Unbalanced. Wobbly. Weak. Neurological problems. Can't walk.

This is an old thread, but it does have some good information in it. There are numerous causes of lameness in chickens. Besides Marek's, mold toxins, insecticide poisoning, arthritic gout, and lymphotic leucosis can cause leg and walking problems. By the way, the OP states that LL is not contagious. I need to correct that. It's highly contagious and is transmitted by air, direct contact though mating, through feces and dander, and can be transmitted from egg donor to the chick in the egg.

Bumble foot is another cause of lameness and walking problems. This is probably the only one that responds well to treatment.

I'm about to euthanize a hen who appears to be suffering from gout. Though I tried antibiotics, vitamin B and 12 therapy, and Epsom salt soaks and aspirin, she is only getting worse.

When a chicken presents with leg and walking problems, most of the time, culling is the only option if you don't wish to see them suffer.
 


My hen is very wobbly and can't walk. I am hand feeding her. I'm thinking she can't see because she doesn't know where her food is and she just lowers her beak and stabs at her food. Any ideas on what's wrong with her. She's been like this for a month. Hate to put her down. Not laying. Her feet are curled in. But she is able to roost at night.
I usually recommend that people start new threads of their own for more looks and advice, and to not get confused with the previous poster. Here is where to start a new one: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/threads/add/forumId/10

How old is she? Her one eye looks okay, but how does her other eye look? It is cloudy or any different from the other? Any discharge from the eyes or nostrils? I can't see her toes, but if they are curled under and she sits or walks on her hocks, that can be a sign of riboflavin (vitamin B 2) deficiency. It also could Mareks disease. Mareks can also cause changes in the eye, a lack of immunity, and wasting. Place her in a dog crate or cage with her own food and water where she can be with other chickens, but offer her some feed mixed with water, egg, and plain yogurt for probiotics 2-3 times a day. If she should die or you decide to put her down, I would contact your state vet or poultry lab beforehand, to get a necropsy, where they can identify what was wrong.
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
 

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