paralyzed chickens

[chickengr]

hi,

yesterday I found my araucana hen (1 yo) limping. her flock remain without water for a couple of hours (after 4 pm when I fed them and they had water). after drinking and picking some grass she got better so I put her in the coop at night. this morning I found her totally paralyzed on the floor.

when I opened the other coop I found my brahma hen (2 yo) paralyzed. she is slightly better than the other one. with her I don't exclude injury.

I gave both of them baytril. I put vitamins in chicken starter and wet it and both of them ate like pigs.

I also suspect corn that I recently bought might have been treated with chemicals. all of my chickens could not digest it properly. I suspected worms but after worming all of them I now suspect chemical treatment.View attachment 1038507

any idea what might cause paralysis? 2 years ago I had a similar case and the vet said salmonella and prescribed baytril for 6 days. it helped.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You need to read this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

The symptoms sound like Marek's or one of its imitators (botulism). That thread will walk you through symptoms and treatments (for non-Marek's illness).

If it is Marek's, all you can do is offer TLC and wait. Some recover, others don't.

I'm sorry to hear of your flock's illness. That is disheartening. I hope they get better soon.

LofMc

 

[chickengr]

You need to read this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

The symptoms sound like Marek's or one of its imitators (botulism). That thread will walk you through symptoms and treatments (for non-Marek's illness).

If it is Marek's, all you can do is offer TLC and wait. Some recover, others don't.

I'm sorry to hear of your flock's illness. That is disheartening. I hope they get better soon.

LofMc

thanks.

it is not marek's. the girls within 1,5 hour managed to move their legs. they have been sitting properly since then. still eating and drinking.

I also suspect botulism or salmonella. could E. coli cause symptoms like that?

their poop is normal.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I also suspect corn that I recently bought might have been treated with chemicals.

I also suspect botulism or salmonella. could E. coli cause symptoms like that?

Can you go to the vet?

It could be a number of things Botulism or Mycotoxicosis would be my first inclination.
Since the feed is questionable, I'm sure you already removed that.

Depending on how they are doing, you could try a flush to see if there is improvement. Offer poultry vitamins afterward.

Keep us posted.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/100/mycotoxicosis/

 

[chickengr]

Can you go to the vet?

It could be a number of things Botulism or Mycotoxicosis would be my first inclination.
Since the feed is questionable, I'm sure you already removed that.

Depending on how they are doing, you could try a flush to see if there is improvement. Offer poultry vitamins afterward.

Keep us posted.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/100/mycotoxicosis/

thanks.

my chickens always get sick on weekends so no vet available.

thank to your information I think it is mycotoxicosis.

they are better but still not well. it looks like raining so the weather does not help. I will try to disinfect their runs with copper sulphate.

 

[Eggcessive]

Since they improved with food and water, I would guess that they were weak from going without water in summer heat. As the rest have posted, aflatoxin poisoning from mold in food or corn, botulism, and Mareks are the usual causes of paralysis that doesn't get better right away. Dehydration can cause extreme weakness and even death pretty quickly in warm weather.

 

[chickengr]

Since they improved with food and water, I would guess that they were weak from going without water in summer heat. As the rest have posted, aflatoxin poisoning from mold in food or corn, botulism, and Mareks are the usual causes of paralysis that doesn't get better right away. Dehydration can cause extreme weakness and even death pretty quickly in warm weather.

thanks.

only araucana was without water. brahma belongs to another flock and she had plenty of water.

they still cannot walk but at least they eat and drink. a friend of mine called his vet and I got the information that I should treat them with 15% baytril for 3 days. as I have 10% baytril I will increase the dosage. the vet says if it is not marek's it must be some kind of poisoning.

 

[chickengr]

the vet confirmed it must have been some kind poisoning. the araucana hen is still weak but better, the brahma hen is much better, she can make a few nice steps. they both eat like pigs.

the therapy is what I have already started, baytril (syringed) and vitamins mixed with feed. as you probably know baytril and vitamins should not be given together.