Pullet paralyzed almost a week

[WillowTreeFarm]

I'm hoping you guys here could give me some advice... It's one of our BCM's she's about 6 mos old... we're not in it to show/breed/sell right now they're just pets and give us eggs and when the barnies start laying hopefully sell the extra eggs to eat. That said, she's not a perfect specimen (i.e. not much feathering on her feet, not as much copper) but she's not bad either . You guys know that replace a pullet like this that is already laying is upwards of $20... Both legs seem to be paralyzed. It started in her left leg and two days later it's both legs. She's been separated from the flock and nobody else is showing any symptoms. She doesn't have anything wrong with her other wise... no other symptoms of anything. She hasn't laid since this started (it's been 5 days). She still eats and drinks, although not as much the last day or two, I've been trying a couple things like adding vitamins for the last couple days. I can't say though that I've seen any improvement and she doesn't react to touch on her feet and legs. I'm fine to wait it out if she'll get better (I have a horse with EPM- a neurological condition so I'm no stranger to the healing process) but I want to make sure I am not being cruel by keeping her alive just because i can't put her out of her misery if she is in any. In horses, appetite is a good indicator of how they're feeling and you can't exactly force feed a horse. If her appetite does continue to decrease and force feeding is neccessary am I still doing the right thing? After a week what are the realistic chances she will be self sufficient again? Am I getting my hopes up too much? I've done several search on here about ways to treat her and am working on a couple... I'm not so much looking for treatment advice but for advice on her quality of life.

 

[Chicken_Pauper]

At six months.. is she laying, has she stopped...
And, have you wormed her or the flock? When, with what, repeated?

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1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

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Worms can cause so many different and strange symptoms... I assume you have checked her for Eggbound and external parasites (Sevin Dust for mites)? Please use the Search here on BYC and Search for "worming"... "Eggbound", "worming with Valbazen"... "giving oral medications".. "how much Valbazen"... "egg withholding with Valbazen".. look for posts by dawg53 on this topic (worming) and other things as well, good info.
I would check her and treat her for Eggbound now.. and also worm her and the flock as soon as starting tomorrow.. after reading up on both topics.

If she is eggbound, you can treat her.. if she has worms you can treat her and the flock and they will all get well.... act quickly with her.
Best of luck.

 

[WooingWyandotte]

She may have Marek's. Considering that she is juvenile, near laying age, and paralyzed. Does she seem to be shedding a lot dandruff? Are her pupils misshapen and/or misplaced in the eye? What is her eye color? How are her legs 'paralyzed'? The classic leg 'splits' with Mareks are quite common.

 

[WillowTreeFarm]

Sorry for the delay... been trying to get a virus off my computer since last evening!

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
BCM, 6 mos, weight seems the same as other girls
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Both legs are not able to be moved and nonresposive to stimuli
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
7 days
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
no
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
none that I can find
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
nothing happened at least that I saw
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
yes
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
normal... no blood
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
separation from the flock, supplemental vitamins
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
We don't really have an avian vet around
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
bedding: wood shavings, lives in a coop/run with 6 hens and a roo

They have not been wormed yet, we were told not to worm before 6 mos of age. As far as I can tell, she was laying right up until onset of symptoms. She does not appear to be eggbound, but I do not have any experience with it. No possibility of getting into poisons, she is confined away from harmful substances. She looks completely healthy other than not being able to use her legs. Wings still work, still recative, good sheen to her feathers, bright eyes that look completely normal. Both legs are forward (not rigidly, but she sits on her hocks). No dandruff, no evidence of mites etc.

 

[jerseygirl1]

If it's vitamin deficiency, it will take much longer than a few days of vitamin/electrolytes in water for her to get back to normal. I would give hermaybe baby vitamins without iron from an eye dropper for a few days and see if it helps. Too many vitamins (ie, baby vitamins and powdered vitamins) may kill her

 

[WillowTreeFarm]

Ok, I will give that a try. Thanks.

 

[ChasSquirrel]

Quote:
Hello Willow...
I am so glad I found your post this morning. You said it all. I have a 4 month old Buff Orpington in the same exact situation as yours. 'Gracie' has not been able to walk now for 6 days. I have quite a large flock and no one else is affected. How is your girl doing this morning? Sometimes Gracie will jump up all the sudden and end up on her back or side. She gets so mad when her legs just don't do what she wants them to do. I feel so bad for her. She seems like she is better able to get back up on her own though. Maybe that is my wishful thinking though. She is eating and drinking good and her poops look normal. I am giving her Vitamin E and Poly-Vi-Sol and try to get her to eat yogurt like I see suggested all the time here. What do I mix with the yogurt to get her to eat it?
I'd appreciate any suggestions or feedback as well as just simple emotional support. I work at home so I have 'Gracie' in my office with me. She just looks up at me like, 'Help me, Mom'. Oh, also, I hatched this chicken so this is the only place she has ever known.

 

[WillowTreeFarm]

Chas, I am sorry to hear about your girl

It sounds like she is starting to improve so that's good! Mine is about the same... perhaps a little feistier today.... I'm afraid I don't know what you could mix with the yogurt, perhaps her favorite treat, or some molasses? I have heard people recommend molasses and water for some quick energy so probably a bit couldn't hurt? My best bets on the cause of her condition are down to MArek's or mycotoxicosis, for which there doesn't really seem to be any treatment... just waiting. I am going to try to find some Poly-vi-sol tonite... wish me luck!

 

[ChasSquirrel]

Willow,
Thanks for the update. My little 'Gracie' is hanging in there. I even made her a diaper so she doesn't have to stay in the crate all day. She seems to like the yogurt with honey okay but still doesn't eat very much. Her favorite 'treat' is plain old white bread. I put the vitamins in the bread so I know how much she is getting. I don't want to give her too much of that though. She does eat her grower feed and loves the scratch. I am also giving her oyster shell for additional calcium as I have heard this may be a calcium deficiency. I have not decided how long to wait for more improvement. She is a sweet girl and I am getting quite attached.

 

[ChasSquirrel]

This is my sweet Gracie. She can move her legs but just not coordinated. I wish she would at least try to walk.