Very poorly pullet - can't afford vet!!!

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flippasmile

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Hello,

Well there you have it, the advice of this site has probably saved the rest of my flock! - Thanks! :)
However, I don't know what to do now . . .

So I got this new pullet to replace my old one who was killed by Mr. Fox.
She was picked on by the others so I was advised to separate, which I did and worm which I did. I also bought her a little friend as per every ones advice.

Saturday morning I found her on her side, I thought she was dead. She was listless but still alive. She had been fine the night before, playing with her new friend and pecking away at the food. Her poos had been normal.

I fed her poultry spice, ACV, egg and meal worms and she has perked up. She is eating and drinking well now. However, she can't move. When she tries the walk she shuffles backwards and her right wing is droopy and her right leg is curled up. The vet wants 32 pound to see her and I have 20 left til the end of the month because I bought some flubevent and a new friend.

So, do I keep caring for her in the hope that it gets better, her symptoms haven't improved since the initial perk up, or do I dispatch, as she keeps rolling upside down, and I have to turn her the right way up - that's no life for a chook is it?

I am going outside now to completely sterilise everything now. I feel so sad that my beloved Nuggets replacement has gone this way, and I don't really want to kill her myself. But at this point I see no other option. I can't even afford antibiotic medication, just in case it's an infection. I feel stupid for not having enough money to look after my pets and cruel that I am possible prolonging a life that wasn't meant to be.

What can this be, what should I do?
 
In all honesty I do not think it sounds to good for her, possibly Mareks, some sort of neurological problem or even a stroke is not unheard of in chickens.

If she seems healthy in other respects and is eating and drinking, it may be worth making her comfy and seeing how she goes for a day or two but at the end of the day the choice has to be yours.
So sorry that you are in this situation, big hugs to you and chook.
 
Really sorry to hear this, what a terrible thing to happen. As you haven't had her very long, had you thought of contacting the breeder you got her from? It doesn't sound good, and if it's Mareks or some other neurological disease she has probably brought it with her. As you say, a good thing she wasn't too
much with the others.
If you feel she really needs a kind end, the breeder may also be able to
help with this - as chicken keepers we all need to know how to perform this unpleasant task in an emergency but the first time it's best for both you and the bird of you can learn from an experienced person. And I'm sure the breeder wasn't aware she might have been carrying disease, but all the same he or she needs to know, not only for your sake but to protect and observe his own flock. If the breeder can't help maybe a local chicken keeper could assist. Whereabouts are you? Maybe someone on here is nearby.
Just goes to show that quarantine is a good idea- dont feel bad about not taking her to the vet, lots of us have a 'no vet' policy as often little can be done for a badly sick chicken and many vets are not avian specialists anyway.
Meanwhile, keep her separate from the others, warm and ad comfortable as possible, and see how she goes.
 
Oh dear Flippasmile, you are not having much luck! Sounds like a stroke to me, we've had one where her head fell backwards over just a few minutes and she was looking backwards and upside down. She then paniced and we had to despatch her before she injured herself more. The vet can't do anything. She might make a partial recovery but that won't leave her any better off really. Don't think it is Mareks or Lymphoid Lucosis as they are more progressive. So there are no alternatives but to despatch in my opinion.
 
No luck at all at the moment, if only that bloomin fox hadn't ruined my happy little flock!

Well I have contacted the farmer I got her off, and his flock are still all fine and he said that he had wormed them recently anyway, plus my sister in - law got a chicken from the same batch and it is fine and dandy. So . . . I have disinfected EVERYTHING just in case, and I have asked my neighbour (who used to work in a chicken factory) to dispatch. :(

Thanks for making me feel better about not going to the vet and all.

I really just hope that my other chickens are ok, and will be keeping a very watchful eye!

Now I will again have one lonely little pullet but will definitely have to wait until payday for the next little one, and I hope I have a better time of it.

Thank - you all for your advice it has been fab!

Hopefully next time I will be able to post some pics of my new happy little flock. xxx
 
I believe that is a pretty part of the world! Hasn't it got a fancy pier or some such? or that the one that burnt down? Sorry - getting a bit off topic here! :D
 
Sorry to hear the result. Seems there are many occasions when disease seems to be triggered off by a move. So either stress or picking up infection in the new situation that they have no resistance to.
No need to feel any guilt about not going to a vet as the outcome would most likely have been the same.
 
Sorry to hear that you're having a bad time, it sounds like Mareks and although the bird could be quite healthy, stress can trigger it off - sorry -
 
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