My Chickens are fine one day the Paralyzed....Hens and Roosters....?

[MrSiberian]

So this has happened to a total of maybe 10 birds out of around 50.... one day drinking and doing their thing....and then back legs go limp. I have attached two photos of each , one a hen....the other a rooster. The hen is inside because she could no longer get up in the hen house......and their is about 13 inches of snow outside where the Rooster is and I am afraid soon he also won't be able to get inside...

I have read a few posts on here.....my case seems almost to be down to genetics....Any ideas? I mean....I love my chickens but we had an explosion of babies being born about 3 weeks ago....so kitchen filled up, and this one I literally have to baby with food and water....
Any thoughts are appreciated.

~MrSiberian

 

[staceyj]

@casportpony
@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@azygous
@coach723
@sourland

 

[Cyprus]

Have you ruled out Marek's? Or lymphoid leukosis?

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you tell us all the symptoms they had before they died, how old the birds were, and how long have the deaths been occurring? Legs becoming limp can be a sign of botulism, but can also happen with moldy feed or chemical poisoning, Mareks disease, and dehydration.

 

[Eggcessive]

Other signs of botulism are total limpness of the whole body, including legs, wings, neck, and eyelids, then death. Mareks disease may can inability to balance, and lameness in one or both leg, or drooping wings, and sometimes a twisted neck or curled under toes.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry for your losses.
What have you tried so far for treatment of symptoms?

If you are losing that many in a short period of time, it would be best to send a couple of birds to your state lab for testing.
You can look up your lab here: http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm