Walking difficulties - need some advice

[threehorses]

Wendie - aw, that's a nice name.

It's my pleasure to help. There were many times when I needed help and all I had was the dubious advice of the ever present Feed Store Guy.

I just want people to have better help than I did.

Besides, I **love** chicken lovers.

And their flocks.

Please let us know how things go. I'll be watching for updates.

 

[Hen Pecked honey]

Hi all,

Well it has been three days and no change.. She eats and drinks provided I give them to her as she really is unable to get around the cage. I called my local aviary vet and she said it was probably Mereks. She also said that she will never walk again... If that is the case then I will have to put her down - real bummer. My first chicken that I will loose to an illness. I will read other posts on Mereks and how to gracefully put her down. I don't have the heart to snap her neck...

 

[threehorses]

I'm so sorry to hear this. No improvement at all, huh? Well that's one way of telling - by trying the treatment and giving it a bit of time. Just know that sometimes deficiencies take a good while to fix. But calling the vet was a good call.

I wish there was a way the vet could do a necropsy to make sure, but I'm not sure that there would be anything like tumors - just the neurological, which might take a histo to do and that could be pricier.

Ahhh chickens can be heartbreakers.

I'm so very sorry.

 

[Hen Pecked honey]

I had to put her down.... no improvement and I felt she was just suffering .. she had two other hens that I purchased at the same time. and they all loved to make wonderful noises together and were very close. It is amazing but I know they are aware that Wendie is missing. Raising chickens is wonderful but I tell you there is alot to learn.

Thanks Threehorses for your advice. I wish there were online corses to learn more about chickens.

 

[threehorses]

Honey, I'm very sorry that you had to put your girl down. yes, chickens can be heartbreaking sometimes. Please try to enjoy your other girls and their friendship.

An online chicken course would be awesome wouldn't it?

/hugs!

p.s. By the way, there's still a lot to learn even if you've been keeping them for over 30 years. But that's the good part - there's always something new, and often it's good stuff.

 

[brianme]

Thanks for the feedback on the Radco. It was almost impossible to find information about this company. Frankly, I have no data but wonder about the quality of the product where I suspect regulations are lax.

It's sold at a local Cupertino pet store.

The packaging says that it is poultry feed but the tag says that it is chicken scratch. The protein level is 8%, not 20%. So I don't think that it is suitable for 20 week old chicks.