Wanted - Eglu Cube Mk1 Roosting Bars

[CatsCube]

Hi all, wonder if anyone can help me with a problem.

 

This last week my little sablepoot has developed a walking problem, she is a few months old now and over this last week or so has become increasingly immobile, a first it was just being a bit clumsy and falling over coming out the house in the morning, buy now she is really having difficulty keeping her legs in place and moving around, like they are starting to splay? I can see no obvious problems with her feet, but the last few days she has taken to just sitting all the time to avoid walking and is having to use her wings to help balance her when she does move around.

 

Any ideas on whats happened or if I can remedy this in some way.

[chicken bark]

I hate to mention this but Sabelpoots are prone to Mareks so maybe she has a mild case of it. If so she may well recover. I'd get her to an avian vet and get it checked out.

 

Like you say you have checked her feet and they seem okay. The only other option maybe she has injured her leg. Either way I'd take her to a vet.

[CatsCube]

Eeek I hope not. Although the chick is still within the 25 week age bracket, Im not sure how they would have been able to contract it plus I would have thought some of the other girls would be showing signs too by now. I have 15 chicks out there and its just the Sablepoot having problems. I have just been and inspected her for other signs of Mareks, and her eyes look normal and no sign of lumps, and she is eating happily. She just seems like her legs want to go out to the side when she runs instead of forwards, like she is tripping over herself. I was wondering if taping her legs together a bit like you would a chick would help?

 

Also is it to late at their age to vaccinate for Mareks?

[Redwing]

It sounds like its possibly Mareks, as CB says above Sabelpoots as a breed are very prone to it. It could be that the strain she has come from is not a naturally resistant one or the parents were vaccinated (both will mean that an unvaccinated youngster may well be more at risk)

 

There are a few different sorts with different severity of symptoms so classic symptoms may not display

 

A breeder will always aim for a natually resistant flock rather than vaccinate. The others may not get it depending on a lot of factors but they may well be carriers so you'll have to do some reading and more research to carefully consider your breeding options from here on in.

 

Its too late to vaccinate them I think the vaccination can be given up to 6 weeks old

 

I would get it to a vet just in case its not Mareks. if the bird is PTS and you are seriously considering breeding chickens in the future then it would be worth getting a PM done for your peace of mind.

 

I hope its not Mareks

[CatsCube]

No, I have no further breeding plans, the rest of the flock are all Pekins, its just I took a fancy to the sablepoot and just got the one. If its Mareks is it definatly doomed?

 

What should my course of action be now? Im guessing separating her will be pointless by now, and vaccinations are out, so just wait and see what happens to the rest? If any others are likely to get it how long is it likely before it becomes apparent?

[CatsCube]

Well just to update it looks like we will be losing her today She can no longer walk at all. Today one of the leg joints seems to be swollen and she is flinching when touching it. She is still looking around with interest but just laying down. I have brought her inside in a cardboard box to see out the end of her life in a bit of warmth.

 

Today is not a good chicken keeping day, I have also decided to euthanize our white star as she has has egg peritonitis for a while now which I don't see she is going to get better from.

[Egghead68]

So sorry. It is all bad news on this forum at the moment, it seems.

Edited September 28, 2011 by Guest

[chicken bark]

Sorry.