I would appreciate any help, thank you! My hens are slowing dieing from something. They limp and it progresses to where they won't move. We have lost 3 to this and another is sick.i don't think it is mareks. We took our first one to the vet last year and she said that the hen had leukemia or brain problems. She wasn't eating either. They use one leg and one wing to get around. The one we have right now is just starting. Thank you!
We need more details. Start with the feet. Is it just one foot? Which foot or feet is it? Are the warm, hot or swollen? Are the hocks involved as well? Mareks and Newcastle Disease can both cause paralysis and drooping wings. Both of these don't have treatments, although there are vaccinations for both. If you are sure it is not Mareks as you said the vet thought it was something else, check your feed. Spoiled feed can contain toxins that will kill off your birds one by one. Paralysis is common with these toxins. Botulism in feed can cause these symptoms as well.
Here's a link about strokes: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2014/01/signs-of-stroke-in-chickens-yes.html It just made me think of it as a possibility.
We are going to try replacing the feed. She is about a year old. We doubt it was a seizure. We ordered her from Murray Mcurray and a lot of them died from pneumonia. Thank you!
There is a lot that can be going on. It's hard to guess without more details. When you ordered the chicks from the hatchery did you specify and pay for Marek's vaccination? This does sound a lot like Marek's. But, it can be other things, too. More information and any other symptoms they exhibit will help us guess what it might be. Where do you live? It might be worth it to have a professional necropsy done if you lose another bird. Some states do this for free or for a low cost. It can give you some answers and let you figure out how to manage the rest of your flock.
