Staggering Buff Orp

[Lewjay]

One of my Buff Orpingtons seems to be coming down with something. Looks like the other girls are pecking on her and perhaps pulling feathers out. She is now totally lethargic, staggers around when she tries to walk and cannot get up on the roost. She's been sleeping in one of the lower nesting boxes that is on the floor level. I'm thinking of putting her in a dog crate with some shavings a water and bring her inside. All the other girls are out roaming in the yard and this one is nestled down in the grass.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with bringing inside. That way you can observe what she is eating, drinking, and what her droppings look like. Has she been wormed before? How old is she? Does she stand around puffed up? Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? Have you added any new birds who could have brought in a different strain of coccidia? I would give her some electrolytes and vitamins, pedialyte, or gatorade, and make sure that she is taking it. Offer her some scrambled chooped egg, plus her feed.

 

[Lewjay]

Never been wormed before. She's about one year old. Nope does not stand at all. Lately she's just been nestled down in the shavings or in the nesting box. If she went out still found a place to crouch down. Never been vaccinated for anything that I know of. No new birds in the flock. I have her in a dog crate with some of their 16% protein feed and water. I'll check her tomorrow to see how she's doing.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would recommend worming her with Valbazen or SafeGuard goat wormer, or equine wormer. Can you try to stand her up and see if either or both legs are lame or paralyzed? Look to see if she curls her toes if you stroke them. Does she sit with one leg forwar, and one leg backward or under her? Check her wings to see if she moves them. Botulism, lead poisoning, and Mareks are some of the diseases that could possibly be wrong with her, but worms, vitamin deficiency, and dehydration from any reason can also cause neurological symptoms. Eating moldy feed or poisonous chemicals can cause these as well. Botulism usually comes suddenly from eating a toxin produced by dead animal or fish, and vegetation that has been without air. Here are some links to read about botulism and mareks disease:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[Lewjay]

Well, she has not gotten any better so today she was dispatched. Gave her a hug and told her she had been a good chicky. Now buried with bricks over the spot to keep the critters out.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. You may want to get a necropsy done on her refrigerated body by the state vet. It would be important to know if it was Mareks, since that will affect others in your flock. In some states necropsies can be free or low cost, but each state is different, so you can call and ask. Here is a link to find your state vet:
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf