Our dear Riky was acting funny last week, laying eggs on floor of coop instead of in nesting box and spending most of her time on floor of coop. We are new to raising hens I thought maybe she had gone broody. By sat. morning it was apparent that she could not move legs but can flap her wings. I took her to vet, xrays were done to rule our possible trauma caused by the pouncing 6 month old puppy or metal posoining, showed nothing. Dr suggested bacterial meningitis and we are giving her another antiobiotic as of monday evening and as of today no improvement. Does anyone have any experience with something like this. I don't want her to suffer needlessly, she seems pretty frustrated as is her partner. Thanks for any advice on getting her well or opinions on ending her legless life.
8 months old hen with paralized legs,working wings
I have no idea, but I googled Hen Paralyzed Legs and found a few sites.
http://www.raising-chickens.org/chicken-leg-paralysis.html
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=18418
This site says: http://ezinearticles.com/?Keeping-Your-Backyard-Chickens-Healthy---Common-Chicken-Diseases-To-Watch-For&id=4092370
Marek's Disease - A Deadly Viral Condition
Marek's Disease is a fairly common viral disease of chickens that is very hard to eradicate. It can live for a long time in your chicken coop and survive harsh conditions. It can be spread by you from chicken to chicken or spread through dust and feather dander.
This disease usually strikes the white blood cells of young chickens. This causes cancer to develop. You may become aware of the condition when you notice a chicken with paralyzed legs, wings, or neck. The afflicted chicken can have other symptoms as well like weight loss, breathing difficulties, and diarrhea. Marek's Disease cannot be treated or cured. Luckily your chicks can be vaccinated and spared suffering from this condition. Always vaccinate your birds or buy chicks that have already had their vaccinations.
Marek's sounds terrible. I sure hope it isn't that.
Many of the other people on here know much more about chickens than I do. Maybe they can offer something else.
It could be Marek's. I have not found it to spread. I've never had more than one chicken affected at a time. What breed is your hen? Some seem more susceptible than others.
That says the virus cannot be cured. However I know of herbs, like greek oregano that reportedly do kill viruses. I'm not an expert though. I do know there are some powerful herbs, and colloidal silver, they say that kills viruses.
I say that, yet when I get a cold or flu, I can't control it.
Sounds like Mereck's for sure. Sometimes they recover, so all is not lost yet. Some breeds are more prone to it than others. There is really not much you can do.. I'm sorry to hear it. We have all been through it.. :( Hard to take.
Krfleet, I hope your little Riky is doing better. It's so stressful when our pets are ill.
Thanks everybody, unfortunately we decide to put Riky to sleep on Sat. She had been on second antibiotic for 5 days with no improvement and we felt it was better for her. We did give her lots of cracked corn so her last days were as good as possible. Agnes will be alone a few days, hoping to get two more pullets tomorrow. Had no idea loosing a chicken would be so sad. She was such a character, as they all are!
I'm sorry Krfleet. I know how hard it is to loose one of our dear chickens.. they do have a special personality, each and every one. I'm sorry for your loss.
I`m sorry to its hard to loose a chicken especially if you only have a few you get very attached.
So sorry for your loss. It was unselfish of you to ease her suffering. It speaks volumes of how much she meant to you.
Thanks for sympathetic messages, it helps!
Sorry for your loss,krfleet! Your story reminds me of my own experience many years ago. A red hen, maybe a Rhode Island, suddenly couldn't walk but seemed fine in every other way. It was winter and there wasn't any other place to put her so I put a pile of straw in a metal basket and settled her in my Mom's porch. We lived on the same farm. Between Mom and I we offered feed and water many times a day, cleaned her nest and gave her lots of attention. Even collected several eggs from her. It took a few weeks, but she eventually recovered and returned to the flock. The local vets suggested I put her down, they don't know squat about chickens. Not many people can invest that much time and effort in one chicken. But Mom had the best time fussing over her. Any guests had to be introduced to the hen before they could get into her house. Thanks for reminding me of a wonderful memory of my sweet, gentle Mother.
Ghopper you made my morning. Thank you.
ghopper, just now reading your message, made my day too! Thanks for sharing a great memory.
Our Agnes died on Friday, seems like same thing got her as Riky but she was only sick one day. I noticed Thursday night that she was wobbly and quiet and Friday morning she was dead. I felt so sad for not having spent more time with her thursday night. I just sat outside her coop and sobbed and sobbed. Did not want to call my husband at work and get him upset so early in day. We did get thre pullets about a month ago but I have not named them and have remained distant, I can't go throught this again. I just might not be suited to having pet hens. I am so worried that the new girls will succumb to whatever killed Riky and Agnes.
So sorry to hear of your loss. I just lost a hen, one of 10 that are 4 years old now. She looked "off" for a couple of days. Found her near death a couple of nights ago. Moved her to the barn so she could die in peace. My girls aren't really pets, they make eggs for a living, but they are quite tame. They always make me smile. Just hate losing them.
Kerfleet, what breed were they? You might want to get a breed that is a little more resistant to Mereck's.. it's very common, and if you have chickens you take that risk. Just know that the life they did have with you was a good one, and they came to know love.
It is very hard to have chickens, they have a relatively short life and sometimes it seems the odds are against them from day one.
Don't give up.. there are chickens out there that need the love you have to offer!