Pullet unable to use her legs.

[mustangrooster]

So, yesterday afternoon, I saw one of my little pullets laying down, with her wing splayed out. Because she was with a couple of other hens, I thought she was maybe just resting in the sun. This morning however, she was in the exact same position...she hadn't moved at all. Instantly I went over to her and carefully picked her up and examined her. No physical wounds, no blood, no bites....no broken legs. I checked for a prolapsed vent, but she doesn't have that. Her poop isn't bloody either. My last thought is worms.


Here's a little bit of info about her; A couple of months ago she had been found sprawled on the grass with the roosters picking on her, and she was unable to use her legs. I couldn't find out the problem until I wormed her, she instantly got better and was soon able to walk, she did come out of that situation with crooked toes though. She is small, half the size of a standard chicken and a month or so ago she started laying eggs.


I picked her up and, this might sound strange, but she feels heavy. She is normally a light chicken. She is very sleepy, and her comb is darker. She tries to move by flapping her wings but acts like she is glued to the ground. I examined her legs, and one is tightly tucked into her body and the other is stretched out. She tried to move them, but they look very stiff and she can’t bend them. It's strange that this is the second time this has happened, none of my other birds have done anything like this but is it possible that she has another bad case of worms? I would like your guys opinions before I worm her.... because I know that worming a sick bird that doesn't have worms.... doesn’t always end well. All my other chickens are due to be wormed in two months or so, but if she has another case of worms....I might worm them all now.

Some pictures (sorry about the low quality);

 

[ChickNanny13]

How old is she? When was the last time she laid? What are you feeding? Any recent adds to your flock? What color are her eyes?

 

[Eggcessive]

Mareks disease comes to mind, but hard to know for sure without a necropsy after death. Since you think she was injured earlier, she might have a back injury. In some cases Mareks can cause weakness in one or both legs or wings, sometimes a twisted neck, or other symptoms. It can suddenly disappear, only to come back later. I would separate her in a dog crate with food and water for her to easily reach, and place her near the other chickens for company. Give her poultry vitamins that include riboflavin. I have never dealt with Mareks, but here is a good article with a lot of info:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x Eggcessive ... Mareks came to mind, vitamins a good start

 

[mustangrooster]

How old is she? When was the last time she laid? What are you feeding? Any recent adds to your flock? What color are her eyes?

She is a little under a year old. I have a lot of birds so it’s hard for me to keep track of all their ages...but I'm guessing she’s around 7/8 month's old. All my chickens are currently free-ranging, and they lay left right and centre, so I don’t know which eggs hers are, so I'm not sure when she last laid. They have Layer pellets and Red Hen + Grit + Fruit & Veggies and anything else that they can find. There have been no recent adds to the flock other than lots of chicks that the hens have been hatching, so no 'outsider' birds. I checked her eye colour, with just a first glance, they looked orange as they always are. But as I looked closer, I saw that her iris was grey. Which...I heard was a common sign of Mareks disease.

Mareks disease comes to mind, but hard to know for sure without a necropsy after death. Since you think she was injured earlier, she might have a back injury. In some cases Mareks can cause weakness in one or both legs or wings, sometimes a twisted neck, or other symptoms. It can suddenly disappear, only to come back later. I would separate her in a dog crate with food and water for her to easily reach, and place her near the other chickens for company. Give her poultry vitamins that include riboflavin. I have never dealt with Mareks, but here is a good article with a lot of info:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Thanks for the info. I don’t have any poultry vitamins on hand now, but I have Mega B stored away for the chickens if they ever needed it, could I try her on that? A couple of months ago, one of my cockerels came down with, what was thought to be Mareks disease; https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-cockerel-is-getting-worse-help-please.1220413/page-3

After a long battle I had to euthanize him, however a necropsy was never done to confirm what he had. He had similar symptoms to her, unable to walk, greying of the iris etc, but he was still alert...like she is. Is it possible that she has caught whatever he had? They mingled a lot together before he came down with his sickness, so it is possible she was exposed to whatever he had.... I just really hope she hasn't caught the same thing.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, B complex vitamins are excellent to use crushed or added to feed. It sounds like your dead rooster may have had Mareks. It causes others in the flock to be carriers, although some may get it, and some may have immunity to it. I would get a necropsy and testing for Mareks by the state vet to look for Mareks if you lose her, but I hope she gets better. Here is a good link with contact info for state poultry labs:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[micstrachan]

I’m so sorry about your pullet unfortunately Marek’s was myfirst thought, too. Is that’scwhat She has, supportive care is about all you can do. Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

[mustangrooster]

Ah, that sucks. She's a very sweet pullet, I hope she makes it.


I crushed up some vitamin b complex and added it into her food, which she gobbled up, which must be a good sign I suppose. She is very frustrated that she can’t use her legs, and continually tries to move, I feel bad for her, as she is a very active chicken.


Her comb is almost...speckled white, and she stinks. It’s a sort of stink you would smell with a chicken infected with something like conjunctivitis, but she has no eye problems.


I will certainly keep you all posted. Since it seems to be Mareks, is there no point in worming her?

 

[ChickNanny13]

You could make her a sling, sorry you'll need to search the forum for a pic, I can't figure out how to transfer so I can upload. I wouldn't worm her, it maybe too stressful for her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

she stinks. It’s a sort of stink you would smell with a chicken infected with something like conjunctivitis, but she has no eye problems.

Can you examine her completely - looking through her feathers for any signs of wounds, infection, etc. Look closely underneath her as well as the vent.
You mentioned she felt "heavy" does she have a bloated or swollen abdomen (feel between the legs toward the vent).

Try to find out where the stink is coming from - smell her breath as well.