my silkie can't walk, April 15 2005

[Josh]

Hi,

I have a three year old sweet black silkie that all of a sudden can't stand
up. She is alert, eating, and friendly .... no other signs of anything wrong
at all with her. We have had her in the house for two days - at first
thinking that she was egg bound. Bathed he in warm water....keeping her away
from the flock and any potential harm...she seems to be enjoying it inside.

Her poop is very smelly though. But since we don't usually have chickens in
the house I don't know if that is normal or not. Her left leg seems to be
"out of working order" and although she can kick it when she is held, she
doesn't seem to be able to control it otherwise. Her wings and other leg
work and seem normal.

Is this anything that will get better or is she doomed?

Thanks for any advice...

[KChicken]

How much does it hurt her to move it? I know of a a poultry joint disease that would make her unable to walk on her leg. Often with that disease, the leg might also bleed. Might she have simply broken it?
KChicken

[Strongtower]

I had a weird experiance with this once. Might not be the same. Someone gave me 3 small chicks one time. Well they grew up to be HUGE !! And ugly and the rooster was Mean. Any way, one day I went out to feed and one of the hens was sitting with her legs straight out behind her.

I thought what is she doing. ? She never moved so I went to get her up and she could not stand. I had already seperated these 3 from every body else they were so mean. Finally I just left some food near her and left her alone.

Next day pretty much the same thing, except she would try to scoot around. Went out there off and on all day, and there she sat. I got it in my head she was too fat to get up. This went on for 3 days.

I was not going to fool with her too much since she was NOT a favorite. Finally the heifer got up and was fine till I gave her away. I was to the point she could starve off some fat and walk or sit there and die. I am not saying that is what happened, but that is what happened.

I don't really know what was wrong with her, but these chickens were VERY heavy. Might have been some kind of "eating" bird. Every time I went in the pen I had to take a stick to beat the rooster off me.

Other than that I have never had the problem. Does she try to get around at all? A silkie would be a favorite. Maybe it got pulled out of joint somehow? Sprained? Anything she could have gotten hung up in??

Wish I could be more help..

[KChicken]

Strongtower, your 3 chickens were probably what we buy and eat. I doubt they're meant to live too old and that might be why your chicken became unsturdy. Quite sad.
KChicken

[Disco Chicken]

KChicken said:

How much does it hurt her to move it? I know of a a poultry joint disease that would make her unable to walk on her leg. Often with that disease, the leg might also bleed. Might she have simply broken it?
KChicken

She doesn't seem to be in any pain at all - doesn't squawk when moved or anything....no blood that we have seen at all. She is very light ( not obeise ) and now it seems neither leg is worth a lot.

Again, she can still "churn" her legs when held....but when set down she just "plops down" with the left leg straight out in front of her....very weird. All else is fine. She has to use her wings to "balance" sometimes .... but is eating, drinking, and pooping.

The deal when we got chickens was there would be NO VET BILLS...but she is our only Silkie and a favorite....my four year old thinks she just has a cold and will be better any time...ooof.

Thanks for any help from anyone!

[maxaz1]

Hi-
I would like to know what the outcome of your silkie's predicament is. We have a lovely white hen (Delaware?) who has always been tame and appreciative of any handling, attention, etc., She runs with our dogs - and seems to think she is one of them. Anyway, after being out of town for a few days (someone was coming by to feed all the animals), we found Big Bird (aka Biggie) lying in a mud puddle, with 2 eggs alongside her. One had no shell. She was half-dead - (hot in Arizona now), and her legs were useless. The claws were pulled backward like arthritic hands, and her legs would not stay forward; just stretched out behind her. We cooled her down in a kiddie pool, then dried her and propped her up in a laundry basket with bunched up blankets, so she could stay upright. She pecked at some grapes and tomato pieces I fed her (she would not drink water - so I gave her these to eat), and by morning, was eating and drinking normally. She could not walk, however. Now, a day later, when we put her in the yard, she can stand, and walk some, but is still not her old self. I have a feeling she will recover - continuing to get better.

Maybe the egg without the shell compressed nerves while coming out - it had to be difficult. Or maybe something else? Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Maxine

[Heidicat]

I looked in my chicken health book, and it sounds like it might be Mareks disease. They say:symptoms- maturing birds(6-9 monhts old) stilted gait or lack of coordination, pale skin, wing or leg paralysis (involves nerve);when both legs are paralyzed, one points forward, and the otherpoints back under the body; sometimes rapid weight loss, gaping or gasping, transient paralysis lasting 1 to 2 days[pseudo-botulism form] dehydration, emaciation, coma, death due to inability to get to food and water, and trampling by other chickens.
Percentage afected; 30 - 50 percent in unvacccinated flocks, and less than 5% in vaccinated flocks.
Treatment; none, cull affected birds( unless you are breeding for ressitance);some tumors, particularly those of the feather follicles, clear up and the bird recovers on its own, but survivors are carriers.

I hope that helps some, there is more details, if you want them, and the are other diseases, that resemble what your birds symptoms are. JamesC, is an excellent source of health related concerns as well. Maybe you could send him a message. Best of luck Heidi

[poorfarmboy]

strongtower said:

I had a weird experiance with this once. Might not be the same. Someone gave me 3 small chicks one time. Well they grew up to be HUGE !! And ugly and the rooster was Mean. Any way, one day I went out to feed and one of the hens was sitting with her legs straight out behind her.

I thought what is she doing. ? She never moved so I went to get her up and she could not stand. I had already seperated these 3 from every body else they were so mean. Finally I just left some food near her and left her alone.

Next day pretty much the same thing, except she would try to scoot around. Went out there off and on all day, and there she sat. I got it in my head she was too fat to get up. This went on for 3 days.

I was not going to fool with her too much since she was NOT a favorite. Finally the heifer got up and was fine till I gave her away. I was to the point she could starve off some fat and walk or sit there and die. I am not saying that is what happened, but that is what happened.

I don't really know what was wrong with her, but these chickens were VERY heavy. Might have been some kind of "eating" bird. Every time I went in the pen I had to take a stick to beat the rooster off me.

Other than that I have never had the problem. Does she try to get around at all? A silkie would be a favorite. Maybe it got pulled out of joint somehow? Sprained? Anything she could have gotten hung up in??

Wish I could be more help..

I had the same thing happen to a guinea over the summer. We bought about a dozen adults from a swap meet. A day or so after we got them settled in a pen, the same thing you described happened to this guinea. Her feet were stuck straight back and she did not get up for days it seemed.
Then one day, she was fine, like nothing ever happened.
She was not heavy .. she was average size. I would just love to know what caused that.. it's been bugging me for months.