Legs seem paralyzed - two pullets now

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Hi all -

I have now two pullets that are acting like their legs go numb after walking a bit, one pullet is dropping both wings before dropping to the ground.

They are bout 16 weeks, eat Nutrena All Flock feather fixer and scratch and fruits and veggies occasionally. The droopy wing girl has been at this about a week, the other one I just noticed today (we were out of town for two days). Poop seemed fine on droopy wings last I saw, they are eating fine.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The yellow on the side of her beak is just her coloring, but does she also have something red inside her beak? Have you given them anything red to eat (berries/tomato, etc.)?
Could they have suffered injury or been bitten by something?

Are they being picked on by others?
Are they new to you or have you had them a good while?

Is it just these 2 that are affected?


The brown poop is cecal poop, but does have mucous. Hard to know which way to go on this one.
I'd still want to give vitamin therapy and get them on chick starter or an all flock feed, cut out extra treats, plus treat for Coccidiosis. A sulfa antibiotic may be the way to go, this will help treat Coccidiosis and infection and you can still give the vitamin therapy.

Do you see any lesions or yellow/pasty material inside the beaks?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Amoxicillin can help with bacterial infection, it won't treat Coccidiosis.
If you have a vet that can run a quick fecal float, that will give you the best info on whether or not to treat for that.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Were you able to get a fecal float?

They can stumble and have balance problems with Coccidiosis among 100s of other things.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Were you able to get a fecal float?

They can stumble and have balance problems with Coccidiosis among 100s of other things.

I was not able to today, but am taking a sample in tomorrow to my vet who hasn’t done a fecal float for a chicken. We’ll see how that goes.

They got their daily doses of vitamins e and b, and I put some rooster booster in their water and probiotics in their crumble. They are hanging in there - still eating and flopping around. I saw no lesions or anything in their beaks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry that they are not getting better.

Are these 2 the same breed and the only 2 of that breed you have?

It does look/sound like Marek's disease, hopefully you will be able to find out more. Since Coccidiosis has been ruled out, I'd get that B-Complex into them and have them eating chick starter or an all flock feed.

Can they recover? No idea. Some people have petted birds along for months and they have eventually gained function, some continue to decline.

That's a good question about how long to treat an immobile/partially immobile chicken.
And yes, it's absolutely a personal decision. Time, housing, personal commitments, work, goals, etc. etc. etc. all have to be considered.
For me, personally, I would not treat for very long.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Wyorp Rock
Results from necropsy are in - Marek’s. I’m relieved knowing what it is, also stressed knowing what it is. Luckily no one else is sick at the moment, hopefully I can keep it controlled. Thank you so much for the support during all of this.View attachment 3557502

I'm sorry about the diagnosis. It doesn't make it any easier, but at least now you know what you are dealing with.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Feather Fixer is a layer feed.

B12 is good, but I'd get some B-Complex which contains all 8 b vitamins.

Any way you can get a fecal float to rule out Coccidiosis?

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

Feather Fixer is a layer feed.

B12 is good, but I'd get some B-Complex which contains all 8 b vitamins.

Any way you can get a fecal float to rule out Coccidiosis?

I couldn’t find b complex, will definitely have it tomorrow.

My vet doesn’t do any testing or treatment on chickens, so I’m kind of on my own there. I could add Corid just in case?

What is the wobbly leg thing? It seems common, but no common cause?

 

[chickengr]

did you worm them? if not do it now.

I had similar situation. I gave them baytril 10% and baycox together (half dose of each from what it says as there are 2 medicines). good luck.