Need help - Chicken is not using her legs - with video

[wannabannanna]

I love your nickname. I hope to be eggcessive some day too! Thank you for the info. She has not gotten any worse, and when presented food she eats wholeheartedly. I keep food and water in her little "ICU Unit", but she struggles to move around without the use of her legs so every couple of hours I come spend time with her and make sure she is hydrated and is eating. I certainly appreciate you encouraging me to give her a bit more time, it is reassuring to have support when flying blind. Cheers!

 

[Eggcessive]

I like your name too, since it comes from Panama. Some riboflavin-rich foods are beef, liver, pork, turkey, plain yogurt, chopped almonds, and mushrooms. She really does present as though she could have Mareks with stumbling, imbalance, and using wings to help balance. But many things can mimic Mareks, so I always feel that people should wait and see. Mareks can cause paralysis of one or both legs, wings, or the neck. They may have wasting, and can have a reduced immunity to common infections. Some may have eye changes or skin growths. Every case is unique, and people have had necropsies done on suspected Mareks cases where cocciddiosis, a protozoan intestinal infection from dirt, was the culprit. Let us know how she is progressing in a day or two.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

x2

If she doesn't appear to be unduly suffering, able to eat and drink, giving the vitamins, meds, and detoxification some time, could rally her.

Unfortunately chickens tend to be either well, or dead, or dead later. I've rescued a few to a long life, but those that succumb to something and nursed through often succumb to something else later which is why most breeders simply cull sick birds if anything other than a quick fix.

If you are really trying to be self-sustaining, with a regenerating flock, you may want to consider that philosophy. You only want the strongest and most resistant to further genetics in your flock. It sounds harsh, but it is best for the overall flock health.

It does sound like Marek's as she wants to eat and drink even though stumbling. Coccidiosis usually presents with a bird that is listless and does not want to eat or drink, sitting puffed and withdrawn, making medicating troublesome when they are this weak as you have to eye dropper them. (I've lost them later as it simply weakens their system too much and scars their intestines internally).

Vitamin deficiencies usually rally with noticeable improvement within a few days, sometimes almost magically, and then take a consistent regiment for a bit to fully eradicate, but as long as the bird is on a good healthy diet, the problem usually is gone.

I've not dealt personally with botulism or other toxins (known anyway), so can't make comment on them.

I wish the best for her and for you as you decide the best treatment plan.

LofMc

 

[ryanhodapp]

X3

If she can eat on her own, be patient.

Curious about Lady's comment about Coccidia recovery. I have a BO that had mild Coccidia last spring. Just recovered from that and got bit by a dog. Aft 5 stitches, she recovered. Now she isn't walking. I'm hoping it is a sprain, but she is a chicken, not a cat, I don't know how many lives she has left. I've had her inside for a week. Eating, but right leg seems to be the problem.

Sorry to hijack your post Banana. I love this sight and how many international people are joining.

Marlene

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Depending on how severe and location of the coccidia infestation, it can permanently damage the gut lining creating a situation where the bird no longer gets optimum nutrition. This can also compromise their immune system as a healthy gut is the first line of defense.

A compromised bird is more susceptible to other illness or disease.

This is true with a number of major bird illnesses.

Some manage to recover and live long healthy lives, while many become less thrifty and less able to recover when something else hits and often become the vector of illness for the rest of the flock.

This observation is behind the philosophy to cull those that succumb to anything beyond a quick fix discouraging complex or prolonged treatment since first illness often indicates a lesser constitution (presuming reasonable feed and care and non injury related).

This kind of husbandry sounded unfair to me at first, and extreme, but as time goes on, I am seeing the wisdom behind it for those who desire to breed for flock sustainability or to create an income producing flock...in other words birds kept for something other than pets.

LofMc

 

[realsis]

Hi there, just wanted to say it took a FULL MONTH for my vitamin deficient bird to get better and walk again. It certainly does not hurt to give it a try. Remember please keep Mareks in the back of your mind as well but it does take time with the vitamins.DO you know if she was vaccinated for Mareks as a hatchling?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It really depends on the vitamin deficiency, but as a rule, most deficiencies make noticeable improvement fairly soon after adequate dosage (often double recommended levels) with most regiments requiring 1 to 2 weeks, some a single dose.

But many deficiencies accompany other conditions which exasperate and prolong the issue...coccidiosis and metabolic disorders for example.

So I stand by my statement that as a rule, if you are not seeing any improvement after proper vitamin regiment within the first week (often after several days, some after a single dose), you likely need to look deeper.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html

Giving vitamins can't hurt and might help, but if there is no improvement after a week, it likely is something else.

LofMc

 

[wannabannanna]

OH I WANT TO HUG YOU ALL SO HARD RIGHT NOW!!!!

Thanks to your encouragement I stood the course, kept making sure she got good nutrition and plenty of TLC and this morning when I went to check on her... she greeted me on her own two feet! I was thrilled to see her up, because she has always had a healthy appetite and seems lively enough. I will keep her isolated a few more days until I am sure this is a good recovery and not a fluke, and I cannot begin to express how thankful I am to each and every one of you for taking the time to share your knowledge and keep me company these days. I am loving this site and the amazingly contagious love that you guys have for these creatures. May your flock stay happy and healthy.

 

[wannabannanna]

I as told they had been vaccinated for Mareks prior to delivery, so I am hoping that is true...

 

[Eggcessive]

Great news! I'm so glad that she is better. Thank you for the update, and hopefully she will make a full recovery.