umm.... HELP!!

[veggimom]

Hey guys... I'm new to the sight so thank you for having me this aside we have pressing matters to attend. I am so very worried about our sweet Ebony (1 of our 3 chickens) I'm so new and in way over my head. A little about her history is, I got all 3 of our chickens from a local farmer about 2 years ago... We have fully enjoyed our chickens and have become sort of obsessed with giveing them everything they need. Food, a great roost for them, even yummy chicken-crack lol (worms). Ebony has always been the slow to start chicken, our problem child if you will. She was last to get her feathers by months. She was last to let us hold her and come to us. Last in just about everything. Over these past 2 years and progressively gotten worse that the other 2 will pick on her. It started as they would poke at her and exclude her to the point in the last month where they will knock her down and jump on her back and pull out her feathers and peck at her head! This of course, I wouldn't stand for so we moved her to a pin all by her self. Now... The problem. Ebony has formed a limp. This is mostly the reason for the move. This limp has gotten worse and way worse. Ebony is now completely perolized on the right side, but she can still flex her feet open and closed and dosnt seem botherd when we exercise her legs. She sits with one leg out strecked front and the other back. We have tried EVERYTHING and we have checked for Everything. From bumble foot to mareks. She has no (not that I can see) scores and or cuts. It's like one day she was fine and the next not. What started as a limp we thought was a sprain from the other girls has gone to her laying in her den not moveing much. This all being said, your thinking why not take her to the vet like I'm sure normal people do? We live in a place that has 0 bird vets come to find out we have resorted to Google therapy I guess you can call it. Ebony since being away from the others and dispite her problems seems actually happy. She still eats and drinks water. She still enjoys her chicken crack and still gets around in her den with her good side but people.... It's just about the saddest thing you could ever see. I am so very concerned that she is in in awful pain and keeping her alive is abuse.As I said, our animals are very spechial to us and we don't want to loose her. I am so very desperate for everyone's advice and help. Sorry about the long explanation but as I hope you can see... I'm very scared and worried. So umm.... HELP!

 

[Angiebubs]

Does she appear to be in pain? As in mouth hanging open/eyes closed?

I had a similar situation-Went to roost at night and next morning on the floor with very similar symptoms. She was a banty and I kept her in her own cage. Each evening took her out to free range with the big girls and would sometimes set her in the next boxes when I was cleaning coop. She was a favorite of mine and demanded treats first before the rest of the flock etc. She lived for over 2 years just fine.

 

[veggimom]

Thank you for reading my long rant lol. No she dosnt seem to be in pain that's why I'm very confused about what to do. She still drinks water and eats like normal. She seems fairly happy. Her eyes are open and alert and her breathing is normal as far as I can tell. Every day we try and get her put to walk around but she just sits on her side or wants to be held. I'm sorry to hear about your chicken. I'm sure she was very happy with you

 

[Angiebubs]

I would try some vitamin supplements? As there can be vitamin deficiencies that can lead to this. There are some specially formulated for chickens. Does her poop look normal?

 

[Eggcessive]

Veggiemom, I hate to say it but she may have been attacked by the others because she is ill, and I don't think you can rule out Mareks so easily. Chickens will attack a weak or sick one in their flock sometimes. I really hope it's not Mareks, but it is fairly common. Here are 3 good links about Matreks, and please look at all 16 pictures (especially p. 2) in the Partners link:
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/502
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[veggimom]

Thank you very much Eggcessive. Right before we got your message we where looking more into Mareks and we are now somewhat certin that's what Ebony has. Also due to your websites you sent us where a big help with our decision. Thank you so very much for taking the time to send me those pages. On another Forum we saw someone who had hopefully a cure/treatment so we are in high hopes we can heal her or at the most at least sooth her is she is in any pain. Its a herb called Hypericum. Lets all keep our fingers crossed! thank you so much for your help.. I hope to have some good news after a few days of treatment. Im just now concerned on if my other chickens have been infected and if they have been vaccinated or not. I will have to refer back to the VERY helpful webpage you sent me. THANK YOU!

 

[Eggcessive]

You're welcome. There is no cure for Mareks at this time, but some are using the St. John's Wort or hypericum for treatment. Good luck to your chickens.

 

[chooks4life]

Thank you very much Eggcessive. Right before we got your message we where looking more into Mareks and we are now somewhat certin that's what Ebony has. Also due to your websites you sent us where a big help with our decision. Thank you so very much for taking the time to send me those pages. On another Forum we saw someone who had hopefully a cure/treatment so we are in high hopes we can heal her or at the most at least sooth her is she is in any pain. Its a herb called Hypericum. Lets all keep our fingers crossed! thank you so much for your help.. I hope to have some good news after a few days of treatment. Im just now concerned on if my other chickens have been infected and if they have been vaccinated or not. I will have to refer back to the VERY helpful webpage you sent me. THANK YOU!

Vaccinations don't guarantee protection against it, but they can lessen the symptoms so there is a higher chance of infected animals having longer to spread the disease before being detected.

If you do use Hypericum and it works, please give us some feedback for as long as the chook lives so we know if it's permanent. Most people stop giving updates and it leaves the community none the wiser.

There's a definite chance it's Mareks', but there are other issues that also look similar.

Some chooks have a genetic issue causing necropsy of the femur heads or other joints which can present just the same.

Some injuries happen to look the same as well, and all it takes is a slight damage for it to end up the way your chook is, one leg out in front and the other behind, as these injuries worsen the longer they're not corrected.

I had a cockerel get an injury which resulted in him ending up that way. I was determined to see if it could be treated, and yes, he did make a full recovery, but it took many months of having him restricted in a small cage where I regularly put his legs back under him in the correct positions, multiple times a day. Not ideal. He was a little trooper though, but it's not an easy injury to treat.

Best wishes, hope your chook is one of the success stories.

 

[veggimom]

thank you so much! that is a big help to know. We have been giving her the herbs and we actually been placeing her feet under her again. Its almost like they where tight or she was fighting us with her feet. Its interesting to know that it could not be mareks. the list of symptoms and what it also could be is quite large! im still not even sure if it is mareks. If it is i was certin my other hens would get it due to being in close range so when we thought it was we distanced her. I have a raised Garden that we have decided to make into her recovery day box lol. It has shade out of the sun but she can still be outside. She eats and drinks a lot there and is still trying to get up and around. She seem quite happy there during the day then at night we place her in her Den. Another person in the forum i posted said they got a harness to keep her up right. Im in hopes that all are efforts are for the best. Like i said we really are guessing she has mareks. Thanks you again for your concern and wishes for out little one. I will keep updates on my forum page to see if i can help others.

 

[Eggcessive]

I probably wouldn't isolate her unless she is getting picked on. The Mareks virus, if she has it, is in the dust and dander, and it would already be dispersed throughout your home, coop, and property. She would probably be very lonely without another companion. Here are some slings for chickens to help keep them upright:

post #13 of 13
6/27/10

• speckledhen
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• Intentional Solitude
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If you have a bowling ball sling, that also works great like the one we did for Zane two years ago. Not sure about the leg, though.

• FRlEDeggs
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• Joined: 6/2010
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Here's a picture of Pepper in her "chicken sling" that was taken last weekend