paralyzed rooster

[mamatwo]

Hi, this is my first post, we need some help fast.
My grand daughters 10 month old rooster, has been down for almost 2 weeks, he's on antibiotics, and is given food and water every hour. Plus, we've been giving him yogurt with oats.
He was one of 3 we were given, the other two hens got the same way (only one was laying) and both passed.
We are doing everything the people at the feed store told us to do.
He lays on his side, is very alert, moves his feet and legs like he is trying to get up. But, when she sets him up on his feet, he falls to his side.
We have him in the garage, keeping him as comfortable as possible, we are in and out all day and half the night, talking to him, giving him food and water. The water has the anti-biotics in it.
We have 9 other hens (about 6 months old) two of them got very lethargic, we gave them the anti biotics/water and in two days they were fine.
My granddaughter is heart broken, she has raised him from a little guy. He is very gentle and loving.
Does anyone have any ideas, help, anything helpful would be deeply appreciated.
We can't afford to take him to the vet right now, as we just spent 1800.00 trying to save one of our horses.
Thank you so much, Pam

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. It souds like he could possibly have Mareks disease, especially after the 2 hens before were the same way. Mareks is a virus that is passed in the dust and dander from an infected bird or chicken. It remains in the environment for many years, and when chicks are purchased from a hatchery, most can be vaccinated for it for a minimal cost. There is no treatment, and most chickens will eventually die of tumors, infections, or paralysis caused by tumors on the nerves. I would start him on poultry vitamins in his water just in case of a vitamin deficiency. If he passes away, I would recommend sending his refrigerated (not frozen) body to your state vet for a necropsy and testing for Mareks. Were you 6 month olds vaccinated for Mareks? Here is some reading about the disease, and sorry to hear about your sick fella:
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[mamatwo]

Sorry I haven't answered back. Problems with our internet. Anyways, merle is still with us. He's got until Friday on the anti biotics , he's on polyvisol vitamins, my granddaughter figured out how to get him to eat ( yogurt, honey, egg yolk, oats, ) and he'll drink from a syringe. But, he continues to lay and do that swimming motion with his feet and legs. He will throw himself over to his left side every time we turn him( every 2-3 hours) he has even made sounds like he is trying to crow, but it's very weak. He's very alert. We talk to him and he turns his head and listens to us. He just can't get up and stand or walk. The guy at the feed store said if he's not up after the 14 days of antibiotics, then he's not going to get any better. Is this true. We don't want him to have to live like this. We just don't know what to do.

 

[Eggcessive]

I really think it is a good possibility that he could have Mareks disease. It can be very sad for them, and of course, we get very attached to our sick chickens. I would contact your state vet for information about doing a necropsy on him if he doesn't make it to look for Mareks. Many include euthanasia in the cost, and in some states it can be free (California and Connecticut are two.) Here is a link for your state vet: http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

 

[mamatwo]

Hi, it's me again. Well, Merle did his 14 days of anti-biotics, with vitamins in his water. Still feeding him the yogurt, etc. He will peck at and eat a little of his mash. We give him water from a syringe.
But, he's still not walking! He is very alert and responds to us when we talk to him. And he's still doing the leg swimming thing with his legs.
We have tried everything. His last day of anti-biotics was yesterday.
My son-in-law is just going to take him and sign him over. We can't afford another vet bill right now, we just spent almost 2,000.00 trying to save one of our horses.
My grand daughter is just devastated.She has raised Merle from a tiny baby. He's not even like a normal rooster, he has always laid in her arms like a baby, and goes to sleep.Just heart-broken over this.
We tried so hard to save him.
Thank you for your help.

 

[Allears]

I'm so sorry that you had to go through what you have with Merle. They are just chickens to some people, but when you have raised them and loved them and they have responded to that love, they become more than "just" chickens.