondylopathy or bone deformity of the spine and breastbone. It can cause compression of the spinal cord and sometimes paralysis of the legs. Spondylopathies can be common in chickens, more so in meat chickens.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/kinky-back
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers

View attachment 1890676
Chicken with kinky back or spondylopathy

If Louise does have kinky back is there anything I need to do with/for my other chickens? I can't seem to find this info online. It says it's from bacterium. Does that mean I have to do something about bacteria in my coop? Or do I have one unlucky girl to get/develop it?
Thanks so much for your help. ☺

 

[The_Flock]

Thanks everyone for your help so far. I really appreciate it. I find comfort in talking to other chicken folk. ☺❤

 

[Eggcessive]

Kinky back is a a genetic defect. It may also be from a vitamin or mineral deficiency in parent stock. I don’t read anything about it being from bacteria. Can you be specific?

If Louise does have kinky back is there anything I need to do with/for my other chickens? I can't seem to find this info online. It says it's from bacterium. Does that mean I have to do something about bacteria in my coop? Or do I have one unlucky girl to get/develop it?
Thanks so much for your help. ☺

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If it is Marek's, culling the whole flock will not eradicate it from your property. Marek's can live a long time in the environment. Sometimes it may be necessary to put down a bird that is failing, but a lot of people learn to manage symptoms/give supportive care and keep a closed flock.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

I think you are doing what you can for her at this time, offering supportive care and trying to make her comfortable.

 

[Eggcessive]

I did just read one article that says that it may be caused by a bacterium, but no more info is given. All other articles call it a genetic affect or due to too rapid growth. Here is another article about kinky back:
https://thepoultrysite.com/disease-guide/spondylolisthesis-kinky-back

Here is the article than mentioned a bacterium:
https://www.poultryworld.net/Health/health_tool/Kinky-Back-spondylolisthesis/

 

[The_Flock]

I did just read one article that says that it may be caused by a bacterium, but no more info is given. All other articles call it a genetic affect or due to too rapid growth. Here is another article about kinky back:
https://thepoultrysite.com/disease-guide/spondylolisthesis-kinky-back

Here is the article than mentioned a bacterium:
https://www.poultryworld.net/Health/health_tool/Kinky-Back-spondylolisthesis/

I saw this article too. It seems to say that males get kinky back from growth rate issues and females get it from bacterium. I'm wondering if it's something like meningitis in people?

 

[The_Flock]

If it is Marek's, culling the whole flock will not eradicate it from your property. Marek's can live a long time in the environment. Sometimes it may be necessary to put down a bird that is failing, but a lot of people learn to manage symptoms/give supportive care and keep a closed flock.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

I think you are doing what you can for her at this time, offering supportive care and trying to make her comfortable.

Thank you. I'm hoping I'm doing what she needs. But she is failing. ☹
Thank you for the link as well. It's promising to be able to keep at least most of one's flock after Marek's. I'll be keeping a close eye on the others for the next...well probably forever, if I'm being truthful. ☺

 

[The_Flock]

Boohoo!!!
I found the break in Louise's leg and it's really bad. And she's too far gone now to help her. I'm sending her off with love. ❤
Thank you everyone for all your help with Louise. I truly appreciate it. I wish so much this outcome could've been different. But I've learned ALOT in this process and Louise has been loved and will be to the very end.