Paralyzed hen update 3 weeks since injury

[maco5]

Well tomorrow Dec 1st will be 3 weeks since my hen somehow became paralyzed.
So not much has changed since I last posted about her.
She was on meds, but that is done.
A week after her first vet visit I took her in again.
She had actually gained weight!
The vet at the time said she didn't think she would ever recover.

I think she has lost weight since then.
She isns't eating like she was.
I sit with her and feed her whatever I can get her to eat.
The last couple of days it has been canned dog food.
She also will occasionally show interest in worms.

She wants to eat, but only eats a little then seems to give up.
I have to force her to eat.

She does move around more which seems encouraging, but maybe it isn't so good.
She can turn around, and a couple of times has somehow gotten out of the bed I have her in. I think she rolled out, but never saw it happen so not sure.
It appears she does try to get up, but can't.
I work with her all the time moving her legs.
I stand her up, but she can't hold herself up.
Tonight tho, she seemed to be able to hold herself up a little on one leg, with help from me.
This is good, because normally her legs just buckle under her.
Again, I am so afraid to have false hope!

The thing that scares me now is I found her upside down for the first time.
This hasn't happened at all, and now I worry if I'm not home, or it happens in the middle of the night she will stay like that without anyone knowing!
Will this harm her?

I am so worried about her, and keep hoping she will prove everyone wrong and get up and walk!
If that happens, I am having a party for her!
First thing though is to take her to the vet so she can see her walk!

Anyway, if anyone has ideas please share!
I am giving her poly vi sol, which might or might not be working.

 

[SassyCatHill]

I don't have any advice for you, but I wanted to give you a big ole cyber hug for what you're doing for her.

 

[Attack Chicken]

Atleast she's doing a little better!! Keep your hopes up!! My prayers are with you and her.

 

[Champagne980576]

That sounds very similar to what one of my hens is going through. It's nice to hear that you're making progress... my hen has only been doing this for about 4 days, though.

I'm going to keep trying with her, but she always looks so miserable.

Good luck! I really hope she pulls through!

 

[maco5]

I forgot to add to the update that she is also able to poop on her own again.
For about a week and half I had to pick her up so she could go.
Now she is doing it alone, however, this also means she ends up laying in it!
So she is getting warm baths!

Today she really didn't eat until I sat with her and forced her to eat the dog food/baby bird formula mix.

After reading this list it seems the paralysis is quite common, but noone really knows why.

If she passes away (god forbid), I am thinking of having a necropsy to maybe get some answers.

 

[eggchel]

One of the more common causes of paralysis is Mareks disease, but it can also be caused by yellow jasmine poisoning, moldy feed, and by botulism (usually kills pretty quickly).
She is a very lucky bird that she has you to take such good care of her. I hope she recovers.

Here is a website where you can look up some causes of paralysis:

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/diagext.htm


Chel