Paralyzed Plymouth Rock

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello guys,
Thanks for your help and תודה רבה.
Her pupil seems nice and round, like the left picture. The iris is not grey.
I have started giving her vitamins.
It is now difficult for her to lift her neck for eating without falling, so I have to hold her while she is eating. Moreover, when she eats I hear sound as if some water exist somewhere in her digestion pipeline.
I wonder if such gradually progressive paralysis is indeed a sign of Marek's in mature birds?
Thanks,
Yonatan

I'm sorry she's declining.
Is her neck twisting like Wry Neck?
Is she able to poop?
Water sound, is her crop emptying - if you feel of it is it gassy or fluid filled?

It could be progression of Marek's. Suggestions of Botulism, toxins, moldy feed, etc., are good to investigate as well.

Botulism can be acute/acts very quickly - like anything, it depends on how much was ingested but it generally follows a pattern of leg weakness that progresses to flaccid paralysis of the legs, wing, neck and eyelids. Trembling/quivering, ruffled up appearance, feathers that are easily pulled out, difficulty breathing and loose droppings with excess urates are other symptoms.

Frustrating and sadly, some/most of the above symptoms can be from a number of conditions/diseases that affect chickens, so without a diagnosis, it can be a shot in the dark as to the cause.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some articles in post 20 that contain a ton of info about Mareks, testing, and how it is everywhere. which may be boring to some, but helpful to others:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ow-big-is-the-chance-of-mareks.1338704/page-2

 

[yon100]

I'm sorry she's declining.
Is her neck twisting like Wry Neck?
Is she able to poop?
Water sound, is her crop emptying - if you feel of it is it gassy or fluid filled?

It could be progression of Marek's. Suggestions of Botulism, toxins, moldy feed, etc., are good to investigate as well.

Botulism can be acute/acts very quickly - like anything, it depends on how much was ingested but it generally follows a pattern of leg weakness that progresses to flaccid paralysis of the legs, wing, neck and eyelids. Trembling/quivering, ruffled up appearance, feathers that are easily pulled out, difficulty breathing and loose droppings with excess urates are other symptoms.

Frustrating and sadly, some/most of the above symptoms can be from a number of conditions/diseases that affect chickens, so without a diagnosis, it can be a shot in the dark as to the cause.

Thanks ....
She is able to poop, I will check her crop. I was feeding her boiled quinoa with water because she seemed not to drink, might this be the cause?
If it is Botulism, do you think that something can be done in such condition, or too late? (I now there is an anti-toxin)?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks ....
She is able to poop, I will check her crop. I was feeding her boiled quinoa with water because she seemed not to drink, might this be the cause?
If it is Botulism, do you think that something can be done in such condition, or too late? (I now there is an anti-toxin)?

I would check her crop first, she may be dehydrated and needs fluids. I don't think the boiled quinoa would hurt her.
There are some home flushes you can do for toxins, but they are dehydrating, so you would want to make sure you carefully consider if she needs that or not (see link below).
Tubing some fluids into her may also be helpful, but if the crop is not emptying, then you would need to be careful she doesn't choke.


http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal