Sick chicken

[Janzen]

I suspect Marek’s after doing some reading. This is my first sick chicken. She is about 7 months old. We didn’t vaccinate. She is unable to walk and is shaking her head. My daughter noticed last night she didn’t come in to roost. She just laid outside. So we put her inside, thinking she maybe had an injury. We found her in the same place this morning. She attempts to get up but seems disoriented and sits back down with her legs sticking straight out in front of her. No leg injuries that I can see. My first thought when I saw her was that her right leg was paralyzed. This was before reading about Marek’s. She is eating and drinking. She is isolated and I’ve given her VetRx in her water. Is there anything else we can do? Or any other possible sicknesses that are more treatable? Her combs like nice and red and her eyes look normal. Anything we need to do to the rest of the flock?

 

[azygous]

First, it would be helpful to know your location on the planet.

Next, what does her poop look like? Photo please. Give us a shot of it on a neutral background so it isn't obscured by rocks, straw or wood shavings.

Have you tried to stand her up to see the extent of the leg weakness and paralysis? Are the legs both limp without any muscular control or is it a strength issue? One leg or both?

Is she eating?

Is she behaving normally in other respects than the legs? Photo of the chicken showing the eyes and general posture would help.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I suspect Marek’s after doing some reading. This is my first sick chicken. She is about 7 months old. We didn’t vaccinate. She is unable to walk and is shaking her head. My daughter noticed last night she didn’t come in to roost. She just laid outside. So we put her inside, thinking she maybe had an injury. We found her in the same place this morning. She attempts to get up but seems disoriented and sits back down with her legs sticking straight out in front of her. No leg injuries that I can see. My first thought when I saw her was that her right leg was paralyzed. This was before reading about Marek’s. She is eating and drinking. She is isolated and I’ve given her VetRx in her water. Is there anything else we can do? Or any other possible sicknesses that are more treatable? Her combs like nice and red and her eyes look normal. Anything we need to do to the rest of the flock?

There are other illnesses that can cause these symptoms. Be sure to answer the questions @azygous asked. That will help narrow things down.

 

[Janzen]

First, it would be helpful to know your location on the planet.

Next, what does her poop look like? Photo please. Give us a shot of it on a neutral background so it isn't obscured by rocks, straw or wood shavings.

Have you tried to stand her up to see the extent of the leg weakness and paralysis? Are the legs both limp without any muscular control or is it a strength issue? One leg or both?

Is she eating?

Is she behaving normally in other respects than the legs? Photo of the chicken showing the eyes and general posture would help.

I’ll go take pictures and assess. Thank you

 

[Janzen]

I’ll go take pictures and assess. Thank you

First, it would be helpful to know your location on the planet.

Next, what does her poop look like? Photo please. Give us a shot of it on a neutral background so it isn't obscured by rocks, straw or wood shavings.

Have you tried to stand her up to see the extent of the leg weakness and paralysis? Are the legs both limp without any muscular control or is it a strength issue? One leg or both?

Is she eating?

Is she behaving normally in other respects than the legs? Photo of the chicken showing the eyes and general posture would help.

Northwest Oklahoma
Looking for a fresh poop sample now.
She will not stand. When she tries she just sort of rolls back on her butt and starts flailing her legs.
She ate some earlier this morning, but doesn’t seem interested now.

 

[Janzen]

First, it would be helpful to know your location on the planet.

Next, what does her poop look like? Photo please. Give us a shot of it on a neutral background so it isn't obscured by rocks, straw or wood shavings.

Have you tried to stand her up to see the extent of the leg weakness and paralysis? Are the legs both limp without any muscular control or is it a strength issue? One leg or both?

Is she eating?

Is she behaving normally in other respects than the legs? Photo of the chicken showing the eyes and general posture would help.

 

[Aunt Angus]

You could certainly try some B complex vitamins to see if it's some sort of deficiency. But it could be Mareks. I'm also wondering if she ate something that she shouldn't have.

@azygous will know much more than I do.

 

[azygous]

Extreme leg weakness. It appears the nerves and muscles are functioning and no profound paralysis. I would treat with vitamin E, a sliver of selenium and B-complex, all vitamins found in the vitamin section at any pharmacy.

Get the B-100 complex tablets if you can. It has the highest therapuetic concentration and will work quickest. Give B and E pills whole directly into the beak. each day. A sliver of a selenium table will assist in absorption of the E.

Put some sugar in her water. This may be a low glucose issue, too.

 

[Janzen]

Extreme leg weakness. It appears the nerves and muscles are functioning and no profound paralysis. I would treat with vitamin E, a sliver of selenium and B-complex, all vitamins found in the vitamin section at any pharmacy.

Get the B-100 complex tablets if you can. It has the highest therapuetic concentration and will work quickest. Give B and E pills whole directly into the beak. each day. A sliver of a selenium table will assist in absorption of the E.

Put some sugar in her water. This may be a low glucose issue, too.

Do I need to crush the vitamins?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Do I need to crush the vitamins?

Nope. Just pop them in their beaks. I sometimes cut them in half, depending on the size of the chicken.