How to rehab injured legs?

marvun22

Songster
7 Years
Jul 8, 2012
680
21
124
North Dakota
I had a chicken that has had partial paralysis (I think, not completely sure) for about a month or two. At first I just had to help her eat or drink and then after I got her to eat or drink I would try to help her get her legs better. But recently I had some family medical problems that distracted me severely and I just now remembered to go on this website and ask for advice.

So how would I rehab her injured legs and help her gain mobility back? Both her legs currently stick out in front of her. How can I get them under her again? And is there any kind of food I could use that gives her leg strength back or gets her to gain more weight (she's lost a decent amount).

Minus the fact that she can't move, she acts normal. Now she eats and makes all your average chicken noises. She flaps her wings a bunch, but I think that's to try to move.
 
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What were her symptoms at first when you noticed her having trouble with her legs? Did she have any toe curling (into a claw,) sitting on her hocks or elbows, or weakness of one or both legs? Did she have a Mareks vaccine? Some chickens can suffer from vitamin or mineral deficiencies that affect the legs, and there are also bone and tendon deformities that get worse with age. I would treat her with a good poultry vitamin daily, and give her some scrambled egg along with boosting her protein with 20 or 24% chick feed or gamebird feed. Mareks disease would be something I would worry about since it can cause paralysis or one or both legs or wings. Here are some links to read about Mareks:
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

Many people will use chicken slings to place the chicken upright--here are some pictures of homemade slings:

LL
LL
59765_pp.jpg
sling+1.png
images
 
Last edited:
What were her symptoms at first when you noticed her having trouble with her legs? Did she have any toe curling (into a claw,) sitting on her hocks or elbows, or weakness of one or both legs? Did she have a Mareks vaccine? Some chickens can suffer from vitamin or mineral deficiencies that affect the legs, and there are also bone and tendon deformities that get worse with age. I would treat her with a good poultry vitamin daily, and give her some scrambled egg along with boosting her protein with 20 or 24% chick feed or gamebird feed. Mareks disease would be something I would worry about since it can cause paralysis or one or both legs or wings. Here are some links to read about Mareks:
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

Many people will use chicken slings to place the chicken upright--here are some pictures of homemade slings:

LL
LL
59765_pp.jpg
sling+1.png
images
She did have a Merek's vaccination. The only original problem was the leg problem. She could sort of move them at first, but then she just lost full mobility. And she wouldn't eat or drink for a while after that, but now she does.
 

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