Mareks or leg injury.

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

I attached some pics.

15 week old Swedish Flower rooster with walking issues vaccinated for mareks

We’ve had the cold snap most of the country has. Very little time outdoors for the last 2 weeks.

This rooster was not behaving oddly 20 hours ago.

I found the runt hen dead (Same age) upside down caught between plastic sheeting and 2x4 this afternoon as well. She was upside down and appeared to have broken her own neck. Bummer, I spent a lot of extra time with her early on.


The rooster sits low to the ground.

He hobbles/trips when he walks.

I examined him and found no blood or apparent injury.

His legs articulate without protest if I do it manually. Toes dont appear to be curled up.

Left leg felt a bit colder. Some of the mareks symptom Lists have this item.

He will flap his wings while sitting on my hand. Wings appear intact and uninjured.

He doesnt grip like the other chickens do when his feet are on my arm or hand. He does grip a bit, but weaker.

Vent appears fine.

His crop felt very full, but I don’t have the experience to know if it is ok or not.

He ate when I tossed him some meal worms and pellets.

He is making more noise than typical. Sounds like distress sounds, but not very loud.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

I don't know what that would be...I'd keep him somewhere warm tonight and see if he's doing better in the morning. No food after lights out so you can check crop in the morning before breakfast and make sure it is emptying.

Maybe he pulled a muscle? Hoping it's something simple like that.

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

He is perching on a little 6 inch off the floor wood rack the lowest hen always uses. They are talking to each other.


We shall see in the morning.

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

The rooster continues to be in fairly good spirits. Mostly contented sounds. He eats and drinks. He will stumble over 1/2 the time for mealworms. He will aggressively take any mealworm within reach if I toss near him.

The lowest hen has been cuddling him. She will sit over him and lay her neck and head across at night and 2 times i saw during the day.


One foot is curled up a bit. He now sits almost fully on his side. The uncurled leg/foot sticking out while the curled foot is tucked in. Looks a lot more like mareks pictures now.

The the other birds are full of energy.

Any concerns or advice?

 

[NicoLee1991]

Curly toe paralysis.

 

[bhaugh]

Vaccinated chick probably doesn't have mereks. You mentioned full crop. Open his mouth and check to make sure it isn't rancid smell and it's working correctly. Is it squishy? You can massage the group to get it working

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

I euthanized him in March.

3 out of 12 chickens had some odd issue going on. Won’t buy from this breeder Again.

 

[Painted Calls]

Vaccinated chick probably doesn't have mereks. You mentioned full crop. Open his mouth and check to make sure it isn't rancid smell and it's working correctly. Is it squishy? You can massage the group to get it working

The vaccine doesn't prevent them from getting it. It helps mask symptoms.