Peculiar Poultry

We had the pleasure of treating a rooster at the clinic just the other day.  He was a beautiful bird with shiny black feathers and a bright red comb, a show quality bird, but there was one peculiar thing about him.  He sat splay legged in his pen with his head tucked under his chest.  His neck was so weak and limp that he could barely lift it.  The owner explained that it was a perfectly healthy bird and had just started having problems a couple weeks ago, but had gotten progressively worse.  The vet examined the rooster and determined that an injury was not the cause of the problem.  He concluded that it must be due to a vitamin deficiency.  One common deficiency often seen with chickens is riboflavin deficiency.  It can be seen rarely in adult birds, but is most commonly seen in young, growing chicks and is often referred to as curled-toe paralysis due to paralysis and disfigurement of the extremities.  Sitting splay legged and hock-resting postures are also often seen.  The owner was sent home with some riboflavin suspension to give the bird by mouth for 7-10 days, in hopes that the bird would be well and 4-H fair ready within a couple weeks.