White Leghorn lame outof the blue!

[Geologist]

I have a small flock (4 chickens). One of them is a White Leghorn that just this morning was completely fine, laid a nice egg yesterday and untill noon today was completely healthy with no signs of anything amiss. At lunch today I noticed that she was laying on the ground. I found that she can move her wings and her head, but her legs are completely lame. Her toes are curled up and completely useless. Any ideas on what could possibly have happened? Also, she is normally very skittish and today she let me pick her up, which is very odd. No evidence of a racoon or anything like that and the other chickens are perfectly healthy also. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[dawg53]

I hope it isnt Mareks's disease. I havnt dealt with it. Here's a link; scroll down to "Neural (nerve form)" and read about it if you wish. Good luck.
http://www.avianweb.com/mareksdisease.html

 

[Geologist]

Thanks for the info. Based on her age and the symptons given in the article, though, I doubt that it is Marek's. She is over 2 years old.

 

[dawg53]

She couldve jumped down from a high roost or other high location that couldve sprained a tendon or ligament. It would be best to place her in a cage or crate, provide feed/water. You want her injury to heal and not letting her trying to walk or run around, aggravating the injury further. These type of injuries take time to heal, anywhere from a few days to weeks, months, or never. You can buy some vitamin B complex, crush a few tablets into powder and sprinkle it onto her feed for her to eat. The vitamin B complex may or may not help the injury heal quicker. Time heals these types of injuries.

 

[chloezoebob101]

i think its coccliodosis.our hens had it and they died a day after i don't know how to fix it. but i hope she gets better. and if it is, separate her ASAP because i think its a virus.

 

[Geologist]

The next day she was completely fine!! As if nothing happened. I guess she had a bad jump off of the top of the coop ramp. Thanks for the responses though! I certainly got an education as to what different causes there can be for paralysis.