Rooster suddenly can't balance or walk!

[PeepersMama]

We had a roo acting just like that... right in the middle of what we assume was a mareks outbreak. Good job with the sling, I wish we had done something like that for Arrow.

I'll say that I've not only experienced this, but the only other case I've heard of was a rooster as well. Perhaps there's something relatable there? BTW Arrow was a buff orp, and the other roo was a standard brahma.

 

[awarmrainyday]

I was concerned about Marek's at first but I would assume by now that others would have it too and be showing symptoms. With the swelling up his back and his left leg being weaker and constantly wanting to curl his head, neck, and tail to the left I am thinking it is something like a stroke or head/neck/back trauma.

I was out in the coop last evening and watched everyone going to roost and my big rooster and another very large hen were being rude to some of the others on the roosts. At least two chickens were knocked off the roost, one fell on her side but hopped up right away and shook it off. So I could easily see how he could have gotten injured and partially paralyzed.

Mr. Wobbles is getting physical therapy three time a day now for about a half hour each time. After he gets his tube feeding (he will eat some on his own when held in a standing position) we practice standing and balancing, do bicycle movements, leg massage, back and neck massage, and I also work on gently aligning his tail and neck to the proper position. He seems to enjoy having his neck massaged and stretched because he will stretch his neck over a rolled towel and allow me to massage and gently manipulate it into a straight position. I try to at least every other day also do a warm epsom salts bath which he enjoys and usually falls asleep. I have noticed that particularly after the bath and some PT that he seems to be able to sit up on his haunches a little straighter and a little longer before falling over. He is also making more of an effort to hold his own weight when standing while I balance him. We've gotten into a routine and he seems eager to stand and kick his legs when I go get him to do PT. Very tiny improvements but I'm hoping he keeps moving in the right direction.

I'm working on a wheelchair for him, but I'm just so exhausted trying to keep up with his routine and everything else at the moment!

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks for the update, and glad he seems to like his treatment. I like to mix up a mash of feed, plain yogurt, raw or cooked egg, and water into an oatmeal consistency which most chickens find easy to eat and tasty. Yes, chickens will normally spar and change places on the roost at night. They will push and shove or crowd for the best roost spots.

 

[awarmrainyday]

So I took this picture during his bath, this is how he holds his head and neck most of the time. Does this look normal? This was taken looking at him straight on.

This all started December 7th and sin e then I've offered him everything I can think of and he will look at it but rarely take a bite. He's had nutridrench almost daily since then and last week I switched him to poly-vi-sol. He gets syringe fed kaytee bird formula, a little bit of baby food, and egg yolk. I also pop peas and some round pellet chicken feed into his mouth daily which he eats if I put it in his mouth.

 

[PeepersMama]

Hey rainyday, how he been doing?

 

[awarmrainyday]

Unfortunately Wobbles continued to go down hill and passed away I never did figure out what was wrong with him although I would guess it was an accidental back injury from one of the larger roosters or from falling off the roost bar.

 

[PeepersMama]

Aw, so sorry a back injury makes the most sense :/