Lame Chicken - Not moving leg

laurabassetto

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Hello,
I have 2 chickens that I treat as my domestic animals.
I bought them last year from a local farmer. I do not think they are vaccinated.
One of them never made eggs and now is seek.

Since it is winter and very cold, it is been 1 week and a half that I put my chickens inside for the night and then I leave them out in the morning in my garden.
They usually eat a mixed of grain and corn and usually some pasta or salad or cheese.

The chicken that never made egg, up to 5 days ago was very active and suddently one morning stopped moving the right leg.
THe leg does not hurt and does not seem to be broken.
She eats and drink only if fed by my hand as she no longer stands up.

2 days ago she had diarrhea (green poop very smelly) but this morning it was normal again.
I gave her a mixed vitamin suppment and I gave her some garlic, vinegar, banana, yogurt, egg and salad but does not seem to improve.

Does anybody know what it can be? In my area in Italy there are nos pecific vet for chickens
 

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It could be caused by a leg injury to the nerve, but Mareks disease can also cause paralysis in one or both legs. Hopefully it is not that. Look for any redness, swelling, green bruising or a scab on the leg. B complex vitamins that include riboflavin can be helpful with leg injuries, and human vitamins can be used. Liver is a good source of B vitamins as well. Here is some reading about Mareks disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
 
It could be caused by a leg injury to the nerve, but Mareks disease can also cause paralysis in one or both legs. Hopefully it is not that. Look for any redness, swelling, green bruising or a scab on the leg. B complex vitamins that include riboflavin can be helpful with leg injuries, and human vitamins can be used. Liver is a good source of B vitamins as well. Here is some reading about Mareks disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
Thanks for your answer. I examined the leg. Nothing seems weird. She is changing her feathers so she has newborn feathers but nothing else.
I also read about Marek but I am not sure it is Marek since she is already (at least 1 year and a half) and she does not have any other sympthoms. I will buy Vitamin B and see whether in the next days there are any update.

Do you know whether, in case it is Marek, she will be stucked even in other part of the body? when should I expect those sympthoms?

Even her toes do not respond and do not curl (even when I touch her thighs).

While, in case of nerve damage. Is it something that can be repaired?
 
Mareks is an unpredictable disease in that it can cause tumors in organs, in nerves which may lead to lameness or drooping wings, or a twisted neck, skin lesions, and the eye form can lead to blindness. Each chicken responds to the different strains in their own way.

If it is a nerve injury due to a leg injury, there could be some recovery, but I am not a vet and don’t really know.

Chicken slings can be good to get them up and to rest the leg for periods throughout the day. They need to spend some time out of the slings to rest and sleep. Here are some examples of homemade slings:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

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