Loosing balance tucked neck

[Sherri1990]

Hello everyone. I have a 5 month old black astrolorpe that I have been keeping an eye on. Over the last few days she has been tucking her neck in and lowing her tail almost as if she was trying to balance. I brought her in to my house and from the time I took her from the yard to the kennel she couldn’t walk. She is eating and alert, I lost a chicken to mereks 2 months ago and I wonder if this is the same? I swear it just seems like her legs can’t hold her up. She is spreading her wings and I can feel she has a full crop. Normal poops. She has a very small pale comb but she always has had that. It just doesn’t look like the last mereks. I’m not sure how to help her.

 

[AgnesGray]

Has she always been somewhat like that? I have a leghorn that has had her head tucked into her shoulders and will fall to the side if she turns around too quickly or when I set her on her feet. I didn't notice anything unusual until she was about a month and a half old, but she was in a big batch of 2 dozen chicks. She follows me around and I'll pick her up and let her eat from my hand when I'm filling up the feeders because her crop is never full and I think she either forgets to eat or gets distracted. When did you notice your girl being this way?

 

[Sherri1990]

She stomped her feet before. I always thought it was funny. But now as the day goes on I am starting to think she has mareks. She isn’t laying eggs yet but she is sitting like a penguin. She is also closing one eye.

 

[Sherri1990]

This is her right now.

 

[Sherri1990]

I also looked up ascites and she has no abdominal swelling.

 

[Suzyqschickens]

What did your mareks look like? I have a chicken that is not acting right either

 

[Suzyqschickens]

@Sherri1990 This is what my girl is doing. Similar to mareks?

 

[AgnesGray]

Mine closes an eye when I pick her up. I think she gets dizzy? Still wants to be held though. She hasn't gotten any worse, which is not typical of Markes. Your girl could also have something else neurological. I've heard when it hits, it's a pretty quick process.

 

[Sherri1990]

What did your mareks look like? I have a chicken that is not acting right either

I originally thought my original bird had a wing injury. She kept trying to pick under it but couldn’t lift her wing. Now in hindsite all the symptoms were right in front of me. She had blood in her feathers and I could not feel her crop. She kept her eyes closed. Within 6 hours she went from unable to stand to completely paralyzed. It was horrible. I had her put down by the vet. I never ever want that again, I am keeping a very close eye on this one. What is your bird doing?

 

[Sherri1990]

@Sherri1990 This is what my girl is doing. Similar to mareks?

Yes