Old Ex Bat off her feet

[Amy]

Hi folks
As you have proberly gathered from my other post I am having chicken dramas!
I have an ex-bat 'Ruby' who I have had for 2+ years. 4 weeks ago she started to limp then within days was off her feet sat down feeling sorry for herself!
She was being pecked by all the other hens so I have moved her in with the Polish Hens and the Pygmy goats (more protection from elements). The vet whilst looking at my poorly turkey (he's better now!) also looked at her and said she 'thought' it was a virus that had attacked her nervous system as she had very little muscle to her legs and she may recover and she may not....helpful I thought!
For the last 3 weeks I feed her by hand 3x times a day with chick crumbs (more nutrients), layer pellets, warm porridge and mixed corn and she eats like a piglet! She has progressed to standing now and taking a few steps but on her hocks (I think thats what you call them...more like knees!). She can reposition herself when she wants and in a morning I find her roosting on the edge of her nesting box which I think is a good sign?!?!
She seems happy enough...she has her own nesting box, her own special food and water and when it is sunny I put her in the sun so she can sunbathe but I want to get her better.
Can anyone suggest anything as the vet was fairly useless and to be honest, it cost me £90 to get them to come out to look at the turkeys absess so I cant keep hemorraging money...and they think I am bonkers!
Am I being cruel to her?! I try to move her toes and legs every day to keep them from becoming stiff...bit like physio...and whereas I used to hand feed her, I now make her eat herself in a bid to encourage more movement.
It just seems like such a long hard slog I wondered if anyone had any miraculous suggestions as to what it is she has and what I can do to fix her!
Thanks so much!

 

[chrismahon]

Ex -batts have had a hard life anyway Amy, so she could just be worn out. If she is improving I would rule out any neurological problem -I initially though lymphoid lucocsis. Could try one shot of cod liver oil with multivitamins at rate of 0.5mL per Kg bodyweight, on the basis that it's stiff joints. We use that when we haven't a clue why they are run down and it usually works, for whatever reason -a 'little shot of sunshine' we call it. Another 'miracle' cure is half an aspirin -that's the tiny aspirins, not the modern large dose ones. We struggled to find the original size ones -can't remember the dosage and the box is in the bedroom. Vet suggested that and it has worked as an instant pick-up. Started a post about it a while back.

 

[Amy]

When you say multi vitamins is that like poultry tonic or an actual multi vitamin tablet crushed?!?!
When I went to check on her this morning she was actually stood on her feet which is the first time in 4 weeks...normally stands on her knees/hocks so I had a small celebration. She didnt take any steps but standing up proudly has to be a good sign?!?!?
I have some 35mg aspirins...these are the ones where they are so mild you can take them every day...are these the ones you mean? They are normal tablet sized (not seen the tiny weeny ones since I was a child) but rather than being 200mg/500mg they are only 35mg...the ones people take every day after surgery or if they are thinning the blood etc.
Ruby is such a beautiful little thing, I want to do the best I can by her...every little positive improvement sign I see makes all the slog worth while!

 

[chrismahon]

You can get cod liver oil with added multivits in a bottle Amy, rather than capsules. The little aspirins at 35mg are the ones I mean. Everywhere we went only seemed to sell the huge ones.