Sick polish

[pugspigchicks]

I reposted. See if it loads now. I was wondering riboflavin as well. I have her on nutridrench. Thank you.

Video didn't load ... Could you try again please, thanks for that picture of her toes. I'm thinking possible a Riboflavin deficiency, maybe CTP (curly toes paralysis). This is in my notes & I have dealt with CPT in the past, Vitamin B Complex really helps .

Riboflavin deficiency(B2); Poly Visol without iron, Vitamin B Complex, Nutri Drench, Rooster Booster/Vitamin & Electrolytes foods rich in riboflavin (eggs, ground raw almond, beef liver, fortified cereals, etc )

Check out the website Poultry Pedia (I don't like posting links cause been having issues with pop ups & the computer guy warns of Malware through links)

 

[pugspigchicks]

Could you expand on that a bit? What do you mean - they only eat people food?

I wasn’t clear. My bad. I meant only fresh people food. As in it’s not botulism because I don’t give them spoiled food. They eat an organic chicken layer feed and have access to it all day.

 

[pugspigchicks]

I just went and bought b-complex which has a lot of B2. With the other 2 girls I focused on E, B1 but not so much on B2. Fingers crossed.

Video didn't load ... Could you try again please, thanks for that picture of her toes. I'm thinking possible a Riboflavin deficiency, maybe CTP (curly toes paralysis). This is in my notes & I have dealt with CPT in the past, Vitamin B Complex really helps .

Riboflavin deficiency(B2); Poly Visol without iron, Vitamin B Complex, Nutri Drench, Rooster Booster/Vitamin & Electrolytes foods rich in riboflavin (eggs, ground raw almond, beef liver, fortified cereals, etc )

Check out the website Poultry Pedia (I don't like posting links cause been having issues with pop ups & the computer guy warns of Malware through links)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

10 month old Polish

head shaking last night. And she was roosting too early. Full crop yesterday. I thought Wryneck so started the standard treatment. Now not walking-keeps ruffling feathers and tail down. Keeps standing on one foot and trying to stretch the opposite foot- those toes are curled. Or just sits down. Will eat some. Drinking normally.

I will add that in the last 2 years I’ve had one Silkie and one Polish with weird neurological symptoms. The Polish that died over the summer was bought with my current hen that is sick. Eventually neither could walk. Both had different presentations. The vet thought the Silkie looked like Mareks but they didn’t think the Polish had Mareks. The Polish couldn’t raise her body and both legs were fixed straight out in front and spastic.

Her crop was full yesterday. Was it empty this morning?
What is the standard treatment that you are using for Wry Neck?

Can she see well? How much feathers/fluff are blocking her vision. I don't mean this in a bad way, but a while back someone had a crested bird and once the feathers were cut away from the eyes, the bird drastically improved. Apparently it was not seeing well enough to get the nutrition it needed.

It's hard to know what's going on with her, but I would not take Marek's off the table.
Give vitamin therapy of 400IU Vitamin E daily and 1/4 tablet human B-Complex.
Is your organic feed pelleted or is a loose type feed of separate ingredients? What is the protein content?

It was hard to see in the video but if her head is shaking, look inside the ears to make sure there is no infection or ear mites. Give her a full examination for body lice/mites and feel the abdomen for bloat/swelling.

Even though poop looks normal, it's a good idea to get a fecal float to rule out worms and coccidiosis overload.

Here's some reading on Marek's http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[pugspigchicks]

Her crop was full yesterday. Was it empty this morning?
What is the standard treatment that you are using for Wry Neck?

Can she see well? How much feathers/fluff are blocking her vision. I don't mean this in a bad way, but a while back someone had a crested bird and once the feathers were cut away from the eyes, the bird drastically improved. Apparently it was not seeing well enough to get the nutrition it needed.

It's hard to know what's going on with her, but I would not take Marek's off the table.
Give vitamin therapy of 400IU Vitamin E daily and 1/4 tablet human B-Complex.
Is your organic feed pelleted or is a loose type feed of separate ingredients? What is the protein content?

It was hard to see in the video but if her head is shaking, look inside the ears to make sure there is no infection or ear mites. Give her a full examination for body lice/mites and feel the abdomen for bloat/swelling.

Even though poop looks normal, it's a good idea to get a fecal float to rule out worms and coccidiosis overload.

Here's some reading on Marek's http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

I trim her hair often. She can see from the sides. I also separate my polish so they get access to the food without being bullied. They are backyard pets and I check on them a few times per day which is why I immediately Knew something was wrong yesterday when she was roosting an hour earlier than normal. She didn’t even come to eat mealworms.

I’ve been giving nutridrench plus separate b1 100mg plus 1000IU of E plus selenium and I just added B complex liquid. Started regimen last night.

Her head was shaking/twisting last night like Wryneck but not now. No mites/lice etc.

As far as her crop. I’m not sure. This morning it was partially full but she had access to food. I haven’t seen her eat today yet. Last night she was still standing and eating/drinking on her own. Now she is either on her haunches or sitting.

She is now on a Purina Laylena pellet Layer feed mixed with a local organic crumble layer feed(I’m phasing out the local for about a month or so). My vet wanted me to switch to the Purina because there was a Vit D deficiency issue with one of the local organic brands.

Her belly isn’t bloated. No worms in poop but I didn’t do a smear. Not egg bound. She had dry fowlpox 6 weeks ago- I lost her friend to the wet version.

I’m always worried about Mareks but it’s just so weird because the other 2 hens tested negative at A&M. All my new girls are vaccinated including 1 that I lost and the current one. I have 3 unvaccinated Silkies that I got locally from a breeder 2 years ago- my first chickens and I was ignorant about vaccines etc.

I love the polish but so far I’ve lost 1 to a weird neurological thing, 1 to wet pox and now my sweet Mazzy. All my other breeds including 4 Silkies seem very strong.

Thank you for your questions/advice.

 

[Shadrach]

Hello pugspigchicks.
Poor hen and very distressing for you.
You mentioned that she will stand on one leg so she isn't paralyzed and can curl the other foot (?)
I have a hen with what I've come to believe is neurological damage from problems at hatching. Basically she has fits, walks backwards at twists her neck very much like one might associate with full wry neck.
I tried the B complex and vitamin E at 400 IU for a couple of months and it didn't make any difference.
Once you have ruled out the common ailments there is only neurological problem, or Mareks left that we currently know of.
Wyorp Rock has given good advice.
I don't think there is anymore in the way of treatment I could advise differently.
If it is possible I would house her in a small pet carrier situated off the ground if she is normally perched at night to help her feel secure.
If she will eat, but seems reluctant to eat her normal feed, then a small amount of tuna or even cooked and chopped meat might encourage her and will provide the necessary nutrients.
I've had hens recover from full paralysis here on two occasions so I would not give up hope.
I would try to give her Physiotherapy a couple of times a day for twenty minutes or so.
Making her carry out normal movements such as scratching the ground, standing and squatting, putting one leg in front of the other etc. All these movements must be done without forcing of course. It takes a bit of patience and you'll wish you had three hands but you sound like you will have the right approach and touch.
I can only wish you luck after that and hope that she recovers.

 

[pugspigchicks]

Thank you. Fingers crossed. I’m hoping she pulls through. Thank you all.

 

[PouleChick]

Now she is either on her haunches or sitting.

I had a chick that started doing that - I started her on Vitamins (with the Bs in them) and within 24 hours she was much improved and within 48 was absolutely fine. I thought she was a goner! Hopefully you'll see some improvement with what you are giving her.

 

[pugspigchicks]

I hope and pray you are right. @PouleChick The only one I’ve had success in saving was my first Silkie Pearl. She walked backwards and in circles and flopped around right after I got her. The other 2 were teenagers and I exhausted all my energy and even tube fed them and spent too much at the vet. We had to euthanize both ourselves because they worsened before my vet could see them. I get so much joy from my girls but last year I lost 2 teen Polish and all my shipped polish babies died in transit or soon after. It’s heartbreaking.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry to read about your lame Polish pullet. If it is riboflavin (B2) deficiency, then you should see some improvement soon by giving a small dose of the B complex. Unfortunately, it sounds very much like Mareks disease. The vaccine only treats one of the 3 strains of Mareks. I am presently treating my vaccinated 8 year old hen with sudden imbalance. She can move her legs, but has no balance or control. I haven’t had a case since I first got chickens, so I have been hoping that it is something else.

Since you have dealt with this type of illness, you know to keep her food and water within reach. Some find that a homemade chicken sling can be helpful to get them up out of droppings where food and water can be placed in front of them. My hen tried to kill herself when I tried the sling, and she would get out and run tumbling, but I needed a taller one.

Is there any chance that your pullet suffered a head injury? My Polish hens were frequently having their head feathers pecked out, and one was scalped and hurt by a young cockerel. Mareks does cause many changes in the brain. Please let us know how she gets along, and if there is improvement.