CassieP Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 We have a 12 week old cream legbar we hatched under our broody silkie who unfortunately passed away recently. The legbar recently developed a limp seemingly from nowhere which quickly progressed in her not moving at all, this was on Friday, on Sunday I bought her into the house and put her in a box, she seemed quite well other than not being able to move, eating and drinking, bright eyes and I could find no sign of injury on the 'paralysed' leg or any tenderness that seemed to upset her. I made her up some hard boiled egg, mixed with growers pellets, a bit of honey and some mealworms for a nice protein full meal and I've been putting her in front of her water and encouraging her to drink every morning and when I get back from work and moving her around, also clipped the hair on her bottom to keep it clean, she seems to be going to the toilet a lot and it all looks normal. Rather than improving she is now getting more and more lethargic, if I stroke her or put a treat in front of her (corn) she'll peck it for a bit then her head just slumps forward again Is there anything I can do? And is the rest of my flock likely to be ok? There's 4 more chicks a silkie, 2 pekin bantams and. Polish, same age and I have 2 hybrids and another polish around 14 months old. Please help, Is there anything I can do? Thanks in anticipation Cassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 This is a tricky one If you have a good vet you trust...I'd take your hen in for a once over. It doesn't sound good to me, I lost my 18 month old cockerel to suspected Marek's in dec. Broke my heart and I had to have him PTS on a sun morning He suddenly went down hill (very distressing!!)and the symptoms I had put down to moulting, it being winter and my also having re-located their run and filling it with wood chip (which he hated!!) were throwing my off the true nature of him being "off colour" I have been worried that the rest of my pekins would go down with it as they have been exposed......but so far all good If it is Marek's there is nothing you can do and she will have to be PTS As a preventative measure you should clean any area where she has been housed (it can be transmitted by feather dander) Best wishes and let us know how you and she get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 She needs to be seen by a vet as she has been ill for nearly a week and is getting worse. Click I'd keep her well away from the other hens and continue to observe them for similar symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I agree with the above. There are two types of Marek's - one where they go very quickly and the other 'slow burn' version where they go off their legs and fail to thrive; sounds as if it might be the latter. If this has been going on for a week, then she really ought to have been to the vet by now for a proper diagnosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CassieP Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 The reason I hadn't already taken her to a vet is its often the case that vets rarely know what's wrong with chickens and make for a stressful journey for little done. It may have been kinder to post information that may help rather than referring me to an animal welfare page, my animals have fantastic welfare and I have done everything in my power to make Toffee comfortable and make sure she's got food and water in her, more than a lot of people do with sick poultry. Nevertheless, I took Toffee to the vet earlier (before seeing these posts) and as suspected the vet could give me no answers as to what was wrong with her and just said, yep she looks like she'll die soon. I suggested we perhaps try an injection of antibiotics in case it is an infection of sorts which he did, and if she doesn't improve tomorrow I will take her to be P.T.S. The vet also said I've done everything anyone could have and he doesn't feel she is in any pain. Thanks to the first poster for an informative reply, I'm glad your Perkins are ok, the rest of my flock looks good so at *touchwood* sprinting round the garden happily Ta, Cassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I'm afraid that whilst a chicken-savvy vet will probably know whether it has Marek's or not, it is only positively diagnosed on post mortem, which isn't very helpful I'm afraid that the only recourse if it has Marek's is to have the bird culled. With time, you will gain confidence in treating your birds and will be able to make speedy diagnoses and decisions; as a general rule of thumb though, if it hasn't improved in 36 hours and you're not sure what to do next, then I'd recommend that you take it to a vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Just a thought but sometimes an egg can press on a nerve causing paralysis, probably haven't got anything to lose having a feel up there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CassieP Posted June 21, 2013 Author Share Posted June 21, 2013 She's only 12 weeks so won't be an egg thanks for your suggestion though. My general thought was to treat her the best I could to make her comfortable and hopefully better. She only deteriorated more the day I made the posts so I dont feel any of my decisions have been inexperienced and in time will not change. Had she had other signs I.e iris inflammation I'd of culled immediately however, at first it was just a poorly leg. She actually seems to be improving after I insisted on the injection of antibiotics. Can stay awake for longer and eating a lot so I picked up more today, she also moved both legs when I picked her up earlier, so for the moment im glad my experience has led me to not make a rash decision re culling and I'll see how the next few days on the meds fare. Thanks, Cassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Now don't groan anyone but how about a vitamin supplement. Lack of one can cause neuro symptoms but I can't remember which, I'll look it up in a bit. It's described somewhere on here Link to poultry diseases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Cassie - I've seen two with these symptoms before. One eventually had to be PTS as antibiotics didn't work but the other recovered spontaneously (no idea what was wrong). Fingers crossed that your hen continues to improve with antibiotics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CassieP Posted June 23, 2013 Author Share Posted June 23, 2013 How long did yours take to recover? She can move legs now, not using them but there is movement so the paralysis is obviously losing effect. However, she's still very weak but is eating more still and eating for longer before falling asleep. I'm still wondering if I should be seeing more progress? Giving 0.4ml twice a day of Amoxicillin trihydrate (amoxycare) that the vets gave me, but injection from vets was Tylan 200 so should she perhaps have that instead as I feel improvement was more noticeable the day after the injection. Shall phone the vet again tomorrow. Thanks for the link I'll have a look Kind regards, Cassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
