New chicks starting to do this....

[irtehun]

Not sure what's going on. Never had a chick do it before. We got them from TSC. It started as just one but now 4 are starting to do it.

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[irtehun]

Also. They seem healthy other then this, eat, drink clean themselves


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[Wol1]

Could you describe it verbally also? I'm not sure I understand what they're doing.

 

[Wol1]

just found this old thread about chicks with curled toes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/51112/chick-with-curled-toes

hope it helps

 

[Mehjr10]

You may want to look into Marek's, I have never had to deal with it.. but it is one of the symptoms.

http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/disviral.htm#mar

See if any of this fits.

 

[Reurra]

From the pictures, Im going to guess that your birds are not using their legs like they are paralyzed? Looks like range weakness or mereks. Botulism can also cause paralysis. One leg forward and one back is classic mereks. If it is indeed mereks, it is not curable, some birds can survive it. Once its in the soil though, it can take years to get it out. If birds survive, they can pass it onto any new birds. I certainly hope it isnt mereks

CONTROL OF MAREK'S DISEASE IN CHICKENS

Cause

A herpes virus which both gravitates towards lymphoid tissue (lymphoid tissue is spread throughout a chicken, unlike a mammal where it is confined mostly to lymph nodes) and also causes demyelination of peripheral nerves (leg and wing). Various strains of the virus have been isolated and there are two types, one which lives in the cell and one which is cell-free and lives in the feather follicle. The virus was discovered in 1907 by Jozsef Marek, a Hungarian vet and there are non-pathogenic, mildly virulent, virulent and very virulent strains.
Life cycle

The virus replicates in the host chicken's lymphoid tissue and is shed in feather dander (dust). The virus can remain viable for at least one year in feather dander and henhouse dust.
Progression

Chickens from 6 weeks of age are affected, symptoms are most frequently seen 12-24 weeks of age with the hormonal stress of point of lay being a classic time for the signs to appear. Older birds can sometimes be affected if stressors (changes in weather, food, handling, environment) are not minimised. Females are more susceptible than males.

Symptoms
Mortality is variable and depends on which of the peripheral nerves is affected but leads to progressive spastic paralysis of the legs and wings. Sometimes, if the neck nerves are affected, the neck can twist around. There is an acute form where birds may die suddenly with no symptoms and tumours may be found in the liver, gonads, spleen, kidneys, lungs, proventriculus, heart, muscle and skin.


Infection

The virus is ubiquitous in poultry worldwide. Infection in chicks occurs by inhalation and two weeks later, the virus is shed by the infected chick in feather dander and by oral and nasal secretions. The virus is NOT passed on through the egg. Infected and recovered birds continue to shed the virus for life.
Prevention

Good biosecurity is important, quarantine any new stock for 4 weeks. Rear chicks for 2-3 months away from adult feather dander if adult birds have shown symptoms. Ask vendors if stock has been vaccinated. Genetically resistant breeds include the Fayomi.
Treatment (control)

Cull any affected birds. This increases the resistance to the disease in the surviving birds.
Vaccination is feasible, especially if Silkies or Sebrights are kept. These are very susceptible to clinical signs of Marek's and there would be few of these breeds seen at exhibitions if vaccination was not used. The vaccine is administered twice, once in the water (live vaccine) and once by injection when chicks are slightly older.
In other breeds, using vaccine can hide the virus and so the whole stock gets progressively more susceptible (weaker) without any symptoms and if birds are sold without the recipient being told of the vaccination, the birds can pass on the virus to unvaccinated chicks, thereby bringing the disease to a flock which may have been free of it before.

 

[irtehun]

How do I really tell if it's mareks or not?


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[irtehun]

Could you describe it verbally also? I'm not sure I understand what they're doing.

They walk on their knees like where the foot meets the thigh. They look 100% healthy. Neither leg is backwards. Normally they have their toes curled to the inside. It's just almost like they can't stand on their feet. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

They walk on their knees like where the foot meets the thigh. They look 100% healthy. Neither leg is backwards. Normally they have their toes curled to the inside. It's just almost like they can't stand on their feet.


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Chicks with vitamin deficiencies will walk on there hocks like you are describing with yours. It usually mean a vitamin deficiency, but in this case I highly doubt it. It is odd thy they just started doing this. And at the point I would say it is too late to fix a vitamin deficiency , f that is what it is. My best guess would be leaning towards mareks. Don't freak out until you know for sure. I am pretty sure that the only way to identify mareks is through a nerotopsy. I would just say to practice extreme bio security until you know for sure so that you don't spread it to any other chickens. Best of luck

 

[irtehun]

They walk on their knees like where the foot meets the thigh. They look 100% healthy. Neither leg is backwards. Normally they have their toes curled to the inside. It's just almost like they can't stand on their feet.


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Chicks with vitamin deficiencies will walk on there hocks like you are describing with yours. It usually mean a vitamin deficiency, but in this case I highly doubt it. It is odd thy they just started doing this. And at the point I would say it is too late to fix a vitamin deficiency , f that is what it is. My best guess would be leaning towards mareks. Don't freak out until you know for sure. I am pretty sure that the only way to identify mareks is through a nerotopsy. I would just say to practice extreme bio security until you know for sure so that you don't spread it to any other chickens. Best of luck

Thanks cccccccchickens I think I'm gonna try some vitamins.


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