Vitamin B2 deficiency?

[Chickenllady]

Have a hen tonight (3yo approximately, Speckled Sussex) who I found on the ground in the coop. After looking her over I found she had her feet curled in and couldn't really walk much. I separated her from the others, thinking at first maybe the roos had had their way with her (poor thing) and had been too rough, but she still isn't doing much and I'm thinking it's a riboflavin/b2 deficiency. In which case, I just need some help on the best treatment method. What method would be best (i.e injection, tablets, liquid drops) and can anyone give me the correct dosages? Thanks in advance!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would get some super b complex tablets and give her 1/2 tablet daily crushed into food or a bit of water, or orally whole. If it is riboflavin deficiency, it should improve within a week or two. Tumors, Mareks disease, internal infections, injuries, and salpingitis can affect nerves in the legs which could cause similar problems. Hopefully, she will start to improve, but make sure that she gets enough food and water by feeding her a couple of times a day. A chicken sling for periods throughout the day can get her up and help her get food and water. The first 2 pages of this thread has some good designs:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[Chickenllady]

I would get some super b complex tablets and give her 1/2 tablet daily crushed into food or a bit of water, or orally whole. If it is riboflavin deficiency, it should improve within a week or two. Tumors, Mareks disease, internal infections, injuries, and salpingitis can affect nerves in the legs which could cause similar problems. Hopefully, she will start to improve, but make sure that she gets enough food and water by feeding her a couple of times a day. A chicken sling for periods throughout the day can get her up and help her get food and water. The first 2 pages of this thread has some good designs:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

Just wanted to say thank you for this! I am having an issue with a rooster with riboflavin deficiency right now so this is coming in handy. Luckily the hen from before perked up the bext morning, so my guess being that the roos were rough with her must have been right. That plus the heat must have taken a toll on her. Sending a bunch of the boys to new homes!

 

[Eggcessive]

When I was hatching some, it was always chaotic with the young cockerels starting to mature. They would drive the hens and pullets crazy running around. It is always a good idea to have a plan for the extra cockerels, either to separate them to a grow out pen for butchering, or rehoming them. I finally stopped hatching, and just get female chicks from hatcheries.

 

[Chickenllady]

When I was hatching some, it was always chaotic with the young cockerels starting to mature. They would drive the hens and pullets crazy running around. It is always a good idea to have a plan for the extra cockerels, either to separate them to a grow out pen for butchering, or rehoming them. I finally stopped hatching, and just get female chicks from hatcheries.

It's definitely chaotic. I have around 200 chickens, separated into four massive coops. The older roos do good at keeping the younger ones in line when they're cooped up, but when they free range It's a problem. Thankfully I have resources and only keep roos for their temperament usually. I have people that will buy the roos off of me if I have extras at the end of hatching season.. and I definitely do, because I always have WAY too many broody hens!

 

[RoyalChick]

I had a chick with curly toe paralysis.
Here is her thread.

Thread '3-week old chick with a bad leg - any advice please'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-week-old-chick-with-a-bad-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/

Things I learned:
- vitamin B2 is safe. The vet said not to worry about overdose, and I ended up giving her even more than an adult human
- it takes time. If you wade through her thread you will see i nearly gave up and had her euthanized
- they seem to like vitamin B2 - i mixed it into mash and eventually the whole flock were fighting to get the yellow mash first!
- both capsules and drops are very easy to add to mash
- physical therapy to keep the joints from seizing up is a good idea. As is protecting the foot from getting sores. I used a boot to hold her foot in the correct position (or close)
Good luck!

 

[Chickenllady]

I had a chick with curly toe paralysis.
Here is her thread.

Thread '3-week old chick with a bad leg - any advice please'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-week-old-chick-with-a-bad-leg-any-advice-please.1519956/

Things I learned:
- vitamin B2 is safe. The vet said not to worry about overdose, and I ended up giving her even more than an adult human
- it takes time. If you wade through her thread you will see i nearly gave up and had her euthanized
- they seem to like vitamin B2 - i mixed it into mash and eventually the whole flock were fighting to get the yellow mash first!
- both capsules and drops are very easy to add to mash
- physical therapy to keep the joints from seizing up is a good idea. As is protecting the foot from getting sores. I used a boot to hold her foot in the correct position (or close)
Good luck!

Thank you for this!

The roo i'm dealing with right now seems to be improving a ton. I'm doing vitamin b-complex, selenium and vitamin e once a day for him. In the beginning he couldn't stand and I had to tube feed him to be sure he wouldn't starve, but today he's able to eat and drink on his own and is even lively and crowing again. He will even stand for a while, but eventually gets off-balance and wobbles around like he's tipsy, haha. I try to make sure he at least attempts to walk around every day so he keeps muscle in his legs - plus, he always seems eager to go out when I open his cage anyway, despite his condition.

 

[Eggcessive]

So glad to hear that your rooster is improving. Thanks for the update.

 

[RoyalChick]

Thank you for this!

The roo i'm dealing with right now seems to be improving a ton. I'm doing vitamin b-complex, selenium and vitamin e once a day for him. In the beginning he couldn't stand and I had to tube feed him to be sure he wouldn't starve, but today he's able to eat and drink on his own and is even lively and crowing again. He will even stand for a while, but eventually gets off-balance and wobbles around like he's tipsy, haha. I try to make sure he at least attempts to walk around every day so he keeps muscle in his legs - plus, he always seems eager to go out when I open his cage anyway, despite his condition.

Good to hear.
Just be careful with the vitamin E and selenium. Unlike the B complex which you can’t really overdose, I believe you can get toxic levels of Vitamin Evans selenium.
Worth checking that out. I don’t know a lot about it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Selenium is found in a bit of cooked egg daily, and supplementing more is not necessary. It can be overdosed. 400 IU of vitamin E can be helpful for neurological issues for a couple of weeks.