Symptoms progressing...

[Ady Road Chicks]

I have a mutt chicken, exact age unknown, but she should start laying any time now. A few days ago she was limping so I checked the leg and found no obvious injuries or deformities. She was still getting around fine so I wasn't worried. The next day she was walking like both her feet hurt, sort of like she was walking on hot coals. I was getting worried but she was still out and about with the rest of the flock. Well, yesterday she got worse. Now she can't walk at all, she tries to get up but ends up flopped on her face with her wings all splayed out. One leg sticks straight out in front and the other straight out in back. She doesn't appear to be in any pain or discomfort...she isn't puffed up, she isn't hot or cold, neither leg appears abnormal (no swelling, not twisted) but they appear to be stiff and when I try to bend them into a normal position I am met with lots of resistance in the joints (it doesnt bother her when I try and move them), when I hold food in front of her she happliy eats. She is bright eyed and interested in her surroundings. She isn't sleepy or lethargic. And no other chickens appear to be sick. They all free range during the day in an acre or so of grassy field, they sleep in a wooden shed with pine shavings as bedding, they eat Layena pellets and have fresh water daily and receive kitchen leftovers daily (I have a daycare in my home so there are lots of leftovers). Any idea what could be the problem?

 

[aoxa]

http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/avian/mareks2.pdf
Check into this. I'm sorry to say this fits the description of what you are describing.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Ok separate her now. The leg forward and back is a symptom in Mareks Disease.

 

[leadwolf1]

I agree with the above two responses.

Separate your girl from the flock. Before we jump to Marek's, let's start with something simple. If this works, your troubles are over. If it doesn't, my best advice to you would be to have her euthanized and a necropsy done. Find a state lab they will do one for little to no cost. Get the information together now, just in case. Call your local government extension office, they should be able to tell you the location of the nearest lab. Some have found all the info they need online, also.

Sometimes, a vitamin deficiency can mimic Marek's. We are going to try to go that route first.

.5 mls poly vi sol, without iron, once daily
400 ius vitamin E twice daily

You should see improvement within 2 weeks. If there is no improvement or, she gets worse then you are facing something much worse than a vitamin deficiency. If she improves and then symptoms return again, you are looking at Marek's or another serious illness. Then, I would advise you to follow the above and have the necropsy performed. The future of your flock will depend on getting that diagnosis.

Good luck with your pullet..I hope she responds to the vitamin therapy and you can put this whole thing behind you!

Feel free to ask any other questions. I have been dealing with Marek's for over a year and have lost 40+ birds. There really isn't anything, at this point, that I don't know about Marek's.

 

[Ady Road Chicks]

I did seperate her yesterday. I will start the Poly Vi Sol and get the Vitamin E today.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Hope that works.

 

[aoxa]

Hope that works.

x2