Lame, swollen joint, scab, infection?? Silkie, acetone smell in poop???

[LauraKchickentender]

My sweet Silkie needs help. She is 1 year old. About a week ago she stopped putting weight on one foot.
Upon inspection I could not find any obvious injury. She doesn’t appear (gentle exam on belly and right inside of vent). She was vaccinated for Marek’s.
I separated her from my small flock to rest. I’ve given her some aspirin calculated to her dose. I’ve given epsom salt baths. I bring her outdoors with me to get fresh air, sunshine, and feel like a chicken.
She has since progressed to not bearing weight on either leg. When she sits she can’t balance. She CAN move her legs. She doesn’t bear weight.
After a bath yesterday I did discover swelling and what look like scabs on her legs. Is this a joint infection? How can I help?????
Also, I believe she’s developed sour crop and I started giving her Monistat by mouth as has been successful in previous bouts with different chickens.
One more thing; I thought for a moment that her poop had an acetone smell earlier this week. Now it’s a regular smell (in case that gives any clues).

 

[LauraKchickentender]

My sweet Silkie needs help. She is 1 year old. About a week ago she stopped putting weight on one foot.
Upon inspection I could not find any obvious injury. She doesn’t appear (gentle exam on belly and right inside of vent). She was vaccinated for Marek’s.
I separated her from my small flock to rest. I’ve given her some aspirin calculated to her dose. I’ve given epsom salt baths. I bring her outdoors with me to get fresh air, sunshine, and feel like a chicken.
She has since progressed to not bearing weight on either leg. When she sits she can’t balance. She CAN move her legs. She doesn’t bear weight.
After a bath yesterday I did discover swelling and what look like scabs on her legs. Is this a joint infection? How can I help?????
Also, I believe she’s developed sour crop and I started giving her Monistat by mouth as has been successful in previous bouts with different chickens.
One more thing; I thought for a moment that her poop had an acetone smell earlier this week. Now it’s a regular smell (in case that gives any clues).
View attachment 2807120View attachment 2807121View attachment 2807122

Also, she is alert, not lethargic. She will eat, drink, and poop.

 

[MysteryChicken]

How does the infected hock feel? Solid, squishy? Warm/Hot, or normal?

Does she act in pain when touched?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Too me it looks like an infected Pressure sore, but hard to know for sure though.

 

[LauraKchickentender]

xterm

How does the infected hock feel? Solid, squishy? Warm/Hot, or normal?

Does she act in pain when touched?

She doesn’t draw them back or even flinch when I touch or move her legs. Both legs just feel warm—not hot. The one leg has a little softness at the joint (at the bad spot). The other feels completely normal.

 

[Eggcessive]

Didn’t you post recently about another hen with paralysis in a leg? You had said you thought that she had been vaccinated. Did she make it?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lame-leg-in-hen.1483210/

I would suspect that Mareks could be a cause of the lameness. Of course that can only be confirmed, either with a blood test done by only a few labs, or with a neceopsy done by your state vet if you take in the body. At what age were the vaccines done? Chickens must be kept in an environment without Mareks virus for at least 2 weeks after vaccination, for them to achieve immunity. The vaccine is not always effective.

The swelling and pressure sores are due to the lameness. Chicken slings are sometimes helpful to get them upright and to help them get food and water. Sorry for your illnesses. I really hope it is not Mareks, but hard to know without testing.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a link for chicken slings and chairs that people have made:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

If you want to call your state vet about a necropsy and testing, here is a link:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[LauraKchickentender]

Didn’t you post recently about another hen with paralysis in a leg? You had said you thought that she had been vaccinated. Did she make it?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lame-leg-in-hen.1483210/

I would suspect that Mareks could be a cause of the lameness. Of course that can only be confirmed, either with a blood test done by only a few labs, or with a neceopsy done by your state vet if you take in the body. At what age were the vaccines done? Chickens must be kept in an environment without Mareks virus for at least 2 weeks after vaccination, for them to achieve immunity. The vaccine is not always effective.

The swelling and pressure sores are due to the lameness. Chicken slings are sometimes helpful to get them upright and to help them get food and water. Sorry for your illnesses. I really hope it is not Mareks, but hard to know without testing.

I did! She is doing well. It took about 2 weeks. She is back out with the other girls. She has a slight limp, but nothing major that holds her back.
3 (Other) chickens have bumblefoot. I took down some roosts that I now realize they were too high. I have supplies to make a wider ramp

 

[LauraKchickentender]

I did! She is doing well. It took about 2 weeks. She is back out with the other girls. She has a slight limp, but nothing major that holds her back.
3 (Other) chickens have bumblefoot. I took down some roosts that I now realize they were too high. I have supplies to make a wider ramp

I got the chicks from Cackle Hatchery and they had been vaccinated prior to being sent. This is my first flock and they were indoors in a brooder until they were big enough to go outside…

 

[LauraKchickentender]

Here is a link for chicken slings and chairs that people have made:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

If you want to call your state vet about a necropsy and testing, here is a link:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

How’s this?! I’ll prop her food and water up so that she can reach it.