she can't walk - SAD UPDATE - We lost Blueberry this afternoon

[MimiChick]

Hi Lynn:
Thanks for checking in. She's no worse, still eating and drinking well, alert, maybe a little more active, although not standing on her own.
I don't know if I can really call 3 chickens a flock, and since she's staying in the roost box unless I take her outside it's about as segregated as I can get right now (this may be a good excuse to build another small tractor - for real segregation

). Anyway, she's staying right near the big cleanout door so I have easy access to her to keep checking and monitoring. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this regimen will provide some results. Thanks again for all your great advice and concern.

 

[LynneP]

It's such a worry and I see two others posting the same concerns. Possibility of disease is scary, hoping not.
In this case, glad you have only three, makes it easier to watch them.

 

[MimiChick]

OK - I've now seen 3 other postings about Barred Rocks suddenly not able to walk, while other chickens in the flock are totally unaffected. There's got to be a connection here somewhere.
My BR, Blueberry, is about 24 weeks old, I saw one posting that noted his/her BR at about 19 weeks; I don't know how old the others are. Can we all possibly be having the same illness strike at the same time? Does Mareks tend to be seasonal (although I'm still not convinced its that)? If it's a vitamin deficiency, are BR's more prone to that when they get to POL?
If anyone has any suggestions as to where to get some answers, there are a few of us out there who would really appreciate the help.
Blueberry is still lying pretty much on her side, although a little more upright than she was. She kicks her legs when I pick her up and stands with some support, but seems tired from the effort afterward. She's still eating and drinking, although not as much as she probably should be. I'm still giving her the vitamins and calcium and still hoping that will help.
MotherHen - can you give us an update on Chiclet?
Mandiedriskell - do you have any news from the vet?
Thanks to everyone who has posted with advice, concerns and good wishes.

 

[RobinZ]

Hello everyone, I've think I have the same problem mentioned. My favorite RIR(she is around 7mos old), Rosie has been sick for the last several days. First I noticed she was off to herself in the run, then not coming out from the roost, then laying in the corner of the coop, today she has been in the nest. When I pick her up she stands but wants to return to a laying down position. She will eat and drink small amts if put in front of her and she did lay an egg yesterday. Her poop has solid to it but some wateriness w it. I don't see alot of poop around her. No blood. I am thinking about putting her down but I keep hoping she improves. No one else seems to be exhibiting any of the same symptoms yet.

 

[PortageGirl]

Did all these birds by chance come from the same hatchery?

 

[AHappychick]

just jumping in here now but look at their eyes are the pupils misshapen, not restricting in light or grey?

could be a vitamin thing like they said or Mareks, does one leg stick out, when you put your finger under the foot does her claw close and grip it or does it stay limp?

I always find that all birds that go lame (mareks or not) benifit greatly from a sling, it keeps the poop off of them and seems to take the strain off them too. I would advise making her one.

Moddychicken did a great post on Mareks disease I would read it as well.

good luck. Mareks is very hard to deal with, strikes usually right before laying age, and is very devestating, I vaccinate for it now.

 

[MimiChick]

I don't know what hatchery Blueberry came from. I got her from a 4H fair as a pullet. I also don't know if she was vaccinated.
Her eyes don't show any of the signs of Mareks and her legs both kick strongly. She's not stretched out with one leg in back and the other in front like typical Mareks either. She grips my finger with both claws, although the left seems a little weaker. I just don't know what else to do. I have been doing some PT, supporting her lightly and having her stand and "bounce" a little. I don't know if that's helpful or not.
I'm not sure what I could do to rig a sling with my setup. Any pictures or further instructions might give me a better idea.
Thanks everyone for all your help and suggestions.

 

[AHappychick]

here is an old thread I had with pics of a sling, I used an old t-shirt, I have also used bowling slings the kind for carrying a bowling ball. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=160532

it sounds like it could be a vitamin thing. keep doing what you are doing as it may take several days to see improvement, most important is that she eats drinks and poops

 

[Overeasyplz]

Oh dear! What's happening to these birds? From their diets it sounds like a healthy well balanced intake. Is it possibly viral?

 

[dancingr6]

Everyone, this is not a breed/color specific thing. A while back I had this happen to a young porcelain de uccle hen. She seemed to be feeling fine, but having neuroloical issues-- she was eating and drinking fine, but was way off balance. She was about the age described in all these other posts... just about to start laying. No fever, not listless at all, no vitamin problems, free of parasites... according to diagnostics she was perfectly healthy. White blood count was fine too. She had been on purina her entire life and had never had any problems on it. The strange thing was that she seemed to have inflamation over her entire body. She had several rounds of injections as well as two rounds of prednisone to control the inflamation so that she could hopefully walk again. After about a month she simply died. It was quite unusual and after seeing two different vets, we were all clueless as to what could be wrong with her.
We tried our best....
Hope everything goes okay with your little hen.