Please help diagnose sick chicken?

[Chickem707]

That does sound about right. She’s not “limping” or seizing or shaking. But “scuttling” around, when absolutely necessary, sounds about right. I’ll see if vitamins help.

My chick also shakes when she walks a bit, if that’s any help

Also, i have two cream legbar pullets and they look different to yours!

 

[Eggcessive]

It may take some time to tell if it is Mareks or something else. I’m pretty sure that @rebrascora may chime in, and she has been dealing with it for quite awhile. There are other things that might cause her to have weakness in her legs, so I would try and keep her eating and drinking, and she may or may not get better. I really hope that this is not Mareks,

I saw a vet show on TV where Mareks was suspected, and they found a spleen infection was putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. It was helped with antibiotics. Mareks can cause wasting from starving, a greater risk of infections because of poor immunity, and some may develop weakness in one or both legs, or a twisted neck. Some may get eye color changes and blindness. Occasionally one may become lame, and then recover and seem normal. Later they may develop tumors internally.

If you eventually lose her, I would send her refrigerated bidy to your state vet for a necropsy, and have Mareks testing done to confirm a diagnosis. Here is a link with state vets listed:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[PouleChick]

I believe my chick has some kind of riboflavin deficiency, I’ve started her on vitamin water but I don’t know if it’s helping. She doesn’t want to really get up and sits on her hocks all day, if she has to move she scuttles around on them. Seems less developed than the rest of my chicks. Was yours the same?

I believe my chick has some kind of riboflavin deficiency, I’ve started her on vitamin water but I don’t know if it’s helping. She doesn’t want to really get up and sits on her hocks all day, if she has to move she scuttles around on them. Seems less developed than the rest of my chicks. Was yours the same?

yep that is exactly what my Mabel was doing while I worked through what was going on. I hope the vitamins start working as well for you as they did for us.

 

[AHPFblack star]

I'm having the same problem with mine. I could not diagnose it, just feed it lots of yogurt, if she won't eat it dip her beak in it. They love it

 

[Chickem707]

I'm having the same problem with mine. I could not diagnose it, just feed it lots of yogurt, if she won't eat it dip her beak in it. They love it

I wasn’t too sure on the whole chickens and dairy thing, what type of yogurt do you feed them?

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I read through this FAQ and it does sound like Mareks to me. Of all the other look alike diseases they suggest, I think I can rule out most. It’s possibly a vitamin deficiency since I haven’t had them on any vitamins, but I figured since they were getting both commercial feed and a huge area to free range on that they would get would they needed from the feed or the free ranging.

Commercial feed should supply all of the essential vitamins and nutrients to your flock.... but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give them more vitamins.

 

[AHPFblack star]

Greek gods traditional plain, it's at Winco. Yogurt is low in dairy so chickens can eat it.

 

[Chickem707]

Greek gods traditional plain, it's at Winco. Yogurt is low in dairy so chickens can eat it.

Never heard of Winco! Thanks for the info though

 

[SeaHen]

It’s not impossible but my thought is that Marek’s is unlikely in a single chicken this age that’s been raised on your own property.

My daughter and I recently rescued an 8-week-old chick that had bilateral leg paralysis with no obvious injuries. We suspected Marek’s and gave supportive care but the key was that her symptoms didn’t progress over time, and even though it appeared hopeless, 2 months later she quite suddenly recovered.

A problem with diagnosing chickens is that lots of illnesses present with similar symptoms of lethargy, weakness and diarrhea. She’s probably very dehydrated so definitely follow the previous suggestions for electrolytes, vitamins and Nutri-Drench as well as keeping her isolated from the other chickens in case she’s contagious. In my experience sick chickens tend to recover or deteriorate pretty quickly with or in spite of the best care I can give them.

Please update.

 

[Eggcessive]

It’s not impossible but my thought is that Marek’s is unlikely in a single chicken this age that’s been raised on your own property.

My daughter and I recently rescued an 8-week-old chick that had bilateral leg paralysis with no obvious injuries. We suspected Marek’s and gave supportive care but the key was that her symptoms didn’t progress over time, and even though it appeared hopeless, 2 months later she quite suddenly recovered.

A problem with diagnosing chickens is that lots of illnesses present with similar symptoms of lethargy, weakness and diarrhea. She’s probably very dehydrated so definitely follow the previous suggestions for electrolytes, vitamins and Nutri-Drench as well as keeping her isolated from the other chickens in case she’s contagious. In my experience sick chickens tend to recover or deteriorate pretty quickly with or in spite of the best care I can give them.

Please update.

This chicken is under 5 months old, so she is at the age where Mareks is commonly seen, 3-25 weeks. I am not a Mareks expert and have never seen it, but your pullet that had paralysis could still have Mareks. Some chickens may display sudden paralysis, and then get better. Later, they can get the tumors associated with Mareks virus. I really hope that she doesn’t have it, but you may not know for sure until some time.