Shelleyloveshens Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Hello. I have an 8 week old buff orpington chick who is in with 3 others of the same age ( different breeds). They have all been doing really well. This morning when we got them up they were all fine and all went to the feeder. Literally within a couple of hours she was lying inside the coop on her side, unable to stand. I have brought her in the house and she can move her neck fine and she can move her feet but can't stand. She is taking food when we hand feed her but she is clearly not right. Has our little crumbs got mareks? Is there anything we can do? This is all very upsetting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Difficult to say. I'd suggest that if there is no improvement over the next few hours, that you take her to the vet. I'd encourage her to drink. Gently syringe water into her beak if necessary. You can get then at the supermarket in the children's meds section as a rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 It doesn't sound quite like mareks to me; its a bit sudden, although the symptoms do seem to fit otherwise (ie paralysis of wing, leg and feet in that order is the classic presentation followed by complete loss of appetite/inability to eat or drink). I lost a buff orp grower to it several years ago and it took a week or 10 days from noticing something was wrong to death. Anyway, keep her hydrated and fed and I'd do as Egluntyne suggests, go to the vet. I'm not sure what else it could be; could she have damaged a leg jumping up/down/off something or anything falling on her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelleyloveshens Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 No improvement so far and vets not an option with it being bank holiday weekend so I,m stuck till tuesday. She is trying to move and can kick her legs but just can't hold her weight. About a week ago I noticed two very small paper type cuts on the top of her Feet which I only noticed cos of the tinge of blood. I bathed them and put on some wound powder and that was that ..they were so small and insignificant then but I'm now wondering if this is a possible infection. I have just noticed some more blood higher up her leg. Don't know how she is gettin them. The others are fine, all of which are in a pen attached to the coop so there is nothing to hurt themselves on. It's terrible seeing her like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 The others are possibly pecking at her because she is immobile and they will zone in on a chook that is poorly If you plan on leaving her like this till Tuesday then separate her from the others for her own safety, a box or cat carrier in a foxproof shed/garage is fine I'd say it was Mareks personally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 how is she now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 any news about your little hen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Sounds like Mareks to me too - the advance can be quite slow in some cases , or very rapid in others depending on the strength of the hen. How did you get on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
