Rooster not walking

[Firecracker22]

I have a 6 month Silkie rooster who suddenly stopped walking. He started this about 10 days ago. I asked the breeder and they mentioned I should start vitamins right away, but there has been no improvement. It seems his left side just won't cooperate with the rest of his body. He still flops his wings but his left foot is more forward and he leans as well. The first few days he would stand on his right leg and hop around but now won't move. I take him out of his coop every night and he definitely is eating and drinking plenty. I have also tried Epsom salt baths, bathing him with flea and tick shampoo, and put oil on his leg to rule out mites but still no changes. So far no other chickens in the flock have been affected but I am concerned this could be Marek's Disease. The reason I keep putting him back outdoors with the other chickens, even if I may suspect it's Marek's, is because all the other chickens have already been exposed anyways. And if it happens to not be Marek's and he does improve I didn't want to have to "reintroduce" him to the flock again and start that process over. Any ideas from anyone? How long should I expect him to live if it is Marek's? Or if it is a vitamin deficiency how long will it take to see improvement with the vitamins? Thank you everyone for helping out this beginner chicken Mama.

 

[Eggcessive]

You might want to check into getting him tested for Mareks through his blood serum here for $20:
http://www.vetdna.com/test-type/avian-bird
They will send you what you need. I do think with his age and symptoms, that Mareks may be likely, but only testing or a necropsy by the state vet after death is the only way to know for sure. Sorry that you are seeing this.

 

[Firecracker22]

Thank you for the info. I will have to look into both. I was just in the coop taking a video of him trying to walk and yes I am pretty sure it has to be Marek's because now one foot goes forward and one back. However when the right one goes back he is adjusting himself to bring it forward. Not sure what that means but I always try to look at the glass as being half full until there is a definite answer.

 

[Peppercorngal]

My rooster Harvey stopped walking when he was about 2 months old. He just stumbled around. Everyone here said "Mareks". Well, I dosed him with vitamins and little by little he started to walk again. He's a Jersey Giant and just grew too fast I guess. It did take time for the vitamins to work, maybe 2 weeks or so. Don't give up!

This was him just before he couldn't walk:

Harvey today:

 

[Firecracker22]

Update on "rooster not walking"

Last night I discovered my roo has a bad case of the mites Bathed him last night and seems more perky today but not walking around yet. I ordered some Elector PSP and should arrive tomorrow so I am hoping to see some great improvement in the next week. For now this means baths and monitoring for a few days to follow. I have some DE and powder the birds and the entire area they are in well but DE doesn't seem to solve any problem, maybe mask it in my case. Is there a better solution for the in between treatments?

Any other suggestions for a mite problem?

 

[Eggcessive]

Permethrin is available at most feed stores in liquid concentrate that is mixed with water in a spray bottle, or dust which is used on chickens and in the garden. Mites will need to be treated every 5-7 days at least twice, and the coop as well. The Elector PSP is very expensive, but those who have used it say it is very good.

 

[Firecracker22]

Yes thank you. I just want to get it done so I opted for the more expensive one, even though i most likely will need to spray 1 more time in about 1-2 weeks. I just feel so bad i didn't notice it before. Thank goodness for rain and a white silkie around dusk, otherwise I still may not know.