Sick young one?

[pixiechicks]

So, one of our younger chickens has been acting strange the last few days. She is having a hard time walking. She eats and drinks just fine. But she is lifting her legs high, having difficulty walking..like she is either confused or has s bum leg. Everything looks ok and feels ok. Her sisters who are the same age are several pounds heavier than her. We brought her in the house to isolate her..gave her her own food and water (with corded) and some yogurt. She has been eating and drinking like crazy, nonstop.

I'm not sure if she is sick, or if she Is the low girl in the pecking order? Any advice or insight would be greaty appreciated.

 

[pixiechicks]

So, one of our younger chickens has been acting strange the last few days. She is having a hard time walking. She eats and drinks just fine. But she is lifting her legs high, having difficulty walking..like she is either confused or has s bum leg. Everything looks ok and feels ok. Her sisters who are the same age are several pounds heavier than her. We brought her in the house to isolate her..gave her her own food and water (with corded) and some yogurt. She has been eating and drinking like crazy, nonstop.

I'm not sure if she is sick, or if she Is the low girl in the pecking order? Any advice or insight would be greaty appreciated.

 

[pixiechicks]

Help!! She is getting weaker...she ate the first night, now she won't eat or drink. She cannot stand up in her own. She does not appear sick at all, no blood in pop, no runny nose. She is wasting away and we do not know what to do.

 

[Eggcessive]

Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? Can she stand or move both legs at all? I would give her vitamins with electrolyte water with a dropper, or d her beak into it. She could be dehydrated, but Mareks or any number of things may be possible. Try giving her some chopped scrambled egg, or raw egg mixed with her feed and a little water.

 

[chickenpatch]

Research Mareks Disease. I really hope she doesn't have it because it is incurable and you would have to put her down.

Massage her feet as often as possible and encourage her to walk. Do some leg exercises, such as picking her up and getting her to push off your finger, making her walk for treats etc. Try picking her up and gently brushing her feet on the ground, how does she react? Does she push back?

It may be a little too late to start doing this therapy, but I heard that sometimes it would help cure MD.

 

[pixiechicks]

Oh thank you for your responses..we had to put her down tonight..baby girl was suffering, it just wasn't right to let her continue..I'm so frikkin sad! After researching it, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what she had. I feel horrible!! Poor baby, we have so much to learn!! I feel like a horrible chicken mom!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. If you can refrigerate her body, you can ship it or take it to the state vet for a necropsy to find out if Mareks was the cause. It can affect your other chickens and any future ones who are not vaccinated, so it would be a good thing to know about.