Sick bantam roo/ nuerological?

[Mallisa]

Hi, friends! I have a bantam roo who is around 16 months and has had a relapse. I noticed him 1st about this time last year when he was around 4 mos old. He was having trouble hopping back into the coop. Brought him in where he ended up spending around the next 4 mos of his life. Symptoms-Weakness progressed to lameness, more on his right side at 1st. Progressed to flipping over and he spent a lot of time on his side and back. Several weeks in fact. He never lost his appetite or will. Always very alert. Ended up treating him with a homeopathic version of st johns (hypericum perferatum/mixed w distilled water) and after a few days he improved. Eventually he moved out into the yard I have for my disabled chickens and their friends with his buddy. He would fly over the side of the lot and wander around with his buddies...he always kind of waddles like a duck, but otherwise was very normal..even crowing to the sun throughout the day. About 5 weeks ago he made a quick decline, similar symptoms. Not lethargic, very alert, but crippled. I mean he has no balance, lays on his side or in a somewhat upright position. In the beginning of the relapse would flip completely over. That has stopped now. Right leg is weaker than the left. Can grasp with the left but not the right, even though there may be a little improvement on the right grasp as of yesterday. Eating very well, giving antibiotics, vitamins, scratch grains, strawberries, canned corn (w/o salt-seems to love it!) and baby food. And his st johns as of recently. He has trouble drinking, it makes him sneeze. He does also sneeze throughout the day from time to time as well. No discharge, very bright eyed. Sometimes open mouth breathes. Has not been vaccinated for marek's but from what I've read, his symptoms are hit and miss. Was around other chickens, even a fresh batch of babies who are around 2 mos old now. Only chicken in the group to have these symptoms. Ring any bells with any of you out there? Thanks for taking time to read about my boy!

 

[realsis]

I'm so sorry about your roo. have you tried a vitamin regiment again in case its a deficiency? see if the vitamins might help him. otherwise it could possibly be a disease like Marek's. can you take him to the vet for a blood test to confirm or deny Marek's. I don't think the blood tests would be to terribly expensive.? you can call around and see if you can find a reasonable price . if he were mine I'd try the vitamins and if that did not work I'd try finding a reasonable cost vet to take his blood work so I could find out for sure what the issue is. at least then you would know for certain weather or not you were dealing with Marek's disease and could move forward from there. I wish you the best and hope this helps in some small way. good luck.

 

[Mallisa]

Thank you, it isn't a bad idea to check for marek's just in case. Any idea on the vitamins? How much and what should I give? I have been giving vit. B and was doing E for a while, but just kind of guessing on the dosage. You know, today he seems a little improved. After I posted this I took him out and he actually went after the water when he saw it. 1st time in about 3 weeks he has done that. His fluid has been from baby food, strawberries and corn...something he can eat. Up until today he had been turning away from water and if I pressed the issue he would shake his head and sneeze. The only thing different is that I did go to the health food store and get more of the natural st john's. It comes in a little blue vile, not what you buy @ the store. Found through some research last year with him that it can help with nuero. dissorders but they have to make sure when they drink it that it is smacked up against the roof of their mouth so it works up into the sinus cavity. This was difficult this time because of his reluctance to drink. Still curious what is causing it and we are definitely not out of the woods on this thing. Do you know, IF he had marek's as a chick and recovered and this is a relapse, would he still be contagious? Thanks for replying!