Paralyzed chicken leg

[Chickensrthbest]

My chicken Maia has not been walking in the past three days. I put her in a tub of water so that she could stand also so I could see the leg without having her collapse. Her leg is crippled and weaker then the other leg. I can move it around, it doesn't seem to be broken or sprained. She is one of the quiet hens so I'm not sure if I hurt her. They are free range hens and lots of dogs are on the street Im not sure if a dog got her or if she hurt herself somehow. Its hasn't gotten better or worse. She is only a year and a half old and I've been keeping with the other hens who seem to not bother her.
What should I do?

 

[Peaceeagle1]

Chances are, if a dog got her the leg would be mangled and bleeding or gone. I would probably bring her inside to watch her. Set her up in a crate with food and water close by. If she can't walk, she's not getting to the food and water. And if she is injured, the other chickens may start picking on her. Chickens are funny like that. If the leg starts stiffening up and goes back, read the Mareks disease threads. Somewhere in 1 of the forums yesterday I saw some great info about putting a chicken with leg injuries in a sling or making a splint. I don't remember which thread it was cause I read a whole bunch yesterday!

 

[Chickensrthbest]

My neighbor's Boxer escapes some times and she won't attack them just chase then and pounce on them it could be the disease though it is shrivled and weak. I've been keeping her in on the hot days in a dog crate. Otherwise she is under a bench were I made some shade with food and water next to her. She was sick when she was little with a unknown eye problem could that come back but worse?

 

[Chickensrthbest]

I looked up Mericks disease I'm still not sure what it is should I have a vet check her out?

 

[Peaceeagle1]

Hummm, Shriveled you say. I don't know what that could be. I've had several cases of Mareks where the leg went back, but it was not shriveled. Actually it sounds like an older injury or a nerve injury since it's shriveled. I'm just guessing at that since I was an ICU RN for almost 40 yrs. Takes awhile for people limbs to shrivel from disuse. Don't know how long it would take a chicken. The eye problem shouldn't return or have caused this problem( I'm dealing with eye problems myself right now). Hopefully someone else will join with another take on things.

 

[Peaceeagle1]

mareks is a nasty virus that usually kills the bird. And even if the others don't show symptoms, they will always be carriers. I don't think that's it. Do you have a vet that actually knows anything about chickens? If not, don't bother. If he/she does, definitely take her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is some reading on Mareks. Just click on the link: http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf

 

[Chickensrthbest]

She keeps it with the toes curled back like a fist (thats what I ment by shrivled) I can move them apart but they don't stay that way for long .She doesn't have the leg put back mostly underneath her, not foward, to the side or behind her. She has no feeling in it and can't move it.I just noticed looking at the calender her leg has been "paralyzed" for a week counting today and I don't think it is Mericks disease which it only last two days and She hasn't gotten better or worse.