Lame chicken - atrophied leg muscle - was lethargic

[dcpitts]

So...following the guidelines please see below. I've searched but can't seem to find a clear answer on what to do here.


1. About 10-11 months, Rhode Island Red, weight may be down some from lack of eating.
2. She and a sister got out 2 weeks ago - found her on the porch that night - sister never returned. She was very very lethargic and wouldn't eat or drink. didn't notice for a day or 2 that she wasn't really using her left leg.
3. Symptoms for 2 weeks now.
4. No other birds with symptoms...but down to just 2 birds - stupid hawks.
5. No visible signs of trauma
6. Unsure - hawks have been killing birds. Put up netting but the hawks went UNDER the netting to get to them. Now have a fully enclosed structure. Not sure if injured running from danger, but 2 of my RiR were escape artists - but generally they would just hang out around the fenced area not run off like this time where we didn't find her until late Sunday evening on the porch.
7. Was very lethargic not eating or drinking. I forced some water down. NOW she is eating a drinking a bit better
8. Reasonably normal. Was VERY dark green the first couple after we found her...not just basic run of the mill poop.
9. Originally didn't notice leg problem - extremely lethargic and wouldn't eat/drink.. Thought maybe egg bind so forced some "calcium water" (crushed tums in water) down her with a syringe a little at a time for a couple days. Thought we'd lose her any day but I kept her alive. Then one day she drank a bunch of water for me and I got her to eat a little. Now she's eating reasonably ok - I'm feeding a lot of meal worms with her normal crumble to try and get some extra protein/weight back on...she really likes those.
10. Not going to take her to the vet. want her to be ok, but realistically I'm not able/willing to pay a lot of money for a chicken.
11. Sorry no pic...no wound. I will try to get a pic tomorrow of her standing on the other leg so you can see the way the lame leg hangs.
12. Currently in a big box in the garage so I can keep an eye on her and keep the other girl from picking on her. Trying to let out in the run during the day but she has a hard time getting around...did ok today though.


Whew! That's a lot. Best I can think of is she injured herself during her day out and was lethargic for several days due to pain or something - now she has gotten over that somewhat and is eating and drinking and acting better.

I can't tell when manipulating her whether a joint is out of place or what?

BIG NOTE** Her "calf"...around the tibia/fibula - the first part of her leg covered in feathers - seems very atrophied vs the other good leg. Basically feels like just skin over bone where the good leg feels like it's got a little muscle on it...like your calf muscle on your own leg.

Her leg just kind of hangs - almost like the position right at the top of a normal step when they are walking around.

Thanks for any help!

Doug

 

[azygous]

The symptoms, behavior, and age all fit with a diagnosis of Marek's.

The virus attacks leg muscles most often, and it also cause tumors on organs that will eventually cause death. The green poop is a sign of not eating, probably because the virus has progressed to late stages.

All chickens on the property would be exposed. Marek's lives in the soil for years after the chickens have died. New chicks should be vaccinated or they will pick up the virus.

The only other thing it might be is exposure to a neurotoxin such as insecticides or spilled machine fluids polluting the soil the chickens range on. But everything is screaming "Marek's".

 

[dcpitts]

Thanks azygous.

I was worried about Marek's. I do find it very coincidental that the day the chicken got out and was missing all day was the same time Marek's suddenly showed symptoms.


I am still wondering if it is some kind of dislocation. I can't place exactly what isn't right but the left leg just doesn't feel the same as the right. Skinnier/atrophied from lack of use but it's like there is a lot of resistance when I try to pull her leg down (like if she was putting it down to walk).

Not sure how to diagnose a dislocation or if you can even do anything for that after almost 2 weeks....guess I was hoping it was "just" a break and would heal up.

With Marek's would she show signs of improvement? she was much worse a couple weeks ago. Now she eats/drinks/poops fine just has to hop on one leg.

Thanks,

Doug

 

[azygous]

Chickens do recover from Marek's, though still carry the virus. So there is that hope. Time will tell.

I've had hens with lameness brought on by exposure to neurotoxins that respond as your hen is with her lame leg. The source of the lameness is in the brain, but it still causes atrophy and the leg or foot can no longer function. Occasionally you can help restore nerve function with vitamin therapy, but it's never works for any of my lame patients. You could try it, though. Can't hurt. Vitamin E 400iu and B-complex.

 

[Sddaisy25]

So...following the guidelines please see below. I've searched but can't seem to find a clear answer on what to do here.


1. About 10-11 months, Rhode Island Red, weight may be down some from lack of eating.
2. She and a sister got out 2 weeks ago - found her on the porch that night - sister never returned. She was very very lethargic and wouldn't eat or drink. didn't notice for a day or 2 that she wasn't really using her left leg.
3. Symptoms for 2 weeks now.
4. No other birds with symptoms...but down to just 2 birds - stupid hawks.
5. No visible signs of trauma
6. Unsure - hawks have been killing birds. Put up netting but the hawks went UNDER the netting to get to them. Now have a fully enclosed structure. Not sure if injured running from danger, but 2 of my RiR were escape artists - but generally they would just hang out around the fenced area not run off like this time where we didn't find her until late Sunday evening on the porch.
7. Was very lethargic not eating or drinking. I forced some water down. NOW she is eating a drinking a bit better
8. Reasonably normal. Was VERY dark green the first couple after we found her...not just basic run of the mill poop.
9. Originally didn't notice leg problem - extremely lethargic and wouldn't eat/drink.. Thought maybe egg bind so forced some "calcium water" (crushed tums in water) down her with a syringe a little at a time for a couple days. Thought we'd lose her any day but I kept her alive. Then one day she drank a bunch of water for me and I got her to eat a little. Now she's eating reasonably ok - I'm feeding a lot of meal worms with her normal crumble to try and get some extra protein/weight back on...she really likes those.
10. Not going to take her to the vet. want her to be ok, but realistically I'm not able/willing to pay a lot of money for a chicken.
11. Sorry no pic...no wound. I will try to get a pic tomorrow of her standing on the other leg so you can see the way the lame leg hangs.
12. Currently in a big box in the garage so I can keep an eye on her and keep the other girl from picking on her. Trying to let out in the run during the day but she has a hard time getting around...did ok today though.


Whew! That's a lot. Best I can think of is she injured herself during her day out and was lethargic for several days due to pain or something - now she has gotten over that somewhat and is eating and drinking and acting better.

I can't tell when manipulating her whether a joint is out of place or what?

BIG NOTE** Her "calf"...around the tibia/fibula - the first part of her leg covered in feathers - seems very atrophied vs the other good leg. Basically feels like just skin over bone where the good leg feels like it's got a little muscle on it...like your calf muscle on your own leg.

Her leg just kind of hangs - almost like the position right at the top of a normal step when they are walking around.

Thanks for any help!

Doug

Hey Doug. I know this is an old post, but did you ever figure out what was wrong with your hen’s leg? I have a little bantam hen with the same atrophied feel to her leg. It’s been two weeks and she still can’t use it. I paid $1000 for vet/Xrays and there is no visible break or dislocation. I have no reason to suspect Marek’s. She is eating, drinking and everything else seems normal. She just hops now. All other chickens are fine.
Thanks!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Hey Doug. I know this is an old post, but did you ever figure out what was wrong with your hen’s leg? I have a little bantam hen with the same atrophied feel to her leg. It’s been two weeks and she still can’t use it. I paid $1000 for vet/Xrays and there is no visible break or dislocation. I have no reason to suspect Marek’s. She is eating, drinking and everything else seems normal. She just hops now. All other chickens are fine.
Thanks!!

Welcome. The OP, Doug, has not been on for over 6 years. Nerve damage from an injury or an infection, tumor, or egg a pan press against the sciatic nerve and cause lameness. You may want to start a new thread about your chicken giving any details or posting pictures, and many would help you. Do that here by clicking on the green box to post your thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/