Wobbly Hen-Injury or Mareks (or ?)

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Chirping
Jan 8, 2025
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Central Coast, CA
This is my head hen George (the Regina is silent). This morning she didn’t fly off the roost like normal, she took the stairs. Now it seems like she is unstable on her feet.

All vitals appear normal, she is eating and pooping fine. Randomly favoring her right side and her wing isn’t lying tight to her body like normal. She walks normal and then dips a bit to the right or backwards, like she's momentarily lost her balance. I didn’t see signs of bumblefoot or injury when I palpated her, but to be fair, I am not super sure what I’m looking for other than unusual heat or swelling or obvious signs of pain. I checked for mites and lice while we had her and I didn’t see any signs. I felt her undercarriage to see if I could feel an egg up in there but this is the first time I have done that and while I didn’t feel anything weird, again, not sure what may be abnormal. I had originally put her in the infirmary crate but wanted to get videos of her walking so she's been out with the flock since I recorded her.

They are 7.5 months, have not laid yet. Are on nutrena all flock with oyster shell on the side, though they don’t really seem to eat it yet. They get snacks most evenings to come inside (small amount of scratch-less than 1/4 cup- mixed with layer pellets or just veg and no scratch. Their primary food is the all flock). They have an enclosed run attached to our large coop with solid roof and no direct contact to other birds.

They all went through a corrid tx 1.5 weeks ago when we were being uber cautious of the behavior of our special needs hen. They are vaccinated for Mareks (for what that’s worth) and we’ve had them since they were 16 weeks old. We have a polish roo who has been very gentle with them so far, but maybe he was less than polite last night when I wasn't around? No reports of HPAI in our county yet, no contact with waterfowl. Though we are coastal, we are in an oak woodland.

Just looking for other eyeballs on the situation to help me navigate this. If it’s just time to lay, I will feel silly for overreacting but super relieved if that’s all it is. She’s been a very robust and healthy hen up until this point. Currently she is lying in the sun with her friends and appears bright and engaged.
 
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She’s the same this morning. Alert but a little more withdrawn, poop normal, walks normal about 90% of the time then like a wobble and or tail dip. She’s an in your face chicken and today she’s less so. She’s a little unsteady when she tries to scratch her face. Took the stairs again off the roost while everyone else flew off.

I left her with the flock (we only have 4 total) yesterday after watching everyone to make sure she wasn’t decompensating and no one was picking on her. She was on the roost last night when I made last call. If it’s viral, I feel like they all must be exposed now?

I had to run the math again last night. They’re 30 weeks, so here with us for 3.5 months, not exposed to anyone new. But from what I have read, still within the window that Mareks may present symptoms for initial exposure. Please correct me if I got this wrong.

She came vaccinated and I understand Mareks can be everywhere. Hoping it’s just an injury but would love some feedback if anyone has had a chance to look at the videos. Those were edited just to show when she presents wobbly. 90% she appears ok. But I know chickens hide their injuries and illness best they can.
 
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So we are 5 days out and she’s still the same. Not worse or better. She did fly off the roost on Tuesday but she’s been back to using the ramp since then. Occasionally holds her right wing slightly off her body and looks at it. Again, she’s eating, pooping normal, hanging out with her friends. Just wobbly in certain positions or if she turns abruptly. She can move out quickly and is engaged but she is definitely more withdrawn then her normal outgoing personality.

Adding videos from today and hoping someone may have an idea. Appreciate the time to look.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/img_1268-mov.7967463/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/img_1268-mov.7967461/
 
Very strange, and I can understand why you're worried. Has she lost any weight?
She doesn’t appear to have lost much if any, but I also don’t have a scale for accuracy. She is still has a great appetite.

Those small feeders in the clip are my “hospital” one’s but they’re just a snack bar right now filled with a layer feed and they’ve been choosing that over their normal All Flock. I also put a new oyster shell option in there today since I never see them touch the limestone. But, again, not laying yet.

Thanks so much for replying. I’m kind of at a loss with this one. I figured if it was an injury I would see some small improvement At this point. But maybe not.
 
Very interesting with her going between normal and kinda tipsy. 🤔

What feed are they on?

I would try treating her as if it's a vitamin deficiency, so vitamin E and B Complex pills.

Can you check her ears? Maybe an equilibrium thing?

I had one kinda like this, she had more stiff leg movements all the time and a bit wobbly, I never did figure her out. We processed her last summer at 2 yrs old and she had some form of tumors in her, but nothing I'd ever seen before or even pictures of. But I'd start with extra vitamins for your girl!


 

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