partially paralized

[CashandTracy]

my 18 week old pullet seems to be partially paralized. I could not find any signs of egg binding. I do not know if she is vaccinated for Mericks since she was purchased from a feed store.

This same thing happened to another young bird about 4 weeks ago, with no signs or symptoms of what ever this is appearing in another bird till today. We thought possible heat stroke, or Mericks even though the signs weren't "text book" Mericks.

We have this pullet in the house trying to cool her off, she is eating, but not drinking. Legs are still not working quite right.

Any thoughts?

 

[Eggcessive]

What happened to the other bird? Mareks can affect a leg or a wing or both. The symptoms can vary from bird to bird. They can try to balance with their wings. You might want to start some vitamins in the water just in case of a deficiency such as riboflavin. This can cause curled toe paralysis, which may also occur in Mareks. There are some very good links here on BYC about Mareks if you search at the top of the page. Is there any chance that she could have been poisoned or gotten botulism from eating a dead animal or rotted vegetation?

 

[CashandTracy]

What happened to the other bird? Mareks can affect a leg or a wing or both. The symptoms can vary from bird to bird. They can try to balance with their wings. You might want to start some vitamins in the water just in case of a deficiency such as riboflavin. This can cause curled toe paralysis, which may also occur in Mareks. There are some very good links here on BYC about Mareks if you search at the top of the page. Is there any chance that she could have been poisoned or gotten botulism from eating a dead animal or rotted vegetation?

The other bird died, she was vaccinated. With this one (and the other), she stumbles around and shuffles trying to use her wings for balance. I tubed some normal saline into her and she seems to have improved just slightly.

I don't think she got into any dead animals, but we did give them unfertlized lawn clipping this morning.

Don't know if this would give you any ideas but, they did run out of water yesterday, nobody was excessively thirsty when I refilled the water. I think this may be a contributing factor. What do you think?

 

[CashandTracy]

Another thought just popped into my head. What about calcium excess? I have been mixing flock raiser with layena about 85% to 15% mix with free access to oyster shell.

 

[Eggcessive]

No to calcium excess. Dehydration could be a possibility. Use some electrolytes or pedialyte, not normal saline to give her fluids. Look up homemade electrolytes for chickens if you don't have any.

 

[CashandTracy]

No to calcium excess. Dehydration could be a possibility. Use some electrolytes or pedialyte, not normal saline to give her fluids. Look up homemade electrolytes for chickens if you don't have any.

Thank you very much, looking up the recipe now!

 

[CashandTracy]

She's moving around the crate a little now and making happy chicken sounds. She's still a little unsteady but improving. Thanks again Eggcessive for your advice!