In Mareks Disease denial

[cavemanrich]

And poop pic (the wateryness is just spilled from a bottle)

Green poop is not a good sign, But I do not know what is the cause. I will Tag @aart , as this member may be able to give more insight,

 

[Smawise]

Does not look like bumble foot from pix you posted. I am still inclined to think it is a sprain, especially the swelling on the ankle.

Hmm, how long can a sprain effect them? Can I put her in a cast of some kind?

 

[Smawise]

Green poop is not a good sign, But I do not know what is the cause. I will Tag @aart , as this member may be able to give more insight,

Yes I thought it looked off, thank you for the help. They do however roam free in the yard and eat the grass so much we don't need to mow it.

 

[Shezadandy]

Thank you for the welcome ☺

I'm not sure if vet checked specifically for it. I've checked for bumble foot but honestly I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking for.. Her ankles look more "swollen" than her flock mates.

Unfortunately not bumblefoot based on the photos, but I have serious doubts that's Marek's - as cavemanrich mentioned, the age doesn't fit with the usual onset.

Green poop can be a lot of bile if the chicken isn't eating/drinking - but when there's a reasonable volume and if she's out where she's eating greenery - I wouldn't be too worried. If you hadn't seen her eat and drink I'd worry more.

Chickens can't use crutches (though they may try with their wings) - so wherever she hurt herself, the other side is also going to be really tired and really sore from being her main source of propulsion. An awkward fall from the roost or nest box or??? ... I wish they could tell us what happened.

I've had 2 unfortunate leg injury accidents that did not improve- and try as I might I couldn't find a break and there was no obvious localized source of pain and otherwise they both seemed fine, even laying eggs.

One can get around but she does spend most of her day down. Wherever she settles I make sure there's food and water within reach, though she can navigate to do the necessities. I think she's got nerve damage because she actually steps on her own foot and doesn't react when she does. The other has a bad limp but is more mobile.

Both are in a "friendly" area with relatively level ground and no roosters to hassle them, and I've made them their own nest at ground level- a very low tech metal drinking trough (2x2x4) turned onto its side. I've stacked the inside with a deep layer of pine pellets and straw so they can arrange a comfortable spot to sleep.

Chicken wheelchairs can be used, depending on how the bird feels about it and whether it scares the poop out of everyone in the vicinity.

Here's an example for the sake of picturing how it looks if you happen to be handy. I imagine the bottom of a stroller could make a ready-made frame -

https://www.handicappedpets.com/walkin-wheels-duck-wheelchair/#tab-description

 

[Shezadandy]

Hmm, how long can a sprain effect them? Can I put her in a cast of some kind?

Have you tried giving her aspirin? I like to use the chewable low dose 81mg ones and put it over a favorite treat- watermelon or scrambled egg - generally goes right on down and doesn't have the bitterness factor. Check around but I want to say the dose is 25mg per pound of bird per day.

Given her gait I don't think a cast or splint will help. But, if you can find a way to take the load off the injured (I think it's an injury) leg - there are all kinds of setups for this. And it can be done with PVC too ...

http://www.poultrydvm.com/cases/neptune-the-chicken

 

[Smawise]

Unfortunately not bumblefoot based on the photos, but I have serious doubts that's Marek's - as cavemanrich mentioned, the age doesn't fit with the usual onset.

Green poop can be a lot of bile if the chicken isn't eating/drinking - but when there's a reasonable volume and if she's out where she's eating greenery - I wouldn't be too worried. If you hadn't seen her eat and drink I'd worry more.

Chickens can't use crutches (though they may try with their wings) - so wherever she hurt herself, the other side is also going to be really tired and really sore from being her main source of propulsion. An awkward fall from the roost or nest box or??? ... I wish they could tell us what happened.

I've had 2 unfortunate leg injury accidents that did not improve- and try as I might I couldn't find a break and there was no obvious localized source of pain and otherwise they both seemed fine, even laying eggs.

One can get around but she does spend most of her day down. Wherever she settles I make sure there's food and water within reach, though she can navigate to do the necessities. I think she's got nerve damage because she actually steps on her own foot and doesn't react when she does. The other has a bad limp but is more mobile.

Both are in a "friendly" area with relatively level ground and no roosters to hassle them, and I've made them their own nest at ground level- a very low tech metal drinking trough (2x2x4) turned onto its side. I've stacked the inside with a deep layer of pine pellets and straw so they can arrange a comfortable spot to sleep.

Chicken wheelchairs can be used, depending on how the bird feels about it and whether it scares the poop out of everyone in the vicinity.

Here's an example for the sake of picturing how it looks if you happen to be handy. I imagine the bottom of a stroller could make a ready-made frame -

https://www.handicappedpets.com/walkin-wheels-duck-wheelchair/#tab-description

Thank you so much for the time you've taken to type this out.

I want the outcome to be that we just take extra care of her and make sure she's comfortable,this gives me some hope, your gals sound so sweet.

Hmm yes.. A chicken wheelchair may be in her future... Thank you.

 

[Smawise]

Have you tried giving her aspirin? I like to use the chewable low dose 81mg ones and put it over a favorite treat- watermelon or scrambled egg - generally goes right on down and doesn't have the bitterness factor. Check around but I want to say the dose is 25mg per pound of bird per day.

Given her gait I don't think a cast or splint will help. But, if you can find a way to take the load off the injured (I think it's an injury) leg - there are all kinds of setups for this. And it can be done with PVC too ...

http://www.poultrydvm.com/cases/neptune-the-chicken

I'm trying aspirin for 5 days to see how she goes. I gave her some previously for 2 days but didn't see limp improve (which doesn't mean it wasn't helping, she may have just been happy to sit all day)

 

[Shezadandy]

Thank you so much for the time you've taken to type this out.

I want the outcome to be that we just take extra care of her and make sure she's comfortable,this gives me some hope, your gals sound so sweet.

Hmm yes.. A chicken wheelchair may be in her future... Thank you.

If you've got the time and the inclination, I'm willing to bet she can enjoy the rest of her days. From what you've written it sounds like she's still enjoying chicken activities and it seems like her friends are treating her well despite the hitch in her giddy-up.

It's a little thing but maybe have a look at her nails and see if you might be able to trim them a bit- I use the nail trimming scissors for cats. Any little bit might help her in moving around by shortening the nail.

Hopefully the aspirin helps - if you have probiotic powder (like Sav-a-Chick packets, not the electrolytes though -the probiotics - easy to grab the wrong one) or Probios or something like that) to add while she's getting the aspirin. I wouldn't expect to see a big change in the limp, but it might help relieve soreness on the good side. (picture hopping around on one leg and imagine where else you'd be sore from doing that).

If she'll accept some variety of support - not all chickens will - but if she'll tolerate being in a sling of some variety (anything that supports her body weight is what I'm calling a sling) whether it's mobile like a wheelchair and she can learn to move around that way - or immobile-- I would try aspirin again at that point for the first days- it might be more effective for her when she's not having to put weight on her bad leg, and of course it's another change in how she'll be moving.

Traction is important- as is a nice deep comfy bed. If there's anything especially slippery - like the bottom of a crate, or plywood or?? - one good solution are the 1/4" rubber mats that most farm supply stores sell by the foot, usually 30" wide but as wide as 48". The big ones for horse stalls are 3/4" which are super heavy - I use them as part of my coop floor covering the plywood - but the 1/4" stuff is much more user friendly for smaller jobs. Easy to cut with a box cutter.

I will think happy thoughts for her improvement!

 

[aart]

Hmm, how long can a sprain effect them? Can I put her in a cast of some kind?

Weeks. No cast.

I think your vet was off....are they an avian vet?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My little Todoboki is roughly 4-5 years old

Todo has developed leg issues. Limping on right leg. I took her to the vet today and they said no fractures or sprain as far as they can tell, but told me it may be Mareks disease.

She isn't lethargic, eating and drinking, dirt bathing and following her flock, but spends most of the day sitting down now.

She's been like this for about 2 weeks, not getting that much worse though

I'm trying aspirin for 5 days to see how she goes. I gave her some previously for 2 days but didn't see limp improve (which doesn't mean it wasn't helping, she may have just been happy to sit all day)

I would lean more toward injury, but you don't mention if she's laying eggs or not.
With her being 4-5 yrs of age, she may also be having some reproductive issues that could be causing the limping.

I would not give her more aspirin if you already tried that with no improvement. Aspirin really should only be giving for a couple of days, it's not for long term use.

You mention she's eating/drinking/dust bathing/following the flock.... she's been like this for 2 weeks, not getting better or worse. Then I would take more of a watch and see approach.

I get it, sometimes we feel like we must "do something" but sometimes there's not a lot that can be done.