St. John's Wort

[chicknmania]

We have a barred rock pullet who caught Marik's. Without knowing Hypericum cured this disease,Mama gave some to her with hemp oil.Now we give it to her frequently.

How much does she give her and what's the hemp oil do? I've heard hemp seed is good for chickens in a lot of things...

 

[BantamLover21]

Update:

So far, I've given him 4 doses. There hasn't been any major improvement, though I have noticed that he can now move the toes on his paralyzed foot slightly, and even curl them into a ball at times.

 

[chicknmania]

Update:

So far, I've given him 4 doses. There hasn't been any major improvement, though I have noticed that he can now move the toes on his paralyzed foot slightly, and even curl them into a ball at times.

Well that's good. Keep going then. When we did it, I think we stopped treatment too soon. She improved, we stopped, she backslid. But the second time we started it up again, we just figured oh well, she's going to die anyway if we don't keep it up, so we did until she showed significant improvement. You will know when to stop, because he will start improving steadily. I don't know how much the Curcurum had to
do with her continued improvement once we took her off the Hypericum, but I think it did contribute, so, once he starts improving significantly, you want to consider getting some Curcumin and switching to that. Health stores charge a hefty price for it, but it's cheap on line, I ordered it from First State.

 

[ChicknsRock]

The hypericum comes in capsules and she opens one and pours out just a pinch in 1/8 teaspoon hemp oil. She says that hemp food, including oil, is helpful for cancer patients and a vegan friend of hers told her about hemp oil, so she bought some from a whole foods store. If we have a hen who is not thrifty, she gives her a teaspoon of first cold pressed virgin olive oil. Parasites in our body do not like olive oil, so she believes the same goes for animals. It is best to use the oil on an empty stomach. There has been improvement in the hen after only two days.

 

[chicknmania]

I have a friend who swears by hemp for chickens. Never asked her why. Interesting....

 

[ChicknsRock]

Oscarita (our hen with Marek's) is doing much better since we gave her the Hypericum. This is the fourth day we have been giving it to her and
she can stand on one leg.

 

[chicknmania]

yay!

 

[BantamLover21]

He now has almost full control of his leg. The only problem is that he still can't/doesn't want to straighten out his toes; he can clutch things tightly but won't let his foot lie flat. This slightly paralyzed leg problem has been making him walk on the top of the affected foot's toes, which causes the leg to splay inward slightly. It doesn't look like the leg is dislocated, it feels like that leg's hock joint is weaker than the strong, non-affected leg. Its beginning to bother him, as he has been limping somewhat today and standing on one leg a lot.

After more thought, I think I was wrong in thinking that this was Marek's. Judging by his behavior, it seems more likely that he injured his hock (probably by banging it on a roost, catching his leg in something, etc.), and the injury caused temporary paralysis of the toes. This injury may also have caused him to not want to move his toes/foot, and instead hobble around on top of the foot. Unfortunately, the injury probably weakened the hock joint, and the more he walks on his curled up, splayed foot, the more his entire leg is splaying inward and the injury/problem is getting worse. I'm considering making a sling for his leg, and possibly splinting the toes; does that seem like a good idea? Any suggestions as to how to make a good sling?

I've been giving him the St. John's Wort solution twice a day, along with vitamins and electrolytes. He's in a well-bedded cage, with feed and water nearby. It would be so helpful if he just rested, but he continues to act normal and walk around on the wrong part of the foot, doing more damage to himself.

I may post this problem on a new thread, and see what help I can get by doing that, too.

 

[chicknmania]

Usuallly if we have a chicken with an injury, we put them in our smallest pens, which are enclosed wooden elevated pens except for wire door front They are only about 2' * 2.5 ".
Big enough for the bird to move around a bit, but not really do a lot of pacing. The SJW is probably helping, even if the nerve damage was caused by an injury.
I guess you could try to splint the toes, and see? Or maybe some soaking in warm Epsom salts water, followed by a gentle massage with something like olive oil.
I think I would try that first. Soak the foot once or twice a day. I know that soaking has helped in the past with birds with a foot or leg injury, and they do seem to like
it. As with most animals, the foot does not have very good circulation, so takes longer to heal. I think the warm soak and massage might help with circulation, might help
him loosen up the foot.

 

[chooks4life]

@BantamLover21:
Quote:
I agree with chicknmania:
Quote: I'm not sure about a sling for the leg, I think it'd do far more harm than good, possibly permanent harm leading to culling... But do whatever you believe is right.

Personally I suggest you look into what is used for chick's feet, those makeshift booties that spread the toes and keep the foot open and flat. With one of those he may do very well. I've used them for upper thigh injuries before. The leg won't heal normally while the foot's forcing it to be utilized abnormally. It puts strain on other points and weakens them until you end up with a secondary injury.

@ChicknsRock:
Quote: Great to hear!

Best wishes to all.