Sick Chicken - Seems to be paralyzed

[Kgoehner]

About 6 weeks ago, our relatively young Crested Cream Legbar (old enough for the coop but not laying yet) looked like she had an injured wing. She was dragging it on the ground and didn't seem to be able to move it. We tried wrapping it, but she kept managing to get it undone.

About a week after we first noticed the wing, she seemed lethargic and had no movement in either wings or her legs, so we took her to our local vet. They ran an x-ray and said she had a mass of some sort in her stomach - they couldn't tell if an egg had broken or if she had a tumor without further testing. It was going to be quite expensive, so we opted out of all the further tests since they made it sound like she was going to most likely pass away no matter what we did. They gave her a round of antibiotics and while she was on them for 2 weeks, she seemed to improve. She regained movement in her legs and one wing. We finished the round of antibiotics about 2 weeks ago.

After the antibiotics were finished, she slowly deteriorated again. She is able to move around a bit (how I'm not sure), but it's within about a 12 inch radius. She is still drinking and has a good appetite, plus her eyes seem clear. Other than the paralysis, she doesn't seem to be showing any other symptoms. I have absolutely no idea what is wrong with her or if there is anything we can do for her. Sometimes when we go to check on her, she has fallen onto her side or back and can't right herself. Any ideas what is wrong or what we can do for her (if anything)???

 

[azygous]

It's possible she's suffered some sort of neuro-motor damage. Since she's already had a round of antibiotics, try B complex. Just the vitamins that people use. One tablet per day. B vitamins can sometimes help repair motor function. It can't hurt to throw in a capsule of Vitamin E each day, too.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your pullet.

I agree with @azygous it won't hurt to try vitamin therapy to see if they make a difference. Sadly, the symptoms you describe sounds like she has Marek's but there is now way to know for sure without testing.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

If she is agreeable, you can try placing her in a sling during times you can monitor her. This will get her upright and may start helping to strengthen the legs. Google "chicken sling" and look at the images for ideas - here are a few

 

[Kgoehner]

I'm sorry to hear about your pullet.

I agree with @azygous it won't hurt to try vitamin therapy to see if they make a difference. Sadly, the symptoms you describe sounds like she has Marek's but there is now way to know for sure without testing.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

If she is agreeable, you can try placing her in a sling during times you can monitor her. This will get her upright and may start helping to strengthen the legs. Google "chicken sling" and look at the images for ideas - here are a few

Thank you! The place we purchased her from vaccinates for Mareks, is it possible she still could have gotten it? We have her removed from the rest of our flock, but she is close by them. None of them have shown any symptoms of having it as well (at least not yet).

 

[Kgoehner]

The k

It's possible she's suffered some sort of neuro-motor damage. Since she's already had a round of antibiotics, try B complex. Just the vitamins that people use. One tablet per day. B vitamins can sometimes help repair motor function. It can't hurt to throw in a capsule of Vitamin E each day, too.

Thank you, I will give that a try! Do I put it in her food or water, or what's the easiest way to make sure she gets it?

 

[azygous]

Pop the pill right into her beak. Or roll it in a dab of peanut butter and she'll think it's a treat. I have to give pills to a couple of my hens and they look forward to the pill smeared with peanut butter.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Unfortunately vaccination for Marek's is not perfect, so yes, they can still become sick with the virus.