Slipped Tendon Leg Injury, keeps happening in the flock

[BoiseChik]

Hello, I'm trying to figure out what is happening with my flock and why. Three times in the last year I have had a perfectly healthy chicken start limping and then progressively get worse, with one seemingly bad leg. The chicken will limp worse and worse, then eventually try to hop on one leg, and then be totally immobile with that leg jutting out in front, or stiffly to the side. See pictures. We have brought the injured chickens food and water, because they're not able to get to it, But none of them have recovered and they eventually died. Is this slipped tendon? Why has it happened already three times? Is this something to do with our chicken coop? I took as many pictures as I could to show the injured chicken with the leg jutting out in front, and pictures of the coop inside and out. The coop is about a 5' x 4' x 5' box with three roosting posts inside that are about a one and a half inch caliper round post. We use fresh dry straw for bedding. All opinions appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Although injuries are possible, I wonder if your chickens could be suffering from Mareks disease? Mareks may strike young chickens with paralysis of one or both legs or wings. they can starve to death from wasting and have less immunity to common diseases. If you lose another one, I would refrigerate the body, and ship it off via FEDEX to your state poultry lab or vet.I'm sorry you are dealing with this. Here are some articles to read about Mareks, and a link for your state vet:
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/#/disease/Marek's_Disease
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

IDAHO Name: Dr. Bill Barton Title: State Veterinarian/Administrator Agency: Division of Animal Industries Department: Idaho State Department of Agriculture Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7249 Boise, ID 83707 Office Address: 2270 Old Penitentiary Road Boise, ID 83712 Office Telephone No: (208) 332-8540 Fax No: (208) 334-4062 E-mail: [email protected] Health Certificate Email: [email protected]

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I agree that that looks suspiciously like marek's. A necropsy would be the only way to tell for sure though. Are your birds vaccinated as chicks for marek's? Even vaccinated birds can still be susceptible if exposed to high levels of virus in the environment. If you are not vaccinating, I would definitely start.