Pullet with leg paralysis/paresis

[BerrywellFarm]

I have a 16wk old Australorp pullet that is suddenly unable to walk/stand as of this morning. Seems like she is unable to straighten either of her legs or support her weight. She can sit upright and has full use of her wings. Her toes aren't curled but she also won't spread them to bear weight. She is otherwise bright and alert and mentally appropriate. I don't feel any obvious broken bones or swelling. No wounds or feathers missing. She has been completely healthy since I got her at 2 wks old up until today. She has been in a secure coop and run with 7 other pullets who all seem fine. They do not free range nor have they been introduced to the main flock yet. The main flock consists of 8 older chickens in a separate coop right beside them and they seem fine as well. I am gradually switching the young ones food from Purina start and grow unmedicated to Purina Flock Raiser. I don't see any evidence of moldy feed. They're on a rainwater collection system treated with citric acid. I have not started supplementing oyster shell for the young ones yet. They all came from the same NPIP certified hatchery and were supposedly vaccinated for Marek's.

Currently she's in a kennel and separated from the rest of the flock. I've added a chicken vitamin/electrolyte supplement to her water and she's eating and drinking well. Can they still get Marek's even if they've been vaccinated? Is it common for one to get a vitamin deficiency even though they are all on the same good quality feed? I have an avian vet specialist that I take my chickens to, but I just got done doing a full work up on an older chicken for what turned out to be cancer and I'm a little short on funds. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And hopefully my picture and video shows up- it's my 1st time posting and I'm technologically challenged!

 

[Eggcessive]

How does her other eye look? The pupil in the eye in the picture is not very clear. There is an ocular form of Mareks disease. Is the other like that? Mareks might be a possibility. The vaccine normally is given at hatcheries as a day old. Then it takes 2 weeks minimum for immunity to occur. I hope that it is not Mareks, but perhaps an injury. Mareks can show up at her age. Time will tell. I would treat her with some b complex 1/4 tablet daily to rule out a riboflavin deficiency.m

 

[BerrywellFarm]

How does her other eye look? The pupil in the eye in the picture is not very clear. There is an ocular form of Mareks disease. Is the other like that? Mareks might be a possibility. The vaccine normally is given at hatcheries as a day old. Then it takes 2 weeks minimum for immunity to occur. I hope that it is not Mareks, but perhaps an injury. Mareks can show up at her age. Time will tell. I would treat her with some b complex 1/4 tablet daily to rule out a riboflavin deficiency.m

Thank you for the reply! Maybe still not the greatest pics, but they look normal to me? I will definitely try the riboflavin. The vitamin supplement I added to her water has that in it, but not sure if it's enough. She is drinking and eating well. Is it common for them to have vitamin deficiencies even if they're on a well balanced commerical diet?

 

[Eggcessive]

Her irises have a lot of color splashing, and that can be normal in some birds. Here is some info about the ocular form of Mareks, and how it looks:
https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Mareks-1024x642.jpg

 

[BerrywellFarm]

For anyone who's interested, took her to the vet and he thinks it's trauma/musculoskeletal and not neurological. He wasn't concerned about Marek's based on her presentation. We're going to try metacam for 10-14 days. She's already doing better- standing and walking with a limp . If she doesn't improve we'll do some x-rays. Fingers crossed for her!

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh, I really hope that it is just an injury. The meloxicam can be helpful. Keep us updated on how she gets along.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

She's beautiful. I'm glad she made a trip to the vet. Ruling out Mereks is such a relief.

 

[RoyalChick]

Giving vitamin B2 is a no regret move. It is safe and readily available in the pharmacy.
It takes about 4 days to have an impact and you don’t need to worry about overdose or the others having it too.
I have been looking into this a fair bit since having a pullet with this issue. Some sources think it is more common than we realize because it decays rapidly when the feed is stored so there may not be enough in the feed.