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

[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.

Thank you for your input. I really appreciate it. Could I ask you for more advice? This is my first flock, she’s a favorite. I’ve nursed a handful of chickens back to health with coccidiosis, sour crop, injury…I’m not ready to give up yet. Also, a vet is not an option.

Snowball is stronger, I think. She still cannot stand or sit upright. She will move her legs and wings in attempt to get her feet under her (but can’t accomplish it). Because of this, I need to bring food and water to her. I did create a sling, but I’m not really comfortable walking away (for long) with her in it, because sometimes she tries to move and gets her foot stuck in the netting.

She will eat, drink, and poop.
She has sour crop, and I’m treating with Monistat (with only other ingredient being vegetable oil). I also had been giving NutriDrench… I had noticed a firm crop early on in this ordeal, but that didn't click for me. Again, now she has sour crop…

I have a theory/a hope:
***MAYBE*** she just needs the right vitamins.
She had an impacted crop. It caused malnourishment and acetone-smelling poop. Chicken got weak. Crop turned sour. In the meantime she lacked the vitamins she needs for good nuero health.
So, I started Poultry Cell last night. I gave her 1ml via a syringe. I opened her beak, and slowly and intermittently gave it to her with the end aiming at her lower beak.
IF she just needed vitamins, how much should I give her (she weighs 1.5 lbs)? How long?
Also, would the timing of Monistat and food/supplements matter?

I am not ready to give up yet. I don’t know how long to give it, though.
I can’t tend to her this much forever.

Do you have any advice?
Any ideas?

 

[LauraKchickentender]

Ok, so she did have sour crop. I treated it with probiotics and miconazole by mouth.
I’m giving her poultry cell 1ml/day.
I think she is stronger, but she can’t get her legs under her. She can move both legs.
If it was/is a vitamin deficiency, how long would it take to get her legs back? Am I doing the right thing to help her?
@Eggcessive

 

[LauraKchickentender]

@azygous can you weigh in, please?

 

[azygous]

It may be something as simple as dehydration or weakness from hunger.

Or it could be a vitamin B deficiency. I would get some B-complex, ordinary people tablets, and give her one tablet each day directly into her beak. Follow it with a vitamin E 400iu capsule. Poultry vitamins aren't highly concentrated to make a difference. Also don't mistake B-12 for B-complex. I like B-100 or B-50 as these are loaded with the Bs.

Your hen could also be symptomatic of Marek's or lymphoid leucosis. If that's what's going on, it will get worse, not better.

 

[LauraKchickentender]

It may be something as simple as dehydration or weakness from hunger.

Or it could be a vitamin B deficiency. I would get some B-complex, ordinary people tablets, and give her one tablet each day directly into her beak. Follow it with a vitamin E 400iu capsule. Poultry vitamins aren't highly concentrated to make a difference. Also don't mistake B-12 for B-complex. I like B-100 or B-50 as these are loaded with the Bs.

Your hen could also be symptomatic of Marek's or lymphoid leucosis. If that's what's going on, it will get worse, not better.

I’ve read 1/4 tablet of human B complex. Is that not enough? Does size of the chicken matter? How long would you expect it to take to see major improvements?

 

[LauraKchickentender]

I’ve read 1/4 tablet of human B complex. Is that not enough? Does size of the chicken matter? How long would you expect it to take to see major improvements?

Also, thank you for your response.