I need Some Help Please - Another One Dead

[onthespot]

Hey, I just wanted to jump in here and say you are not alone. A few weeks ago, two birds showed similar symptoms. Took them to the state lab for autopsies and they said positive for cocci, negative for Mareks, possible vitamin E deficiency, possible if the feed gets hot, E degrades. I usually keep the feed dish near the heat lamp so they can see it well, helps them eat more. Learn something new every day...

Treated everyone for cocci with Sulmet, and another bird was lying down, couldn't get up, just like Mareks. I hand fed it for nearly a week. VERY frustrating, and I contemplated culling him, because it was a roo chick that I did NOT need and was planning to eat anyhow, but I thought I would work like CRAZY to save him anyhow, if nothing else, for practice, in case a bird I really cared about got the same thing. I too fed him maybe four times a day. I tried to stuff his crop as full as I could each feeding, and rinse his mouth out with clean water the last couple cc's. Drove me about nuts, and toward the end he started really seeming to go to the left side always. like brain damage or something. By this point he was really struggling against me at feeding time. Getting stronger, but not much better. I propped him up between rolls of paper towels in a small cardboard box between feedings, and that seemed to help him out. Not sure if it was "the" thing, but the next day I just wasn't feeling like feeding him so much, and I put him back with the other chicks. He was a little bit more oriented, but flopped to his side, or leaned on stuff. He moved around some, but didn't look like he could stand and eat on his own. Fed him two more feedings, and the next day he was up and walking, feeding and drinking on his own. He is doing fine now, three days later. I have to really look to see which one he is.

 

[ParadiseChickens]

This is day 5 now of hand feeding this little chicken. She still cannot walk. She still just lays there. When I feed her, she is very lively and alert, just doesnt attempt to move off my lap. Eats very well from a baby spoon. Plus her poop looks normal to me. I am not sure how to proceed tho. Oh, I am going to keep on feeding her, wont cull her yet as long as she is trying. But do I continue to give her the Sulmet in her water (syringe). 2 TBSP per gallon. Do I cut it down to 1 TBSP per gallon. And when do I start giving her the polyvisol and yogurt?

Does she just think she has it made with a mama to feed her?

 

[kelar]

I'm not sure when you started the sulmet, but the tx is 2 tablespoons per gallon for 2 days and then 1 tablespoon per gallon for an additional 4 days - 6 days of treatment in all. After that, you can start giving her the poly-vi-sol, etc. I am concerned though that she is not walking - is she trying to walk? Is there something wrong with her legs? They can go down from cocci, but that is general weakness and they are normally right back on their feet when they start to get well. Have you checked her legs to be sure they are normal - no swelling etc?

 

[ParadiseChickens]

There is no swelling in her legs. But if you look at the first post, I stepped on her foot or leg, I dont know which. That was a week ago Saturday. She limped on it for about 3 days tho so I didnt think it was broken and then went down and has not walked since. The BYC'ers think it is cocci since I have 3 other chickens that have just up and died in the last 2 weeks. This chicken does not appear sick at this point just cant walk. Every once in a while she seems to try but not very hard and she also occassionally will stick one of her legs straight out in front of her while laying down.

 

[ParadiseChickens]

Bump - anybody?

 

[serenityNH]

I'm so sorry your chick is still having such a hard time and also that you have already lost 3 chicks

I am very new to chickens and can't offer very knowledgeable advice, sorry. My guess would be that it is the chicks leg that was stepped on, at least that is what it sounds like to me with what you have described. I am not sure what should be done for an injured leg but maybe that is the route to go? Sounds like you have really helped improve the chicks health already so by process of elimination I would proceed to assuming it was the leg? Wish I could help more, hopefully one of the other members with more experience will chime in.
Wishing you and your chick happy and healthy days to come

 

[catmad]

The leg sticking out is classic for Marek's, but could be from injury, as well. I would think it less likely to be from the foot problem, since the chick got around at first. I've just gone thru what I think is an episode of Marek's, and while it took time, the little roo is now ready to return to his family. He first went down May 18th, after the bunch was moved to an outside cage. I think it was brought out by the stress of the move, apparently that's often a trigger. He was fine one day, and the next laying on the floor being stepped on and unable to do anything for himself. I initially though injury, but getting him by himself I saw the paralysis. He couldn't seem to bend his leg at the knee, but I could bend it if I did it slowly and carefully. One leg was stretched out in front (at first) and the other seemed just too weak to move. Decided to give him a chance to recover. He didn't do much, didn't even eat for two days. Just lay on his side, couldn't seem to remain upright. I kept propping him up in corners. Finally got him to eat again, but he went into a panic easily, and upended himself. 6 days later, both legs were extended forward, and he'd try to "run" with them, but it only resulted in his head being down between his knees, and the legs flailing at his eyes. That made me see I either had to do something to stop that, or let him go.
I made a sling for him, but that didn't work so well. Then I made a small cardboard box into a "cradle" that let him remain upright, but kept his legs under him, and in contact with the bottom of the box. I put food and water in reach, and waited. 24 hours later, I found him at the other side of the box, and figured he'd just flapped his wings so hard it carried him over there. Put him back in the cradle. Happened again, and I realized he was upright. And realized he was actually standing, if not very stable. He's gone on to (seemingly) recover completely. I don't know if the cradle helped. I think it did, because it let him relearn to stand, like a baby learning to walk. I don't know if moving him back outside will cause a relapse, but you'd best believe he'll be carefully watched. He may very well have just recovered on his own. I had another large roo who went "down" after getting out and being attacked by a pack of rooster bullies. He didn't stand for over a week (it may have been longer), but since he was eating and drinking, and remained upright, I let it go. He was also one of my favorites, a huge Lemon Blue Cochin, sweet as pie. Eventually he was walking around, and now seems fine. He's being moved (with his harem) in a day or so, so I'll watch him. too.

Guess I just want to say it might help to give the chick more time. Since she's eating and drinking, and seems happier, I'd wait and see.

Margo in SC

 

[ParadiseChickens]

Thank you Catmad, for giving me hope. This morning I see a small improvement. After I hand feed it, I always place it down on a towel to see what it can do towards walking. This morning she can stand. She stands kinda squatted down but her lower body is an inch or so off the ground (this is a very small 4 month old chick). If she trys to take a step forward which she seems hesitant to do, she topples frontward or sideways. But I would say this is a big improvement. I do not believe she is sick any longer or maybe this leg/foot injury was always its problem. I have to keep reminding myself that 3 others have just up and died in the last 2 weeks tho. The remaining 4 are very lively, I am hoping that is an indication of well being.

I am discontinuing the Sulmet and starting on the polyvisol for the little one and hope for some more improvement in the days to come. I no longer fear that she will be dead when I go out in the morning. I guess if she surprises me, it was meant to be.

 

[onthespot]

That is great news! That is exactly how my last roo started to act when he got better. I tried walking him with support, like a kid playing with a chicken walking toy puppet thing, and he started to move his legs a little like he was trying to walk. I would support him against the side of the box and he would try to walk a few steps, and hold him up so he coud get a drink of fresh water if he wanted. Sometimes he would only take a few sips, but then he was still hungy/thirsty for me to feed him too. I would try to get him to eat or drink first, even if it was a few bites, before I would hand feed him. When I propped him up to rest in between feedings, I tried to make him set so he could reach into a low dish of chick starter without trying too hard. I think he ate some, and more so toward the end of his convalescence. I'm rooting for you and your little chicken!

I think it is possible to recover her. I'd also stop with the Sulmet, probably cured by now.

That foot forward does sound like Marek's, but mine were doing it too, and they were necropsied at the lab and came back negative, so not always mareks if they stiffen up their leg or legs. Also, mine was posturing some with the neck, like upward and then tucking the chin in, sort of like a flamingo pose. Hope that helps. So sorry you are having to deal with this. Hope you get her to pull through.

 

[ParadiseChickens]

Day 6 - SHE WALKED, SHE WALKED. Only about 3 steps and only 2X but still she walked on her own. She wobbles while trying but it reminds me of what a human would do while trying to recover. She appeared very strong while I was feeding her, had her eyes open the whole time and sorta stood in my lap while eating. I tried putting her beak in her regular food and water, and no attempt there yet. I am getting excited for her tho.

I did something bad I think tho. I gave her a 1/2 dropper of the polyvisol yesterday morning and then got to wondering if that was right, what with so many things recommended for other folks to just add to the water. I asked the question on here as to how to give and it looks as if I may have overdosed her. I sure hope that doesnt do damage.

Plus, no foot forward this morning but she did have a little runny poo as she was walking. What is in her box is absorbed by the shavings and I didnt know it was runny. Hope this isnt more indication of Mareks. I see no other symptoms of that tho. She has always kept a very strong neck movement and her wings flap well.