Roo Can't Walk :(

[BanditTheCat]

I am uploading two images of my roo and two of another hen. I'm not sure if the two issues are related, that is why I am uploading both. Here is a link to a video of the roo two days ago.

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
My 4 year old black sex linked roo.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
About a week and a half ago, I noticed that he was limping. Upon further examination, I found weird wounds on his knees. Others suggested it was because of his long spurs, but in my opinion, they didn't line up with the wounds and couldn't have caused it. He often just stands or sits in the coop. His comb is slightly black near the back of it (It's 65 degrees here during the day, so not frostbite). His wings are drooping if he stands.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
About a week and a half.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Other birds are not exhibiting similar symptoms, but I did notice that a hen had a swollen foot. I am including images of the hen as well. It is NOT bumblefoot.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
I don't think it's trauma. To me, it looks like when someone is bed ridden and gets bed sores.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Nothing that I know of.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
The bird was eating and drinking yesterday, but is definitely worse today. Since I was at work today, I am unsure if he ate/drank.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
His poop seems to look normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I immediately trimmed his spurs and applied blue kote spray.
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?
I would prefer to treat myself, since most vets around my area are expensive. If it's something that could affect my whole flock, I may resort 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.
I have two coops and two runs that are all attached to one another. One set up is the deep litter method and the other is sand.

So far, I'm thinking it's Mycoplasma synoviae or viral/ bacterial arthritis, but I'm not sure.

Thank you for your help,

Katie
SE Wisconsin

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

I'm thinking it could possibly be Marek's
There are multiple types of Marek's Disease. I will go through each including symptoms. Then we can go from there.

The first form is the Cutaneous form or the skin form. This is when large, red feather follicles form and so do white bumps on the skin. These will form brown, crusty scabs.

The next form the Neurological form. This is one of the most common. It's caused by lesions that affect the nervous system. The symptoms are: Temporary paralysis which can resolve itself spontaneously; Progressive paralysis in the wings and/or legs; The twisting of the neck (similar to wry neck, but not permanent); Respiratory problems; Darkened comb due to lack of oxygen; And diarrhea.

The third form is Ocular or eye. The symptoms are: Graying of the eye; Misshapen iris; Blindness; And a non-reactive pupil.

The last form is Visceral or internal. Its symptoms are weight loss and cancerous tumors on internal organs.

It's also quite likely that your chicken will stop laying eggs.

It's untreatable in most cases and usually, results in the death of the bird. If your chicken has Marek's, culling would be the best option. Even if he survives, he would be a carrier for life which would put your flock in danger. Not to mention the disease would stay in the soil for 7 years.


My best wishes for you and your chooks!

 

[BanditTheCat]

You could be correct. This chicken was never vaccinated since he was hatched in a local school classroom. I went out and photographed his blackening comb. Also, I photographed his eye since Marek's seems to grey out the eye.... doesn't seem to be grey yet.

 

[microchick]

I had a Welsummer rooster with a funky joint in an elbow joint that made him walk bull legged on that side. I also have Marek's disease in my flock but none the less I was a bit surprised when this past February I found him cyanotic and near death one morning. Marek's is a sneaky killer. The cyanosis in the rooster's comb could be cardiac or respiratory if it stays that way and doesn't go away. The inability to walk and the drooping wings could be neurological Marek's. I have had Neuro Marek's kill several birds of mine, all cockerels, all less than a year old. I also have ocular Marek's in my flock and I have to say that boy's eye looks suspicious to me. I've seen that green grey ring around the iris in several of my birds before the eyes turned the solid grey green color. I have a hen right now who has just developed ocular Mareks who's eye turned the most stunning shade of indigo blue when first infected. At this point, the blue is fading out but the color is amazing. My husband is a retired eye doctor and I had him look at her eye and sure enough, it was herpes, the same as my rooster and three other hens.

What I'm saying is that Marek's doesn't always present itself as you read about it in articles and here on BYC. It can be sneaky and mimic other diseases. About the only way you can find out for sure is to have a dead bird necropsy done to rule it out or confirm it. A necropsy can also tell you if your bird has MS or Bacterial Arthritis.

I have to admit that those swollen joints have me stumped although I can find reference to swollen joints in:
The Great Big Giant Marek's Disease FAQ
thread here on BYC. I highly recommend that you read through it. It has a lot of good information in it.

Keep in mind if it is Marek's, your whole flock, although symptom free is exposed and any new birds you bring into the flock will be exposed also and also be carriers. You will have to have a closed flock from this point on just out of caution if for no other reason. Personally, I do not cull my infected birds. I mean, that to me is like closing the barn door after the horse has got out so to speak. My whole flock is exposed and carriers and trying to keep a chicken's life stress free is like trying to keep an accountant stress free during tax season. If a bird is end stage and suffering, I put it down but otherwise my birds do not leave my property and any new birds I add are either brooded from my own flock or are vaccinated chicks. I have 60 birds right now and yes, problems pop up and a bird dies from time to time but having Marek's in your flock is not the end of the road, just a rough patch in the pavement. I enjoy the heck out of them while they are with me, spoil them shamelessly and when they pass grieve for them.

I sure hope you get to the bottom of what is going on with your birds and I know Marek's probably isn't something you want to even consider yet alone hear but I think it would be wise to add it to the list of possibilities.

If you have any questions or just want to compare notes on the disease, feel free to PM me.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

You could be correct. This chicken was never vaccinated since he was hatched in a local school classroom. I went out and photographed his blackening comb. Also, I photographed his eye since Marek's seems to grey out the eye.... doesn't seem to be grey yet.

Well, It depends on the type of Marek's. If he had the ocular version, the eye would be gray. I'm thinking he has the Neurological.

 

[microchick]

What you should do is compare the two eyes and see if they look different. Like I said, I've seen the green 'halo' around the iris precede full blown ocular Marek's disease.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you look at the hock or knee joints for any swelling? The swollen ankle does look a bit like MS looks. It can occur in one leg, but is more common in two. But an injury or sprain could also cause that type of swelling. The swollen area between the toes might be bumblefoot infection between, instead of on the foot pad. That can lead to joint infection, so it could be related. I would try to see a vet, so that you can get some good antibiotics to treat him for both MS or another bacterial joint infection. Tylan 50 can treat MS, but others would be better for say staphylococcal or E.coli bacteria. If using Tylan 50, I would use it orally at 0.2 ml per pound given twice a day for 5 days. Get a rough weight either by holding him on your scales and subtracting your weight, or use a kitchen scales. If you should lose him, I would get a necropsy to test for MS. It is a chronic disease that is carried and makes carriers of the whole flock, so hopefully not that. Here is some reading:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/mycoplasmosis/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-in-poultry
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis/