I'm praying this is not Mareks...

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SilkiesForEver

Crowing
8 Years
Mar 24, 2012
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I went out to my juvenile coop and found one of my young OEGB cockerels not being able to walk correctly, with one leg sticking out in front to the side. He was perfectly fine yesterday, flying up on my arm as he normally does to get treats.

I am going to treat him as if this is splay leg, so I started him on some vitamin supplements. I am also going to change my feed, because I don't think it has enough of the things they need.

He doesn't appear to have mareks, I've done some research on the symptoms, so I am going to separate him and keep treating him. If he doesn't get better, I will most likely put him down. But that is not in my thoughts right now, as I do want to try everything to help him.

Any help is appreciated.
 
Well.... he's gone downhill very, very fast. :( He looks like he's in shock, and is sitting in the corner of his crate with huge, wide eyes just dazing. I have a feeling he'll be dead by morning. :(
 
He's still alive. But he has lost all coordination. When I checked on him, he looked up and his head fell backwards. He can't walk at all now. Its so sad, he talks to me when I checked his leg out.
 
Have you seen any clumps or mold in your feed or scratch? Could he have eaten any rotten material out in the field such as a rotting animal or fish, or maggots that could have caused botulism? Mareks disease could be a possibility as well. Do you have electrolytes, Pedialyte, Gatorade, or sugar to put in the water and give him some with a dropper carefully? Here is a link about botulism. http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism
 
@Eggcessive

No, I haven't. I have no clue what could have caused this.

He responds to sound, and tries his hardest to look up at me when I talk to him. He doesn't stand, but does have control/feeling in his legs. I pinched his toes on each foot and he jerks his foot away.

I'm giving him vitamins, and will crush some feed into a liquid so he can get some protein. If I see a confirming symptom of Mareks then I will cull him.
 
This is so difficult. I've had vitamin deficiencies in my flock, the very same one that the cockerel was living with. I treated the chick and she's perfectly fine now. Maybe that's his issue as well?
 

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