Splay Leg or Curled Toes in a 3 month old hen?

[RebekahFlora]

I’m looking for some advice or ideas to help my 3 month old silver black lace Wyandotte. About a month ago she started walking a little funny - like I would imagine splay leg walking would look; like her feet just couldn’t stay under her and were pushed out to the side. Then I noticed that it seems her toes are curling a bit and she just isn’t steady on her feet at all. She can’t get on the roosting bar or stand for any length of time. We built her a short roosting bar and even at just a few inches tall she can’t get on it. She is still eating and drinking and using the bathroom and seems perfectly healthy, but she is smaller than the other chicks. They were born at the same time on the same farm, but aren’t all necessarily from the same mom. They have all been vaccinated.

The vet said he could offer suggestions but likely couldn’t do anything so we decided to do some research here and try to help her on our own.

I am attaching some pictures and videos and would love for you to take a look and give me some suggestions for how to help her. Thanks in advance!

 

[coach723]

Do you know what she was vaccinated for specifically?
I would get her on some vitamins to start with, a B complex or Super B complex daily, human ones from any pharmacy are fine. Just put in her beak and push it back, she will swallow it.
She may have internal issues causing absorption issues with digestion, or she may just have been having trouble getting to feed. I would crate her for now, get her eating and drinking, work on the vitamins, monitor droppings and see if you get any improvement.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I second the b complex vitamins. Those contain riboflavin, B 2 which may help. In the pictures, it looks like the toes on the left foot and one toe on her right foot are darker. Is there any ankle joint swelling on the left or the right? Has she been picked on or pecked? Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease?

 

[RebekahFlora]

Yes, she was vaccinated on Day 1 for Marek’s. I don’t see any sign of ankle, foot, or other external injury. Bless her heart, it’s like she moves in a circle when she moves like only one leg is being controlled and the other is just along for the ride. She is breaking my heart. I just don’t want her to be in pain.

 

[RebekahFlora]

Do you know what she was vaccinated for specifically?
I would get her on some vitamins to start with, a B complex or Super B complex daily, human ones from any pharmacy are fine. Just put in her beak and push it back, she will swallow it.
She may have internal issues causing absorption issues with digestion, or she may just have been having trouble getting to feed. I would crate her for now, get her eating and drinking, work on the vitamins, monitor droppings and see if you get any improvement.

She was vaccinated for Marek’s on Day 1.

 

[coach723]

I would try the vitamins. You can also use a chicken sling for periods, to help her stay upright, make it easier to eat, drink and poop, and let the legs rest. I'll post some examples below. Vitamin deficiencies can happen, and are reversible if treated soon enough. Leg paralysis can also happen with Marek's disease, thus the questions about the vaccine. All vaccines do not have a 100% effectiveness, there are infinite variables, so it's always a consideration. Also, that particular vaccine does not prevent them from getting the disease, it only prevents or reduces the incidence of the tumors associated with it and therefore reduces mortality. Hopefully however, this is a vitamin issue. Deficiencies in the B's is not uncommon, riboflavin deficiency can cause curled toes, and thiamine deficiency can cause all kinds of odd neuro-muscular symptoms.