My chick is doing the splits!?

[BantamLover21]

Sounds like Marek's disease to me. Or it could possibly be splay/spraddle leg or a vitamin deficiency.

 

[Joan-NZ]

Those were interesting sites, thank you .. My bird is only displaying the leg symptom. Eyes are the same shape as normal, no lesions, the head is held high and she / he can flap very vigorously, esp when I am moving him / her around to change the cage configuration. Eating and drinking is normal / healthy.

So I will be cautious and keep the chick isolated but also continue with my therapy and hope it's not mareks but just a wobbly leg issue.

 

[Joan-NZ]

I will check vitamins, one article I found said it was not easily proved so it's all a bit of a challenge! But we shall box on (literally boxed!)

 

[seminolewind]

If your chick is just feathering, it's the right age for Marek's. But I would be watching to see if anyone else gets these symptoms. With Marek's, they can have legs that don't work, and look perfectly happy, and may even crow. But then they progress on to other symptoms.

 

[Joan-NZ]

Well Gerry is dead. I took him / her to the vet to be euthenased. Feeling very sad right about now. Funny how you get so attached so quickly - vet must have thought I was mad, when I walked in blubbering, Gerry cuddled in my arms.

It seems so much worse because he was so bright and perky.

But I woke this morning and he had tipped himself over, off the make shift ledge I had crafted. So how long he spent in that awful position I don't know. He was covered in mess (as you can imagine) and I realised I was possibly giving him a bad life, even though I was trying to help him

So, Gerry is going to be buried soon and I have a pretty plant to go on top so I can always remember my cool little battler.

Thanks for all the comments and ideas and articles - it was helpful to have somewhere to come and read / ask Q's.



Gerry having a last sunbathe on the sill before I took him to the vet this morning ..

 

[Granny Hatchet]

oh, im so sorry for your lose. and so beautiful too. what breed was he? did the vet make any kind of diagnosis?

 

[BantamLover21]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Gerry was a very beautiful bird.

 

[Joan-NZ]

Said it wasn't presenting as Mareks but didn't really offer an alternative

He was such a cute bird, I have no idea of breed lol he and his siblings are bitzers but obviously have silkie (feathers everywhere!) and you tell me what else?

 

[Joan-NZ]

thank you .. he was a sweet soul .. would put up with splinting, cuddles, washing, and all sorts

 

[Joan-NZ]

He's now nourishing the soil beside the hen house / paddock and I can see this from my kitchen window to remember my cool dude ..