Unable to Stand? UPDATE. Tried to reintroduce her and now she is back inside

[mg15]

Please keep us posted. Thank you.

 

[RedTailRanch6]

I ended up leaving her over night with the emergency vet so that the "real" chicken specialist could check her out in the morning. I finally got the call at 9:30 this morning. I obviously wasn't expecting much seeing as how the lady last night was ready to put her down, but the vet let me know that she is up and walking! She seems to be perky, alert, and no longer in pain in the same way she was before.

She was indeed dehydrated and they concur with my concern of a vitamin deficiency. Since she is at the bottom of the pecking order, they agree she likely may be especially stressed and may not always get the food/water she needs. She is at a good weight, but still... I had noticed that her crop seemed perhaps a bit enlarged and the vet agrees that she may have a slight infection. They are running some tests now and further examining her, but I expect to have her back tonight.

Fingers crossed it goes well. I know that Mareks symptoms can sometimes seem to "disappear" for a short time, so I am not saying I am out of the weeds yet. But I sure am glad I didn't agree to put her down last night!


So, questions, assuming it is not Mareks and may be a diet related and/or a minor infection"
• Should I expect any issues reintroducing her tonight? My last flock was attacked by a neighbor dog and when I got one of my girls nursed back up she was picked on pretty horrifically. (This was a two week absence, not two days.)
• I am planning to get a second water and food location, anything else I can do to help ensure she is getting what she needs?
• Can I attach knives to her so that she can work her way up the pecking order?
• If she does have an infection of her crop, any recommendations to prevent it in the future (I assume the vet will help with the treatment now).


Anything specific I should ask the vet to check for? In light of the update, I still have concerns about the following being potential issues:
• Dehydration/vitamin deficiency
• Reinfection of the crop
• Egg bound?
• Calcium deficiency
• Mareks

 

[egghead@1265]

We h
We have two not yet laying hens with weak legs, and I am watching closely what can be done for them.

One is a Buckeye, the other a Delaware. They have yet to lay, and figure they are around 4 months old.

I have read a vitamin deficiency could be the problem?

Fear?

I have the two in a separate coop for now.

Any suggestions?

I will see if I can get a photo.

 

[mg15]

http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/#/disease/Vitamin_E_and_Selenium_Deficiency

This site has pictures and info.
It might help. I use it for lots of identification.

 

[mg15]

I have five feeding stations with all the same food. I have to because some girls are newish pullets and they get run off by the older gals. (I have a Dorking in the hospital room right now. She was getting pushed around.) Sometimes somebody just does not like so and so for the day.
I also have vitamins called Rooster Booster which is pelleted top dress vitamin and mineral supplement for poultry. I put a scoop full on the feed. It helps during the summer months here. I suggest you get some.

 

[Eggcessive]

I ended up leaving her over night with the emergency vet so that the "real" chicken specialist could check her out in the morning. I finally got the call at 9:30 this morning. I obviously wasn't expecting much seeing as how the lady last night was ready to put her down, but the vet let me know that she is up and walking! She seems to be perky, alert, and no longer in pain in the same way she was before.

She was indeed dehydrated and they concur with my concern of a vitamin deficiency. Since she is at the bottom of the pecking order, they agree she likely may be especially stressed and may not always get the food/water she needs. She is at a good weight, but still... I had noticed that her crop seemed perhaps a bit enlarged and the vet agrees that she may have a slight infection. They are running some tests now and further examining her, but I expect to have her back tonight.

Fingers crossed it goes well. I know that Mareks symptoms can sometimes seem to "disappear" for a short time, so I am not saying I am out of the weeds yet. But I sure am glad I didn't agree to put her down last night!


So, questions, assuming it is not Mareks and may be a diet related and/or a minor infection"
• Should I expect any issues reintroducing her tonight? My last flock was attacked by a neighbor dog and when I got one of my girls nursed back up she was picked on pretty horrifically. (This was a two week absence, not two days.)
• I am planning to get a second water and food location, anything else I can do to help ensure she is getting what she needs?
• Can I attach knives to her so that she can work her way up the pecking order?
• If she does have an infection of her crop, any recommendations to prevent it in the future (I assume the vet will help with the treatment now).


Anything specific I should ask the vet to check for? In light of the update, I still have concerns about the following being potential issues:
• Dehydration/vitamin deficiency
• Reinfection of the crop
• Egg bound?
• Calcium deficiency
• Mareks

I'm very glad to hear that she is up walking. She really is a pretty pullet. Dehydration can cause similar neurological symptoms, and can be common in the summer heat, or with a particularly meek bird. It's good that you were able to get her to a vet for care. I also place water bowls around my chicken yard in shaded areas for everyone to get a chance to drink or soak their legs and cool off. Please give us updates as you can.

 

[egghead@1265]

I mixed up some save a chick powder and am hoping the vitamins can give her a boost.

I am hoping our others don't get this.

I will try to post a few photos.

 

[egghead@1265]

See my profile, as I seemed to be able to load the pics of the two hens there

https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/7060800/help-with-hens-weak-legs

Thank you!

 

[mg15]

See my profile, as I seemed to be able to load the pics of the two hens there

https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/7060800/help-with-hens-weak-legs

Thank you!

Clinical signs of Newcastle Disease



Egg drop after a (otherwise asymptomatic) Newcastle disease infection in a duly vaccinated broiler parent flock
Signs of infection with NDV vary greatly depending on factors such as the strain of virus and the health, age and species of the host.
The incubation period for the disease ranges from two to 15 days. An infected bird may exhibit several signs, including respiratory signs (gasping, coughing), nervous signs (depression, inappetence, muscular tremors, drooping wings, twisting of head and neck, circling, complete paralysis), swelling of the tissues around the eyes and neck, greenish, watery diarrhea, misshapen, rough- or thin-shelled eggs and reduced egg production.
In acute cases, the death is very sudden, and, in the beginning of the outbreak, the remaining birds do not seem to be sick. In flocks with good immunity, however, the signs (respiratory and digestive) are mild and progressive, and are followed after seven days by nervous symptoms, especially twisted heads.

• 
  Torticollis in a mallard
• 
  Same symptom in a broiler
• 
  PM lesions on proventriculus, gizzard and duodenum

 

[mg15]

http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/#/disease/Marek's_Disease