Is it too late for a 5 week old splayed leg, if that's the problem??

[Whatheheck]

We have a chick about 4.5 weeks old that has been sick with cocci or ??. We gave it corid and it got a little better but never got back to normal. We tried the vet and worm meds as well. She is now stuck on the ground with barely use of her legs with one extended out and basically useless. It has been this way for days. We of course feel like we failed her but is it too late and time to cull? I can barely get her leg back into a normal position. It appears healthy other wise but has basically been grounded at some level or another for weeks.

As for the new chick that was given(to make up for the sick one), it is now sick as well, we presume cocci, and is immobile. We separated her and are making sure its getting water/food but it looks horribly sick. I cant tell if it is getting splayed legs from being sick and not moving but this one cannot stand at all and is sometimes on its side.

On the brighter side we have one heathy hen form the original pair.

I feel the older one is too far gone but it is possible to splint the legs(Band aid, or rubber band, etc) this late in the game?

I really want to save the little one. Do I splint its legs? I cant tell if its too sick to stand and that will cause the same leg disfunction as the older one??

Any help greatly appreciated, Mahalo

 

[Whatheheck]

I'm trying a splint and vitamins on the older one and antibiotics on the little one. Hope it helps.

 

[korlia]

Have you had a look at the symptoms of new castle disease?

 

[Whatheheck]

I looked up videos of Newcastle but it doesn't look like it. It looks a lot like Marek's. The little one was on its side this morning breathing heavy and twitching a little. There was black thick wet stool that it was laying in and a noticeable rank smell coming from its bin. I may just put it out of its misery as it's been a few days like this.
The older one appears to be doing better with the rubber band straw splint to hold its legs together. It has no other symptoms but not being able to get its legs under itself.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[korlia]

Have you seperated the two from each other? I hope so, if not do so ASAP. Mareks is highly contagious.

Sterilize all your feeders, waterers, etc.


I am also quite new to chickens and I don't know if there is anyone else with some advice.

I am so sorry for what you have to go through it is upsetting, I know.

Best of luck.

 

[Eggcessive]

Splay leg is common, but another leg problem is slipped tendon where one leg is turned outward and lame. Below is a link about leg issues, and how to help fix them. Mareks is contagious, but isolating one after already being in the same area is useless because it is in the dust and dander everywhere in the coop and elsewhere. Your problem sounds similar to Mareks disease with the leg paralysis. What are using for treatment of cocci? Corid (amprollium) is best, then sulfadimethoxine, Sulmet, and toltrazuril is used more commonly in countries outside the US. Corid is not an antibiotic. Exotic Newcastles disease is not found in the US, but is found in other countries. Here are a couple of excellent links on Mareks, and look at the 18 pictures in the first link:
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/502
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[Whatheheck]

Thanks, the sick little one is separated. The older one is with another one but has no symptoms other than the leg weakness from being sick previously. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Whatheheck]

The older one is now walking around pretty good and getting better every day. I am still considering the possibility of slipped tendon but with my rubber band set up on her legs I see her foot almost pointing straight forward and sating underneath her. It appears to be correcting the problem so I'll keep it on for a couple more days. Improvement is amazing.

The little one is a little better and showing slight signs of possibly recovering. We are alternating vitamins and antibiotics. It has not walked for about 10 days and was on its side for most of those. I was going to cull her last night but decided to give her a little more time. I'm trusting my instincts and can tell there is good life still in the little bugger. We may just get her back on her feet again.

Antibiotic is oxytetracycline
Cocci treatment was Corid

From what I understand Cocci would have killed her long ago and probably was not the sickness. Also no bloody poops.
Mareks could be it but should Marek's of killed them. I mean the little may not make it but the bigger one appears to be making a full recovery.

Anyway, thats where we are at.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would place her back with her friends. There is no need to separate her unless they are picking on her. She needs company. I'm glad the rubber band is working, but vet wrap or bandaid/tape would be better. Rubber bands can cut off circulation, and come off. They can be swallowed by inquisitive chickens and cause blockage.

 

[Whatheheck]

I would place her back with her friends. There is no need to separate her unless they are picking on her. She needs company. I'm glad the rubber band is working, but vet wrap or bandaid/tape would be better. Rubber bands can cut off circulation, and come off. They can be swallowed by inquisitive chickens and cause blockage.

We put her in the bin with the other two but in her own small box so she does not get trampled. Hope it cheers her up. The rubber band is loose enough not to cause harm but I would hate to get her better only to have her or another get a rubber band stuck in them. I found some bandaid tape so I'll switch it out if she still needs the extra support.

The little one is about the same today, ugg, almost 2- weeks no walking at all. I'll try some leg exercises when I get home today.