Sick chicken

[Lemontea66]

I have one of my Millie Fluer chickens that is eating fine drinking and acting normal except for it is paralyzed and seems to be getting worse by the day. It started out just dragging 1 foot now it seems too be affecting both feet and legs and He just wobbles around on his belly. Anyone else had this happen. Also this is not the first to do this. I had another hen die after several weeks of progressively getting worse.

 

[ChickenChaser9]

My concern would be that it is Marek's Disease.

https://www.beautyofbirds.com/mareksdisease.html

 

[Lemontea66]

All chicks I have now or ever owned were vaccinated

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes chicks who have been vaccinated can still get Mareks disease. There may have been a mix up at the hatchery where it was omitted, the dosage wa not sufficient, or the chick was exposed to the disease before it was fully immune (usually in 2-3 weeks.) Other diseases such as botulism and mold toxicity could cause paralysis. If it were me, I would contact your state vet or poultry lab to get a necropsy on this chicken when he dies. They may even euthanize him for you. Let me know if you need contact information for your state.

 

[Lemontea66]

That would be great information to have. Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is the information on how to send and where:
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

Georgia Poultry Laboratory- Glennville Dr. Doug Anderson
1221 Downing Musgrove Road
Glennville, GA 30427 Phone: (912) 654-0504
Fax: (912) 654-0526
Georgia Poultry Laboratory-Camilla 400 Burson Road
Camilla, GA 31730 Phone: (229) 336-0001
Fax: (229) 336-0018
Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center Laboratory
University of Georgia 953 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30605 Phone: (706) 542-5644
Fax: (706) 542-5630
Georgia Poultry Laboratory- Forsyth P.O. Box 6025
222 Industrial Park Road
Forsyth, GA 31029-6025 Phone: (478) 994-1219
Fax: (478) 994-1220
Georgia Poultry Laboratory-Dalton 410 North Park Road
Dalton, GA 30720 Phone: (706) 278-7306
Fax: (706) 227-7408
Georgia Poultry Laboratory-Carnesville P.O. Box 672
159 A.T. Mauldin Drive
Carnesville, GA 30521 Phone: (706) 384-2387
Fax: (706) 384-2388
Georgia Poultry Laboratory-Oakwood P.O. Box 20
Oakwood, GA 30566 Phone: (770) 535-5996
Fax: (770) 535-5941​

 

[ChickChic45]

There seems to be a lot of controversy re: vaccinating for Mereks now since there are 7 or more strains. What do you guys do?

 

[Isaac 0]

There seems to be a lot of controversy re: vaccinating for Mereks now since there are 7 or more strains. What do you guys do?

I vaccinate all of chicks for Mareks.If you are worried about Mareks don't go to Poultry shows,Chicken Meetup's and never buy a full grown chicken.