Mystery Chicken Illness- Please Help!

[lilyb]

A few days ago my Polish hen started acting like she was extremely tired. Then yesterday, I noticed her limping on one leg- so I brought her inside and inspected her. I didn't feel anything that was unusual (like an infection, or a broken leg) but she was still exhausted. I kept her inside overnight, and this morning she stands on two legs again, but she is so drained of energy she barely moves. She is breathing a little harder than usual- it sounds kind of raspy. Her eyes are clear (she was vaccinated for Mareks already), and her nose does not have any mucus in it. I thought it might be scaly leg because I saw some redness on her legs... but would scaly leg cripple a chicken like this? But just to be sure I cleaned her and put vaseline on her legs. She also has had diarrhea these last few days too.
Any thoughts about what it could be? Anything I can do?

 

[leadwolf1]

First, the Marek's vaccine doesn't stop a chicken from getting Marek's. It only stops the internal tumors from forming.

All her symptoms do point to Mareks' but, let's back up and get the answers to a few questions:

How old is she?

Have you brought any new chickens into your flock?

How hot has it been?

Changes in food?

Do to the heat and humidity, there has been a rise in botulism that can cause these symptoms. Any chance that she got into some moldy feed? Algae in waterers?

 

[lilyb]

She is about a year old, no new chickens in the flock- and yes I do live in Florida and it has been extremely hot an humid here. Yesterday when I was cleaning their water bowl there was some algae starting to grow and I cleaned that out. I don't know what has been going on with them this past week because I was out of town and my mother was taking care of them. They have a good diet (chicken feed, greens, and we spoil them with fruit)
Thank you for your quick reply- this is my first time owning chickens so I feel like I have a lot to learn...and Im so worried

 

[leadwolf1]

I would do a search on botulism.

 

[lilyb]

So I spent all morning cleaning and disinfecting the coops, and when I came back inside she had died and was already stiff
Im still not sure what killed her, or how I should properly dispose of her body...since I don't know if it was a virus or bacteria and I dont want it spreading to the other hens.

 

[TwoCrows]

I am so sorry for your loss.

You could take her to a vet for a necropsy to find out what she actually died of. Mystery diseases are always the most disturbing, when you have no idea what happened and where to go from there.

 

[leadwolf1]

I would put her in a plastic bag and in the fridge and call around to find someone to do a necropsy. You really need to know what happened and that is the only way that you will ever know. You can search online for the necessary forms and locations for a state lab that will do them, they are far cheaper that way or, you can call your local government extension office and ask for the info.

I'm so sorry for your loss