Last ditch effort to save 3 month lame pullet

HenSolo123

Chirping
Feb 24, 2023
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88
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Last ditch effort to save my pullet!!
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I’m a very first time chicken mom, I’m learning as I go. This is HeyHey. She is a 3.5 month old d’uccle. Two weeks ago she started walking funny, then lost the ability to walk entirely 24 hours later. Of course, all the googling and blogging commenced. She doesn’t have grey irises like Mareks should. I did not isolate her from her three sisters and they are walking fine after two weeks of sharing a coop with her. She’s alert, not lethargic at all. She talks (calls for her sisters when they leave her to free range); even tries flopping with her wings to move around and try to follow them out. She eats and drinks great. I did one week nutridrench and the second tried rooster booster (based on other’s experience with the breed, I’m leaning towards vitamin defficiency). Scrambled egg with grit daily. Her left leg seems more useless than the right. If I don’t splint them together with vet tape, she flips to her side. With the tape she can somewhat “sit” on her feet. I can’t keep hand feeding her twice a day… I’m running out of ideas.
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I'm so sorry for HeyHey, hopefully an experienced chickener will be along shortly to provide some great info to help your poor baby
Thank you for your kind words! She has a will to live, I’m just new to this with very limited time (why I decided to just do a few backyard bantams). She’s so healthy other than the useless legs!! I just want to give her a chance but my family needs me and I can’t spend the hours a day she needs for me to feed water and bathe her .. hopefully you’re right and someone has a brilliant idea ASAP!
 
I’m not a pro, but if you go to any of your local animal store, they should have something call Emergency poultry or something along those lines.
Other than that have you checked/ live in an area with ticks? Try also feed fresh fruits and veggies (like corn) that might give her a boost. I hope she will be fine!
 
She doesn’t have grey irises like Mareks should.
That's only ONE version called ocular Marek's, sorry you both are facing this. See this link..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

She eats and drinks great. I did one week nutridrench and the second tried rooster booster (based on other’s experience with the breed, I’m leaning towards vitamin defficiency).
Why would it be a deficiency.. what is her regular feed routine including treats and supplements PRIOR to symptoms?

I can’t keep hand feeding her twice a day… I’m running out of ideas.
Culling is always an option and sometimes the kindest thing to do for the keeper as well.. Consider sending in for necropsy. A link with contact information for the poultry labs in the US..

https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Most folks try a sling or chair, images from google..
DIY-Plastic-Bin-Chicken-Sling.jpg

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ETA: nutri drench and rooster booster are both good products with superior performance when needed.. rooster booster being a brand name with several product on offer.
 
Thank you for your kind words! She has a will to live, I’m just new to this with very limited time (why I decided to just do a few backyard bantams). She’s so healthy other than the useless legs!! I just want to give her a chance but my family needs me and I can’t spend the hours a day she needs for me to feed water and bathe her .. hopefully you’re right and someone has a brilliant idea ASAP!
Here is a guide for splinting https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

I have been splinting my lemon Dutch Owlbeard that has a valgus bone deformity.

I use cardboard for sandals, vet wrap, and a cut up microfiber cloth as a spacer between her legs. I’m not sure if it will help but it makes it so she can hop around and eat and drink on her own. Without the wraps she cannot stand, it’s really sad. But she does quite will with the splints! So I am hoping someday she will not need the splints.
 

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