This sounds like bad news. Check the foot to make sure there is no foreign body or mess accumulation that is making her limp, ie bumblefoot. If it isnt this, it is more likely to be what one of my silkie bantams developed- I cant put a name to it and it may well be viral, or related to Mareks disease in some way, and may well be a demyelinating disease like the chicken equivalent of multiple sclerosis. I am not a vet, and even vets dont know a lot about chicken ailments.
My poor silkie became increasingly lame only a few weeks after I aquired her, and I had to separate her from the others because they were picking on her dreadfully. Her illness was episodic and over a period of about 6 months she was alternately so lame she couldnt stand and sometimes almost limp free and doing well. However, I had her from 16 weeks and she never came into lay, unlike the other I had at the same time who did well. One day when she was relativley limp free and wandering around quite happily she just keeled over sideways and died. Please keep us informed of how yours gets on. I dont think its infectious.
Mareks disease or Range Paralysis as its known in the States manifests itself in many ways, lameness is just one of them. It is a viral disease and there is no recovering from it. Certain breeds of chickens seem very prone to it and Silkies certainly fall into that category.
Lets hope that this chicken has merely strained a muscle or perhaps has a foreign body in the foot.
Mareks is a progressive illness and the next stage maybe that the bird develops a drooping or dropped wing. If it does this, I'm afraid its curtains.
Alchemist
Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 123 Location: Aberdeenshire
Posted: Wed Apr 04, 07 9:06 am Post subject:
I lost a Silkie Cock after him suffering a similar complaint. I didn't know what it was and assumed that the limp was simply over-exertion as there was no apparent damage and he appeared in otherwise excellent health. He'd had a limp for a while last year which got better, but last Wednesday the poor thing just keeled over. He was eating, working, and crowing, etc right up until the end. None of the other birds show any sign of any ailment.
as there was no apparent damage and he appeared in otherwise excellent health. He'd had a limp for a while last year which got better, but last Wednesday the poor thing just keeled over. He was eating, working, and crowing, etc right up until the end. None of the other birds show any sign of any ailment.
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