Lame rooster, coccidiosis or diet issue?

[LittlePip21]

Hey guys, one of my silkie roosters, around two years, no longer has control of his legs. It started with trouble balancing on the roost, then soon he started to fall off and roost on the ground, laying on his side no less, and now today he sits on his hocks and when he stands he careens in either direction, eventually running into something or literally sumersulting to a stop. I feel really bad for him, he is the only one affected so far, but I'm very worried because I have three chicks with a momma, and a new adult addition to the flock (she is not the cause, since the symptoms were present before she was introduced) I asked the vet and they said it could possibly be a diet issue, or coccidiosis, however, he is not lethargic or droopy. His poop is a lighter brown, but I don't see anything dramatically wrong with it. Should I send a fecal sample to the vet? I have quarentined him for everyone's safety. His legs are bendable, not stiff, though he doesn't like me to touch them very much. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

It could also be Marecks. The symptoms are similar, but I don't have direct experience with this.

Can you post a closeup photo of his feet and legs?

I'm praying for your dear boy.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think Mareks could be a possibility, but he is suffering from significant scaly leg mites. They can make legs very painful. Can he stand normally? Does he move his legs and feet? He looks like he is having a lot of trouble in the picture. Is he able to get to food and water? Is he eating and drinking well? That is the biggest problem with lameness or Mareks. A chicken sling may be helpful to get him up and out of his droppings, and in front of food and water.

For the leg mites, give him a warm soak in water with Epsom salts or Dawn dish soap. Gently scrub his legs and feet with a toothbrush to loosen the scales. Dry well and apply a thick layer of an oil, such as castor oil, Crisco shortening, vaseline, coconut oil, or similar. Do this once a week for several weeks until scales start to improve.

 

[Eggcessive]

I forgot to suggest that you give him some poultry vitamins daily that include riboflavin (vitamins B2.) A half of a vitamin B complex tablet crushed on food, or poultry vitamins in the water are good.
And yes, it would be good to send in some fresh droppings for a fecal test to look for coccidiosis or worms.

 

[Eggcessive]

See post 5 for pictures of chicken slings:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/incubating-15-days-old.1261969/

 

[LittlePip21]

I think Mareks could be a possibility, but he is suffering from significant scaly leg mites. They can make legs very painful. Can he stand normally? Does he move his legs and feet? He looks like he is having a lot of trouble in the picture. Is he able to get to food and water? Is he eating and drinking well? That is the biggest problem with lameness or Mareks. A chicken sling may be helpful to get him up and out of his droppings, and in front of food and water.

For the leg mites, give him a warm soak in water with Epsom salts or Dawn dish soap. Gently scrub his legs and feet with a toothbrush to loosen the scales. Dry well and apply a thick layer of an oil, such as castor oil, Crisco shortening, vaseline, coconut oil, or similar. Do this once a week for several weeks until scales start to improve.

It could also be Marecks. The symptoms are similar, but I don't have direct experience with this.

Can you post a closeup photo of his feet and legs?

I'm praying for your dear boy.

I don't notice anything wrong with his foot pads, though he's doing a lot of leg pedaling, when he's on his back he won't let his legs relax out either. I thought about marecks, but his eyes are perfectly clear. He is able to move and walk, but he won't sit on his legs, he lays on his side. He is eating well, and I think he's drinking, I gave him a little via syringe just in case. Thank you so much for praying! He can walk for a few steps then he looses his balance, he runs to try and correct himself then inevitably crashes, I mentioned before his legs are flexible, so he can stand and use them, but he falls over after a minute. But he won't sit normally.

 

[LittlePip21]

Also, I will maybe try the sling idea, I think that would help him

 

[Eggcessive]

I would also start the treatment for scaly legs. I have a rooster who was having problems walking. When I started trreating his leg mites regularly, he started walking much better, although he seems to have arthritis. If he should die in the future, it would be a good idea to get a necropsy and testing for Mareks by your state vet. Here is contact info to ask questions:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[LittlePip21]

I would also start the treatment for scaly legs. I have a rooster who was having problems walking. When I started trreating his leg mites regularly, he started walking much better, although he seems to have arthritis. If he should die in the future, it would be a good idea to get a necropsy and testing for Mareks by your state vet. Here is contact info to ask questions:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Thank you! Thought I would update, he is able to walk and stand without help now, and is doing much better, he loves his sling, and I have some castor oil on hand so I can start scally treatment tomorrow. Over all he seems to be doing better, thanks for all the prayers and advice! I'll keep you posted.

 

[LittlePip21]

Update, he is still able to stand and walk normally, though he acts like he gets tired and sits back on his hocks sometimes. He seemed depressed by himself, so i put him out with The others, since if he had marecks the others have been exposed for a while anyway. He's eating more and crowing, no ones picking on him either. I've been researching, and it seems like it could be just about anything, maybe an ear infection? He has been yawning quite a bit. He will sometimes tip backwards, but otherwise he's normal. I scrubbed his feet and slathered them in castor oil, hopefully that will help if he has mites. I think I can get a sample to the vet sometime this week, so I can have a better idea what we're looking at. Everybody else is doing really well, thanks guys!