Paralyzed Hen/Mareks?

[Corey NC]

I have a just under a year old Buff Orpington hen unable to walk. She can move her thighs but not her legs and feet. She is fully alert and talkative and attempts to be active. Her comb is faded and she is skinny but no parasites. She is eating and drinking well when the they are put right infront of her. I Could not find any swelling and there was no reaction when touching/moving her legs/feet/toes. She is now in a kennel in the house.

Does anyone have any ideas on what is up with this hen?

Thanks,
Corey

 

[Pine Grove]

First thing that comes to my mind is Avian Tuberculosis..With TB birds continue to eat while constantly losing weight..But could be something all together different..Internal parasites will/can cause weight loss and lameness, but once at this point birds seldom have very good appetites.....

 

[Corey NC]

The weight loss may just have been from unable to reach the food.

 

[spook]

I don't know Corey but I hope you find someone to give you a hand with this! Such a shame.

 

[ChickenBarn]

I had one of my hens do the exact same thing. No sign of injury and otherwise healthy. I tried everything for 4 weeks but she never got better. I finally had to cull her due to the fact she had no quality of life. I hope your girl does better than mine Corey.

Good Luck from Idaho

Clint

 

[SpottedCrow]

Darn, I'm sorry Corey. I lost a 2+ year old bird from Marek's in May, but she didn't even want to eat.

 

[horsejody]

It sounds like Marek's. Marek's is everywhere. She may survive if you give her intensive care. Put her in a dog crate and keep the food and water right in front of her. Marek's is not painful, but the injuries incurred from floppng around while paralysed are. She may or may not survive. If she can eat and drink well and rest long enough, it may go into remission. She will always have it, and she and all of your other chickens will be carriers if Marek's is what she has. If it is Mareks, all of your future birds should be vaccinated as day old chicks, and then they will need to be quarantined long enough for the immunity to take hold. We have been hit with Marek's here too. My neighbor lost some girls and has two survivors. I have one survivor. Mildred was "hospitalised" in a dog crate for about 3 weeks before she could walk again. She now limps but gets along well.

 

[Corey NC]

Please someone enlighten me on Mareks. So none of my chickens should leave my property? Are chicks hatched off the property ok? How localized is it? Say if one coop is infected is the one that is 30 yards away infected too? Can I vaccinate my current adults or only the chicks?

 

[Pine Grove]

Whats the posture of her legs, With mareks one leg out back and the other forward.....

 

[Corey NC]

They don't move at all, they just are limp and flop around as she balences partially on her wing.