Silkie hen won't use one leg

[ReneM17]

Hello all!
So I have a flock of Silkie chickens and one of the hens stopped using one of her feet. She still reacted and moved it when you tapped her feet and my dad felt her leg and didn't feel like anything was broken. We cleaned her foot and put her back in the coop. The other chickens don't seem to mind her and don't pick on her or anythibg. She just hops around whenever she needs to and seems to be getting along fine. She eats and is able to move around and doesn't seem to suffer from any pain. It's bene around 10 days later now and I've noticed that she does not move her leg at all now! I tapped her feet but no response this time. She still hops around but somehow cannot use her foot. Nothing else is getting weaker or seems like is going numb. It seems like her foot is paralyzed. I've heard of this disease that chickens get that make them paralyzed over time. I don't know if this is actually a disease or not but no other chickens of mine seem to be having any similar problems. Her foot is still warm and flexible but she just doesn't move it. She's still able to hop around and eat and all that stuff but she just doesn't use her leg. I don't have a clue what could be wrong. I've called 2 pets and they both didn't have a clue. I can either let her hop around and I can put her down. She is able to stand still and sit on her own and does not seem to fall over. She still comes out the coop during the day(there's a tiny wall thingy to keep the hay in. Around half a foot I think) she hops over that every day and every night. What do you guys think? I could use some advice or tips or anything. Could there be a torn muscle? Is she sick? She's not weak at all and seems to be healthy aside her leg. Thanks in advance for any advice or tips!!
I can include a video of her trying to walk.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @ReneM17

I'm sorry to hear about your Silkie. If you can post your video to youtube, then provide us a link that would be great. (Photos of the legs and feet would be good too)

It's possible that she may have a disease like Marek's which causes leg/wing paralysis. There is no cure for that, but you may want to see if she will improve with supportive care. http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

What type of food/treats do you feed?
How old is she?

See that she is drinking and eating well. Offer poultry vitamins that contain B2 (Riboflavin) and give her a little extra protein like egg, tuna or meat. She may do better with limited activity to see if that helps - can you cage her in the coop/run so she doesn't have to try to move as much - leaving water/food for her. Some people find that placing them in a sling for monitored periods of times also helps.

Here's a couple of sling ideas for you:

 

[ReneM17]

thank you for replying. the food that i give them contains everything that a chicken needs. atleast that what ive bene told at the pet store. I cant show you right now since its dark but i'll make a photo tomorrow. its a mix of different seeds and some corn. there is also calcium in there. i will go to the petstore and ask for vitamin B2. i dont think her leg is broken because me and my dad both cant feel anything broken. she is well fed. eventhough she only uses one leg she still hops around and her crop is full . luckily some chicks also layed some eggs yesterday and i can cook that for her to eat.

 

[ReneM17]

thank you fro recommending the swing. ill have to look more into that if i want to make that. here are 2 short videos. in one you can see that she only uses her right leg and she kinda woddles around for food and water. in the other i have her on her back and she is stil active and totally not tired or anything. she just doesnt move her left leg which is pretty weird. i hope this helps a bit more to clearify!
-rene

 

[Wyorp Rock]

the food that i give them contains everything that a chicken needs. atleast that what ive bene told at the pet store....its a mix of different seeds and some corn. there is also calcium in there.

If you can post a photo of the feed bag that would be great.

She's a cutie pie! How old is she?
It could be a sprain or a symptom of disease like Marek's. With chickens, there are so many things that can go wrong, it's hard sometimes to pinpoint the problem and you just have to try to give supportive care (vitamins, protein, etc.) and hope they get better.

Please keep us posted.

 

[micstrachan]

I agree with supportive care and maybe let her rest on a sling for a bit. It appears in tbe video she can’t use her leg AT ALL, correct? Doesn’t grasp your finger if you apply gentke pressure on the bottom of her foot?

 

[ReneM17]

If you can post a photo of the feed bag that would be great.

She's a cutie pie! How old is she?
It could be a sprain or a symptom of disease like Marek's. With chickens, there are so many things that can go wrong, it's hard sometimes to pinpoint the problem and you just have to try to give supportive care (vitamins, protein, etc.) and hope they get better.

Please keep us posted.

Thank you! I am not sure how old she exactly is because I bought her off a market. I've had her for Round 2 to 2.5 years now. As you can see she is still very strong as active. Me and my dad agreed that she may look goofy and all but she doesn't seem to be suffering. I can always try the sling. Maybe that helps. Thanks again! I'll post a pic of the food soon!

 

[ReneM17]

I agree with supportive care and maybe let her rest on a sling for a bit. It appears in tbe video she can’t use her leg AT ALL, correct? Doesn’t grasp your finger if you apply gentke pressure on the bottom of her foot?

She used to move her foot and leg a week ago but didn't want to stand on it. Now she isn't moving her leg at all . I'm not sure what is going on but it doesn't seem like any other chicks are affected by it.

 

[micstrachan]

I have also heard they can get along fine with one useful leg. One of my pullets has a slight limp. At one point, she was barely using it, but improved with rest. When she wanted to go fast, she would run/hop across the yard on one foot pogo style. Super cute! Now it’s just a subtle limp that comes and goes depending on her activity level. She is low in the pecking order and spooks easily, often being harrassed by her flock mates. I keep a close eye on her to make sure she’s getting her share to eat. Good luck!

 

[ReneM17]

I have also heard they can get along fine with one useful leg. One of my pullets has a slight limp. At one point, she was barely using it, but improved with rest. When she wanted to go fast, she would run/hop across the yard on one foot pogo style. Super cute! Now it’s just a subtle limp that comes and goes depending on her activity level. She is low in the pecking order and spooks easily, often being harrassed by her flock mates. I keep a close eye on her to make sure she’s getting her share to eat. Good luck!

Yes mine does now too. she gets along well and isn't low in the pecking order. All my chicks get along pretty well. She still eats and is very active. Which is why it's so weird she's not using that leg. I could maybe make a sling for her and put it somewhere in the coop? I'm not sure. I'll make a better video of her hopping