Paralyzed foot?

[WestKnollAmy]

12 week old red star pullet from Ideal was found yesterday morning in the brooder unable to stand up. She was laying on her side and let me lift her up but struggled once she was held. She can use one leg but not the other one.
It isn't a broken leg, there isn't any swelling, no wounds and it is as warm as the other leg. She eats and drinks and hobbles around. Doesn't act like she feels bad but seems upset that she can't get around.
I could only think of Mareks but then she came from Ideal and vaccinated. Hasn't been around other chickens and is in a brand new brooder/coop.
Anything else to look for or do for her? I've never had this mystery to happen before.

 

[jhmoore]

Hi! I don't know if it will help you much, but I had a similar situation, and was directed to follow the thread under Emergencies which is titled "Hen can't stand up", or similar title. This might give you a few ideas for care, at least. Best of luck to you and your hennie.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

No, that would not be related to what she would have. There aren't any larger chickens in with her group. They are in a large brooder pen and all are 12 week old pullets. There are only 14 of them in there so lots of room for playing.

 

[BantamLover21]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm wondering, what ended up happening to your pullet's leg? One of my 9 month old cockerels suddenly developed a almost completely useless leg yesterday night; it seems almost paralyzed from the hock down. He hobbles around walking on top of the affected leg's toes. In my case, I think Marek's is more likely, since he wasn't vaccinated.

 

[lmullins]

I had a chicken that could not walk also. It started out that she was wobbly, then was falling, then to 100% paralysis. I was told it was Merecks by many people. Someone on here suggested vitamin deficiencies. I read for hours on the internet about these different deficiencies and learned mine was lacking riboflavin. I got her electrolytes with vitamins (one specifically with riboflavin) and she was walking almost perfectly within 48 hours. I actually saw her stand on her own after 24 hours. The vitamins are cheap and worth the try, I hope your chicken has something curable and makes his turn around. Good luck!!

 

[BantamLover21]

I had a chicken that could not walk also. It started out that she was wobbly, then was falling, then to 100% paralysis. I was told it was Merecks by many people. Someone on here suggested vitamin deficiencies. I read for hours on the internet about these different deficiencies and learned mine was lacking riboflavin. I got her electrolytes with vitamins (one specifically with riboflavin) and she was walking almost perfectly within 48 hours. I actually saw her stand on her own after 24 hours. The vitamins are cheap and worth the try, I hope your chicken has something curable and makes his turn around. Good luck!!

Thanks for the information! After a few days of rest, vitamins, and St. Johns Wort treatments, my cockerel's leg was no longer paralyzed. However, he still walks on the tops of his toes and limps while doing so. I think that injury to the hock joint is what caused this to happen; I intend to let him rest and continue treating in hopes that the injury will heal and he will walk well again.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

In my case, vitamins did not help. This was years ago, of course but I did send several of the birds that became affected off for necropsy. It was inconclusive. Not much help at all.
Since then I still have birds come up with similar problems and have found a few vitamins do help like E and A, Selenium and Niacin.