Silkie can’t stand up properly

[Eggcessive]

So sorry that you have to say goodbye to her. Do you think the curled toes and legs could have been frostbite, not Mareks? Can you save the body and keep it cold, not frozen, to send her for a necropsy and testing? Here is a lab to contact if you want to get a necropsy:
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/services/autopsyMareks is spread via dander and feathers which can be everywhere in the environment. Virkon S is a tablet that when mixed into water, can be used to disinfect a coop and equipment where a contagious disease has been. It is available on Amazon in small quantities. Bleach 10% in water may be used in cleaning.

 

[BuckeyeFoodie]

UPDATE

unfortunately I’m saying goodbye to my sweet girl today. When I checked on her before bed last night, both her legs were paralyzed and curled up and she was shaking. Today she is almost lifeless and gasping for air. The others had pecked at her face, obviously wondering what was wrong with her so I wrapped her up and she is going to take her last breaths inside with me. If she doesn’t pass peacefully this morning we will be putting her down.

Thanks for everyone’s help. I’m assuming Mareks. The coop will be cleaned and disinfected. None of the other chickens are showing any symptoms whatsoever.

any tips on precautions I can take? I know mareks is very contagious.
Thanks again

I'm so sorry you lost your girl. I suspect vitamin b deficiency over Mareks, as Silkies are stupid-prone to it (but other birds get it as well), and I have a young hen who has never left my laundry room that I am treating right now with the same symptoms - looks like Mareks, but the only actual symptom is the legs.

For the future, I would learn to crop-feed to keep the Ill bird hydrated, and immediately treat with an injection of vitamin b complex (silkies are .25cc, but you can't overdose on b) to the breast. Worming is also wise at that time (safeguard goat dewormer .5cc crop-fed with water) but resist the urge to treat with Corid/Amprolium as they are b blockers and just compound things.

It is still wise to disinfect your coop, and deworm all your birds and supplement vitamin b12 in their water as a precaution (people b12 liquid is fine for this).

 

[LemonyCatapult]

I'm so sorry you lost your girl. I suspect vitamin b deficiency over Mareks, as Silkies are stupid-prone to it (but other birds get it as well), and I have a young hen who has never left my laundry room that I am treating right now with the same symptoms - looks like Mareks, but the only actual symptom is the legs.

For the future, I would learn to crop-feed to keep the Ill bird hydrated, and immediately treat with an injection of vitamin b complex (silkies are .25cc, but you can't overdose on b) to the breast. Worming is also wise at that time (safeguard goat dewormer .5cc crop-fed with water) but resist the urge to treat with Corid/Amprolium as they are b blockers and just compound things.

It is still wise to disinfect your coop, and deworm all your birds and supplement vitamin b12 in their water as a precaution (people b12 liquid is fine for this).

Thanks so much, I have other silkies so I will definitely do my research on that.

 

[LemonyCatapult]

So sorry that you have to say goodbye to her. Do you think the curled toes and legs could have been frostbite, not Mareks? Can you save the body and keep it cold, not frozen, to send her for a necropsy and testing? Here is a lab to contact if you want to get a necropsy:
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/services/autopsyMareks is spread via dander and feathers which can be everywhere in the environment. Virkon S is a tablet that when mixed into water, can be used to disinfect a coop and equipment where a contagious disease has been. It is available on Amazon in small quantities. Bleach 10% in water may be used in cleaning.

I don’t believe it was frostbite, her feet and legs have been warm to the touch every time I’ve checked on her and it’s only been around 0 degrees Celsius the last few weeks where I am, no snow or ice to stand in. When my other hen lost her feet, it was -30 degrees and she was standing in the snow when I found her, her toes were ice cold and couldn’t bend at all and after a few days completely shrivelled and fell off.

I am going to look into the necropsy, that link is useful, the university of Guelph is a quick drive for me.

 

[Eggcessive]

Riboflavin or B2 would be good to supplement for awhile. Riboflavin deficiency can sometimes look like Mareks. It causes curled under toes and walking on hocks. It can progress to paralysis. Are you using a fresh balanced chicken feed where they cannot pick out the favorite bits?

 

[LemonyCatapult]

Riboflavin or B2 would be good to supplement for awhile. Riboflavin deficiency can sometimes look like Mareks. It causes curled under toes and walking on hocks. It can progress to paralysis. Are you using a fresh balanced chicken feed where they cannot pick out the favorite bits?

That sounds a lot like what happened here. Their feed is just a very general layer pellet, nothing to pick around. It’s the only chicken feed besides starter and grower that my small local feed store sells so I expected it to be sufficient. They eat tons of fruits and veggies everyday so I didn’t suspect that their diet was under supplemented at all

 

[Eggcessive]

If it is a balanced layer pellet and fairly fresh, it should have enough riboflavin, but it won’t hurt to give some super B complex tablets crushed ground in some feed a few days a week. You can find those in your vitamin aisle at stores.

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

UPDATE

unfortunately I’m saying goodbye to my sweet girl today. When I checked on her before bed last night, both her legs were paralyzed and curled up and she was shaking. Today she is almost lifeless and gasping for air. The others had pecked at her face, obviously wondering what was wrong with her so I wrapped her up and she is going to take her last breaths inside with me. If she doesn’t pass peacefully this morning we will be putting her down.

Thanks for everyone’s help. I’m assuming Mareks. The coop will be cleaned and disinfected. None of the other chickens are showing any symptoms whatsoever.

any tips on precautions I can take? I know mareks is very contagious.
Thanks again

Oh no I'm so sorry. The next few days I'd keep an eye on all your other chickens especially your silkies as they seem to be more prone.

 

[LemonyCatapult]

If it is a balanced layer pellet and fairly fresh, it should have enogu riboflavin, but it won’t hurt to give some super B complex tablets crushed ground in some feed a few days a week. You can find those in your vitamin aisle at stores.

Thanks so much for your help

 

[LemonyCatapult]

Yolko crossed the rainbow bridge this morning wrapped up in a blanket in my arms her best friend and inseparable mate, Souvlaki, our Silkie rooster, died 6 months ago so now I’m sure they’re up in chicken heaven together