Is this Marek's or Riboflavin deficiency? Please help :(

[luukasama]

Update:

It seems like Tsubasa is slowly getting better. As of yesterday, I saw a huge improvement over how she behaved the first day when we put her into the sling. On the first day, she didn't or couldn't move her legs, and when put into a sling, she just stayed in it without any major incident, so still had some fits every now and then.

Yesterday, third day in the sling, she began backpedaling a lot. I knew she wanted to get out, and since we were going to be working on the coop outside, and the temperature was decent enough, we took her and Hickory out. I was very surprised to her actually attempting and succeeding at balancing on her hocks. She was still very shaky, but managed to actually stay up to preen herself, and was able to hobble along a bit without using her wings for support. She stayed out all day with us, until sundown.

Thus far, we've just been putting up the feed and vitamin saturated water, which I've been force feeding her. Reason being is that I don't see her ever drink in my presence, so I do it every now and then just to make sure. I've also cut up some of our eggs for her for protein, and have been giving it to them for 2 days now. We will see how she does in the next few days. Will post more updates soon.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes these type of illnesses turn out to be something other than Mareks, so I have posted some links below on Mareks, in which the Mareks FaQ (3rd link) lists diseases that can look like Mareks: Below that is a link about riboflavin deficiency:
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/#/disease/Marek's_Disease
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency

 

[MrsBachbach]

Update:

It seems like Tsubasa is slowly getting better.  As of yesterday, I saw a huge improvement over how she behaved the first day when we put her into the sling.  On the first day, she didn't or couldn't move her legs, and when put into a sling, she just stayed in it without any major incident, so still had some fits every now and then.

Yesterday, third day in the sling, she began backpedaling a lot.  I knew she wanted to get out, and since we were going to be working on the coop outside, and the temperature was decent enough, we took her and Hickory out.  I was very surprised to her actually attempting and succeeding at balancing on her hocks.  She was still very shaky, but managed to actually stay up to preen herself, and was able to hobble along a bit without using her wings for support.  She stayed out all day with us, until sundown.

Thus far, we've just been putting up the feed and vitamin saturated water, which I've been force feeding her.  Reason being is that I don't see her ever drink in my presence, so I do it every now and then just to make sure.  I've also cut up some of our eggs for her for protein, and have been giving it to them for 2 days now.  We will see how she does in the next few days.  Will post more updates soon.

Sounds like steps in the right direction!

 

[luukasama]

New update:

So far, Tsubasa has been recovering, albeit very very slowly. I continue giving her vitamins in the water, and she's sometimes standing on her claws, but it seems like she's stuck walking on her hocks. I noticed a huge piece of bloodied skin (that was very dry) like a scab that was coming off her knee, but I didn't take it off, thinking it'll come off by itself.

Today, I inspected her and it wasn't there anymore. And her knees that used to be beat up from knocking on the wood a lot now seem fine. Am I just being impatient or is there a possibility that she's going to be lame like this for the rest of her life?

We recently got 4 more chicks to see if we could create a new flock with her as the leader, because Hickory passed away and now she is alone. We may also get a light brahma rooster so that there is another of her type. She seems to come alive a bit, as in she pecked the younger ones to let them know she's the boss, but other that that, I'm still concerned for her health.

 

[Bravo]

I have no advice to offer but I just wanted to tell you how impressed I am with your sling.

You are doing everything you can for your girl and making her an ingenious sling (from underwear, no less) is testament to your commitment to your flock. No one should ever scold or reprimand you for that.

Sending positive thoughts to you and your girl for her continued recovery.

 

[Eggcessive]

New update:

So far, Tsubasa has been recovering, albeit very very slowly. I continue giving her vitamins in the water, and she's sometimes standing on her claws, but it seems like she's stuck walking on her hocks. I noticed a huge piece of bloodied skin (that was very dry) like a scab that was coming off her knee, but I didn't take it off, thinking it'll come off by itself.

Today, I inspected her and it wasn't there anymore. And her knees that used to be beat up from knocking on the wood a lot now seem fine. Am I just being impatient or is there a possibility that she's going to be lame like this for the rest of her life?

We recently got 4 more chicks to see if we could create a new flock with her as the leader, because Hickory passed away and now she is alone. We may also get a light brahma rooster so that there is another of her type. She seems to come alive a bit, as in she pecked the younger ones to let them know she's the boss, but other that that, I'm still concerned for her health.

I'm glad that she is recovering. Since you cannot be sure that she has riboflavin deficiency or possibly Mareks disease, it's hard to predict if she will be lame. Riboflavin deficiency has to be treated early to have success. Mareks can be tested for by having a vet draw blood and sending it off to Texas A&M or another veterinary facility that does it. Here is a link for that: http://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests_services/test_info.php?unit_id=1349

 

[chalidobrenz]

Great job! It's so hard to diagnose properly and know what to do for your birds!
I will say one thing that my veterinarian told me, just because I see MD thrown around as a potential diagnosis A LOT on this site, and I actually thought I had a case of it - Marek's Disease is NOT common in most backyard flocks, and by the time you see symptoms, they're usually not alive more than 48 hours, which sounds awful, but it's comforting if your bird outlives that timeline. I hope you continue to see improvement in your bird!

 

[MrsBachbach]

New update:

So far, Tsubasa has been recovering, albeit very very slowly.  I continue giving her vitamins in the water, and she's sometimes standing on her claws, but it seems like she's stuck walking on her hocks.  I noticed a huge piece of bloodied skin (that was very dry) like a scab that was coming off her knee, but I didn't take it off, thinking it'll come off by itself.

Today, I inspected her and it wasn't there anymore.  And her knees that used to be beat up from knocking on the wood a lot now seem fine.  Am I just being impatient or is there a possibility that she's going to be lame like this for the rest of her life?

We recently got 4 more chicks to see if we could create a new flock with her as the leader, because Hickory passed away and now she is alone.  We may also get a light brahma rooster so that there is another of her type.  She seems to come alive a bit, as in she pecked the younger ones to let them know she's the boss, but other that that, I'm still concerned for her health.

It could very well be one of the other diseases listed in the links eggcessive posted above. For most, there is no treatment. So, I would start with the ones that do have some form of treatment and give it some time. Continue with vitamin/mineral supplements.
Just a thought here, but, I had a parrot that quit using one of its legs. I thought it had gout (something chickens can also get). Turns out, I was slowly starving my bird to death, she was very underweight. She also had these cysts popping up on her. She was given the commercial parrot diet, the one with sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts, seed and dry kibble. I gave her this for years. She would never eat the kibble(which had the most protein), just the sunflower seeds, and peanuts and maybe a few of the other seeds in there. Well, there just isn't enough protein in sunflower seeds, seeds and peanuts. Vet told me parrots are also carnivores and need more protein in their diet than what they get from seeds alone. I had to take that commerical diet away and start feeding her human food. Meat and egg especially, along with pasta, fruit and veggies. Avoid chocolate and avocado! Well, she improved drastically. Regained full use of her foot and the cysts shriveled and went away. Still couldn't get her to eat the kibble parrot food which the vet reccommended, so had to continue with the human food. Maybe your bird isn't too keen on eating her chicken feed and not getting the protein she needs?

 

[luukasama]

Just an update, since it's been a couple of months now. We've recently moved Tsubasa along with the other Wyandottes into the big coop overnight. Two of my bigger Wyans have integrated decently well and have been with the older chickens for a little while, but Tsubasa and the other two haven't. We introduced the last 3 a few days ago. Tsubasa, though for a while seemed like she lost all ability to walk, thus us putting her back in the sling, has regained control, but her left foot is still no good. She's gotten a lot more livelier, walks fully on her right and on her hocks using the left, but is able to hobble-run, as she is sometimes being chased away on the whims of other chickens. Otherwise, she seems in good spirits, though we did find her stuck in a corner with her head in the shavings due to the harassment once.

At this point, I'm not sure if she will ever get up on her left foot fully. Her knee seemed to have really loose skin on it and it's quite pink, something that I think happened because she walks on her left hock and bangs it against the wood of the coop. Today I let her be outside with the others a bit, for some fresh air though it is bitingly cold. Unless someone has other suggestions, I think she may just remain the way she is for the rest of her life.

 

[JensChickies]

Just an update, since it's been a couple of months now.  We've recently moved Tsubasa along with the other Wyandottes into the big coop overnight.  Two of my bigger Wyans have integrated decently well and have been with the older chickens for a little while, but Tsubasa and the other two haven't.  We introduced the last 3 a few days ago.  Tsubasa, though for a while seemed like she lost all ability to walk, thus us putting her back in the sling, has regained control, but her left foot is still no good.  She's gotten a lot more livelier, walks fully on her right and on her hocks using the left, but is able to hobble-run, as she is sometimes being chased away on the whims of other chickens.  Otherwise, she seems in good spirits, though we did find her stuck in a corner with her head in the shavings due to the harassment once.

At this point, I'm not sure if she will ever get up on her left foot fully.  Her knee seemed to have really loose skin on it and it's quite pink, something that I think happened because she walks on her left hock and bangs it against the wood of the coop.  Today I let her be outside with the others a bit, for some fresh air though it is bitingly cold.  Unless someone has other suggestions, I think she may just remain the way she is for the rest of her life.

Wow, you have taken such goof care of her. I'm glad to regained some function. Maybe just give her more time and the left will regain a little bit more mobility. Thank you for the update!