Paralysed chicken - help!

[dlhunicorn]

If it is something like mareks then your bird will either get over it or not... if it is something like infectious arthritis or something else you would really need testing to treat for it properly. All illness which presents with such extreme symptom will always involve malabsorption of nutrients which is why I am always advising a complete vitamin supplement in addition to some specific additions when the symptoms seem to indicate that as a general supplement is just that and not formulated to give a therapeutic dosage of any one particular component.
I have had a look for you in the UK and have found the following and in addition to that a little article you might find useful (very last link)... good luck and I hope she soon recovers... :aww
http://www.medicanimal.com/Birds-Poultry-&-Game/c30_103/index.html?language=en
(Jannsen Poultry Tonic)

http://www.moorlandspoultry.co.uk/index.html

http://smallholdersupplies.co.uk/SubCategoryListing.asp?Id=77
(Poultry Booster)

http://www.poultry-health.com/library/solvits.htm

 

[holly1987]

Thank you so much - will post an update with any changes! I have got to pick up some horse food today and have just seen that the place does a poultry tonic so will pick some of that up too! Your time and advice is very much appreciated!

 

[LaLady]

Holly,

In response to your question, baytril is a general purpose antibiotic. Our little Chip has been on it for two days and I haven't noticed any improvement, though it's probably too early to tell. I also have her on a vitamin supplement for birds/livestock (for the past 5 days), but maybe I need to order that Avia Charge stuff...

 

[nnbreeder]

I think that Baytril is available in the UK without a perscription but most other meds are not. If you do use Baytril be on the watch for crop problems as some birds will devolop sour crop with Baytril use.

 

[nicelittlehens]

Does she have trouble holding her neck up or does it droop to one side ? Use Epson salt and water to flush her system out of possible Botulism. Do it quickly you don’t have much time if that’s the case.

 

[hereachick]

We recently had something similar happen with our mille fleur roo. At first he was walking around with the others then he started being very quiet and staying in the coop all day.So we brought him in.He started getting worse was weak could hardly stand up we gave him baytril, a wormer,and a antiinflamatory med, no change.
He had a great appetite just had a hard time getting to the food. He continued to get weaker falling over onto his side,(he would eat but didn't seem to benefit from it) his eyes would open and close he did alot of blinking.We thought at first he had broken a bone or somethingwhere it was so wet maybe he had slipped on his outside roost.Then we thought maybe botulism (he had all the signs according to the chicken handbook - gail Damerow) where it has been so wet around here lately,treated with epsom salt solution.No change continued to fall over now he held up one of his legs like it was paralysed and couldn't really stand up would fall over if not propped up.Used his wings to balance thought of Mareks disease but, he still was eating like a pig and drinking too.So there went the theory of food poisioning,mareks? He didn't seem to have the signs of mareks but yet he did.He soon stopped moving one of his wings but was alert and ate alot from his bowl. We were feeding him applesauce ,plain yogurt, honey,oats,dry catfood,canned catfood,pellets,corn water with electrolytes and minerals,gatorade (non colored kind) and some tetracycline on and off.We gave him everything we could think of and every chance of getting better but, no improvement was ever seen.We culled him yesterday (poor thing) still not sure what it was he had.He had been so strong and healthy.Just couldn't watch him suffering like that anymore.It came on so fast.
So to be safe we're going to wash down everything he used with bleach and water and pack up the bedding used in a trash bag so none of what he used will go anywhere near any of the other birds.Just wish I knew what it was!
Good luck with your bird I hope it makes a full recovery.We did have another roo with a balance problem a yr ago who did recover fully and has been well now for a yr. Best wishes let me know how you make out!