Sick silkie? Any ideas?

[Lizmarie3242]

This has been goin mg on for a month now, I have no idea what is wrong with her. I took a video and posted it.

It’s almost like a seizure that she does. Her legs just stay like they are, almost like they are out of socket. She can move her toes, from what I’ve seen, on her right foot. I haven’t seen much movement on the left. My husband made a sling so that she wasn’t constantly laying and pooping on herself. I cut holes out for her legs and butt. I e been giving her vitamins also. I put a description on the YouTube video explaining also. In the picture, I laid two pieces of paper on her wings. It’s like her wings aren’t even anymore and falling to the side!!
Any ideas would be so helpful! Thanks!

 

[Fwoof]

Poor baby! I've never had this problem before, but it looks like part of her legs are parylyzed. Could she have jumped off of a high branch?
@Eggcessive might have useful information.

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Is she young? My guess would be Marek's disease, to which silkies are particularly susceptible.

More info on Mareks here: https://ucanr.edu/sites/aves/files/336233.pdf

 

[Lizmarie3242]

Is she young? My guess would be Marek's disease, to which silkies are particularly susceptible.

More info on Mareks here: https://ucanr.edu/sites/aves/files/336233.pdf

Yes I was thinking that, but she’s also been like this for at the least, a month. And she eats great…. Also she’s about 9 months old.

 

[Lizmarie3242]

Is she young? My guess would be Marek's disease, to which silkies are particularly susceptible.

More info on Mareks here: https://ucanr.edu/sites/aves/files/336233.pd

Poor baby! I've never had this problem before, but it looks like part of her legs are parylyzed. Could she have jumped off of a high branch?
@Eggcessive might have useful information.

I don’t have anything high in their coop for them to jump from. At least not that high. They usually stay low, their roost is about a foot high.

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Yes I was thinking that, but she’s also been like this for at the least, a month. And she eats great…. Also she’s about 9 months old.

Sadly that sounds like Marek's to me. Chicken's with the neural form can live a long time as long as you provide food and water as you have been doing. Eventually she might develop a brain tumor or some other issue and die, but generally paralysis is only fatal because the chickens simply cannot take care of themselves.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I e been giving her vitamins also. I put a description on the YouTube video explaining also.

It very well could be Marek's.

What are you feeding her?
You mention giving Poultry Cell.

I'd focus on her eating an 18-20% Chick Starter or All Flock Feed. Start her on vitamin therapy of Vitamin E and B-Complex. Give 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 B-Complex daily along with a small treat of scrambled egg to help with the uptake of E.

Eliminate any millets/seeds, etc., you want her eating a nutritionally balanced feed for the majority of her intake.

The sling is a great idea.

 

[Lizmarie3242]

Ok thank you! I will start her on all this immediately! I have almost put her down twice but she seems so strong, and she pushes with her feet. My chickens are more of pets than anything (I’ve bought chicken diapers and let them sleep with me ) so I just don’t want to make the wrong choice and put her down if there’s still a chance.

 

[Eggcessive]

It Since this has been going on for a month, it looks like Mareks disease. I would continue giving the vitamin E and B complex. Only testing or a necropsy by your state vet would confirm it (mareks.) I would call yours from the list below, and get details on how to keep the body cold, and how to bring it in or ship it overnight with a prepaid label. Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Lizmarie3242]

We had to put her down yesterday
I went to feed her and her he’s was turned a….not normal way… and she kept screeching. I had my husband put her down quick. I’m keeping a close eye on the rest of the flocks now. Hoping it wasn’t mareks.