NEED HELP IMMEDIANTLY!! Chickens legs won’t move!!!

[Juliannehall]

We have a rooster who is now about 14 months old (roughly a year). I first noticed a week ago that he has something in his eye. Later on a hot day I noticed him sleeping on the ground. When I woke him up he could barely stand. He couldn’t even walk a step without falling. We took him inside to separate him from the rest of the chickens. The other chickens seem to have no issues. Not sure if the eye is related to any of this though. He was shaking his head side to side but that stopped. We noticed he is a runt and a slow developer. He has always struggled to eat enough food. Currently he can’t walk or even use his legs. I’m not sure if they are paralyzed though. He can still attempt to get up. His crop is about almost full, and can eat if I’m patience with him. He will start to breathe heavy if I move him around too much. If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it, because I don’t know what to do at this point other than to leave him alone.

(There are probably spelling errors but I don’t have time to fix)

 

[Wil781]

What are you feeding him?
You can make a sling to put him in to get him up off the floor cut two holes for his legs and have him low enough in container to put feet on bottom. Then attach food and water containers where he can get get to it. Of course this is no cure but will make him more comfortable.

He could be suffering from a vitamin deficiency if he is not eating a well balanced diet, which if not you can give him vitamins, Nutri- Drench is a good one sold at TSC, then again there is Mareks, which is a debilitating disease. All you can really do is keep them eating and drinking and hope for remission or cull him. If it is Mareks then the rest of your flock has been exposed, it doesn't mean that they all will develop Mareks but they will be carriers. There are many articles on BYC about Mareks you should read. Hopefully someone with more expertise will chime in here in a bit with some other help.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x Wil781 but calling for more help if it's Mareks @Ravynscroft Thank you for any help here

 

[Juliannehall]

What are you feeding him?
You can make a sling to put him in to get him up off the floorView attachment 1494967cut two holes for his legs and have him low enough in container to put feet on bottom. Then attach food and water containers where he can get get to it. Of course this is no cure but will make him more comfortable.

He could be suffering from a vitamin deficiency if he is not eating a well balanced diet, which if not you can give him vitamins, Nutri- Drench is a good one sold at TSC, then again there is Mareks, which is a debilitating disease. All you can really do is keep them eating and drinking and hope for remission or cull him. If it is Mareks then the rest of your flock has been exposed, it doesn't mean that they all will develop Mareks but they will be carriers. There are many articles on BYC about Mareks you should read. Hopefully someone with more expertise will chime in here in a bit with some other help.

We have been feeding him plenty of water, some yogurt (for babies with probiotics) aswell as providing some normal food and some variants of sources. He does struggle to eat big pieces. Also he has not disposed of anything in his crop for the past three hours.

 

[Wil781]

If it is Mareks his digestive system could become paralyzed so definitely be monitoring his poops.

 

[Juliannehall]

If it is Mareks his digestive system could become paralyzed so definitely be monitoring his poops.

He hasn’t pooped in about ten hours, he has been drinking a lot of water and still shows signs of appetite. Not sure if this is relevant but his stomach growls. When I feel his crop area is seems to be swollen. He has gotten very weak and is starting to breathe heavy.

 

[Wil781]

Are you noticing any color change in his comb? If you see purple it could mean lack of oxygen. I'm sorry but it doesn't sound good. How many other chickens do you have? I would watch them closely for any unusual behavior, if it is Mareks they have been exposed. I had a tech from Auburn University tell me if you have chickens you have Mareks, so it is nothing you have done or didn't do, it is carried by wild birds.

 

[Juliannehall]

Are you noticing any color change in his comb? If you see purple it could mean lack of oxygen. I'm sorry but it doesn't sound good. How many other chickens do you have? I would watch them closely for any unusual behavior, if it is Mareks they have been exposed. I had a tech from Auburn University tell me if you have chickens you have Mareks, so it is nothing you have done or didn't do, it is carried by wild birds.

It’s difficult to tell with the comb since he is a silkie. Now he has been getting what seem to be head spasms. I’ll try to get a video. He has tried to clean himself though which he wasn’t able to do yesterday. He has always been a runt and slow developer. I’m wondering if this is something neurological. He currently isn’t head bobbing, but he still is unable to stand. As well as getting defensive and bitting us.

 

[Wil781]

View attachment 1495584 This is Bantam rooster, Rutherford, that has been down with what I believe is Mareks, he can walk but he walks sideways and uses his wing to keep himself from toppling over, we are going on over a month with the same symptoms, if he doesn't go into remission then he will progressively start getting worse. I have seen no change in his condition he is still eating and drinking on his own.

Mareks causes neurological symptoms such as the walking sideways or complete paralysis of the legs, there are 4 different types with the paralysis being the worst. I have been giving my boy the Nutri-Drench for added vitamin boost. But I'm sure the time is coming when I will cull him, unless he improves dramatically, because his life consists of sitting in a cage and going out in the grass a couple of times a day, no life for a rooster.

I wish you luck with your silkie, try giving vitamins in case he is suffering from vitamin deficiency instead of the dreaded Mareks. I am hoping someone with more expertise will advise you.

 

[ChickenyChickeny]

If he is shaking his head around, he might have gapeworms?