My chicken can't walk! help!

[HensOnAHill]

Today I went to open up the coop and one of our hens was lying on the ground. She must have been asleep under the roost because she was covered in poop.There doesn't seem to have any thing wrong with her legs but when she try's to walk she collapses. also she has a lot of poop around her vent. I will give her a bath for the poop but I don't know what to do about her legs. Any ideas about what might be wrong with her?

Oh and yesterday she was completely normal and was looking better than ever before, she just got over her 18 month old molt. Last night when I closed up the coop she was on the roost. Also I noticed there are signs of pecking on her lower back right next to her tail feathers. and we don't have any roosters


She used to be at the bottom of the pecking order and once she got really beat up by the other hens but for a long time she has been doing just great.

 

[HensOnAHill]

Is this a symptom of marek's disease? I hope not

 

[WillowTreeFarm]

I actually have the same thing going on with on of my pullets, she is much younger... just 6 mos. It can be one of the symptoms of Mareks, but do a search on chicken paralysis on here.. I found a couple good threads with a lot of other possibilities from mycotoxicosis to a vitamin/mineral definiciency to the chicken just hurt herself. I am waiting to see if my girl improves and go from there, also read about Mareks on wikipedia... gives a bit of good info. I'm no expert by any means... she's one of my first chickens, but I just wanted to share with you what I have done that has helped. I separated mine from the rest of the flock so that she could get plenty of food and water, and today I was giving her butt a bath....

and then I blowdried her butt lol!! But it's pretty chilly here.

 

[HensOnAHill]

I also gave my hen a bath and I looked up merak's disease. Thankyou for the info. Have you looked at the blog scratch and peck? http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2010/02/lucy-limps.html the blogger has a hen who survives Merak's disease. It's really incouraging.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

I dont have a clue but good luck and I'll be preying for you.

 

[WillowTreeFarm]

Quote:
Thanks I will take a look... I'm thinking about making the support sling I saw on one of the other threads... should be interesting!

 

[BarredBuff]

That would be one I would cull, she is apparently not to healthy.

 

[WillowTreeFarm]

I don't know about the OP, but I plan on giving her a chance. If it's just an injury, she will heal. She has a good appetite, bright eye... she is not sick. If she won't get better, then so be it, but I think they deserve a chance... in the name of science and learning if nothing else.

 

[BarredBuff]

I dont think that is safe flock management, if it is contagious the you risk the health of the others. Then if she is physically injured, she may not be better for monthes. And economically speaking that is not cost effective.

 

[WillowTreeFarm]

She is quarantined from the flock and was once she became symptomatic. If it is something contagious, the others probably had it before she even started showing signs as it is a closed flock and has been for a long time, so whatever they would get would come from the wild and they were all exposed. Economically... she is one chicken... my thinking is wait and see... I probably would not support a many month long recovery process, but I'm not there yet. These chickens are pets and provide a supplement to my diet. I'll give her a chance and let nature take it's course. Practicing good health care is always of the utmost importance and being vigilant prevents many tragedies.