Possible mareks disease?

[rebrascora]

I'm sorry to hear that she is not eating and drinking. That is a bad sign and I would agree that if she is not improved in a couple of days at the latest it would be kindest to end it for her. Once they stop eating I start psyching myself up to do the deed. I can't say that it is easy but it is the responsible thing to do.
I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. It is a good idea to get a necropsy done if you can afford it so that you know what you are dealing with and what treatment or management may benefit the rest of your flock.

 

[townchicks]

Nothing to add here but good wishes. Let us know how she fares.

 

[Nambroth]

So sorry she is unwell. Visceral Marek's with the lesions on the nerves (that causes the paralysis/ataxia of the legs etc) is quite uncommon in a bird of her age, but it's not impossible. Since there is no cure for Marek's, and it's not typical at her age, I encourage you to explore other illnesses that can be treated; some are easier to treat for than others. If you can, take a peek at this link ( http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq ), and scroll down to the section named "Are there any other diseases that look like Marek's?" and see if anything might fit your bird's symptoms and your situation. When attempting to diagnose at home (with a still living bird) it's very important to look at the big picture and factors other than symptoms, such as any other illness in the flock in the last year or two, any new birds brought in, etc.
If she does pass away, and you are able to, having a necropsy done will aid you in learning what happened. If you cannot send her for necropsy, you can attempt to do one at home if you feel you can stomach it. I shared a few posts here ( https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/imobile-chicken.1246948/#post-20007391 ) on how do send a bird for necropsy, or how to do one at home. I truly hope she recovers, though!

 

[Noggin5]

Thanks for all your help, everyone - she's still hanging in there but shows no improvement, actually she's definitely on the decline. She's weaker now and just sitting, not even attempting to stand. Her neck is weak and she's laying her head on the ground and sometimes tucking her head backwards which I know can't be a good thing. Left eye still closed and right has a pretty largely dilated pupil in her right. It's getting close to dusk but it wasn't dark enough that her pupil should have been that large. No eggs, and kind of watery yellow poop. Should I psych myself up and put her down, if she makes it through the night?

 

[Kiki]

Thanks for all your help, everyone - she's still hanging in there but shows no improvement, actually she's definitely on the decline. She's weaker now and just sitting, not even attempting to stand. Her neck is weak and she's laying her head on the ground and sometimes tucking her head backwards which I know can't be a good thing. Left eye still closed and right has a pretty largely dilated pupil in her right. It's getting close to dusk but it wasn't dark enough that her pupil should have been that large. No eggs, and kind of watery yellow poop. Should I psych myself up and put her down, if she makes it through the night?

Chickens & Euthanasia

 

[rebrascora]

If she is still not eating and you have tried tempting her with scrambled egg or a little meat and she is still not interested, then I would say it is time. I use the broom shank method to perform cervical dislocation, but everyone has their own ideas and @KikisGirls has very helpfully included a link in her post above which should help you through the process. If you have any specific questions about it, please don't hesitate to ask. It is a delicate subject but it is important to be well informed and prepared before you do it for the first time. The most important thing I can say is be very positive and confident about it. Don't hesitate. Do your research, prepare and then take a deep breath and do it like you mean it. Be prepared for the after death spasms. Even a very weak bird can spasm for as long as a minute afterwards but that doesn't mean it did not die quickly if you did it right. Good luck.

 

[Backyard Bruce]

Sorry for you if this is in fact what it came down too.

 

[Nambroth]

So sorry. If she is off of her food and/or water, the options are limited... a vet visit with a vet that is trained in avian biology and knows chickens well (this may be futile, or not... I've had it go both ways); tube feeding her if you think there's a chance she will make it and just needs some support (again I've had it go both ways... sometimes they recover, sometimes it just stresses them out and they pass anyway); or euthanasia. Chickens are usually so food motivated that it's very serious when they aren't interested any more. As you are the one dealing with her in person, it's a personal choice you have to make as to her quality of life and what you wish to do for her.