Misshaped Pupil- Mareks???

seminolewind said:

The only one I had with just a strange eye actually wasted away until he died.  So how is her weight?

Click to expand...

She feels normal, but I'll have to check when I go out today.

The left eye definitely looks like it could be Marek's. However, based on her age and how long you'e had her, if she has Marek's she's probably had it for a long time and is a carrier. If this is the case, your flock has been exposed to the virus and it wouldn't do any good to separate her at this point. At her age it is possible that it could be something else age related. If she is otherwise healthy and happy, I wouldn't worry about her too much. I have a bunch of older hens (close to a dozen) that have been exposed to Marek's for the last 10 months and they are fine.

As for the bird with the leg paralysis - I agree that there are other things that can cause the leg paralysis. Try the vitamins and see if that helps. If she doesn't improve, consider culling her and sending her to the lab for testing. If it is something contagious like Marek's, don't be too terrified! How old are your other birds? A lot of us have Marek's in the coop and find ways to move forward with it. At least there is a vaccine.

I tend to agree with the previous poster who said that it may not be Mareks since the eye is a natural color. Chickens can have odd shaped pipls from other reasons. Most pictures of ocular Mareks have eyes thay turn gray in color. So I would just relax and make sure that she is in the shade and having plenty of cool water to drink, and maybe add a fan to the coop if she is panting due to being overheated.

Kk, thanks! I'll keep an eye on every chicken.

The tips of the back portion of my roosters comb are a dark purple. Is this concerning?

Peep-Chicken said:

Kk, thanks! I'll keep an eye on every chicken.

The tips of the back portion of my roosters comb are a dark purple. Is this concerning

Click to expand...

No its probably a happy male thing. Sometimes their legs get red too.

Peep-Chicken said:

Kk, thanks! I'll keep an eye on every chicken.

The tips of the back portion of my roosters comb are a dark purple. Is this concerning?

Click to expand...

I will occasionally see the back part of a rooster's comb be dark in color, but as long as the majority of the comb is bright red, I wouldn't worry. I think it can be more common with large combs.

seminolewind said:

       No its probably a happy male thing.  Sometimes their legs get red too.

Click to expand...

Eggcessive said:

I will occasionally see the back part of a rooster's comb be dark in color, but as long as the majority of the comb is bright red, I wouldn't worry. I think it can be more common with large combs.

Click to expand...

That's good to hear, thanks!

My rooster's comb turns purple on the end when it gets really hot outside. I have a hen that has the same thing happen. In the morning when it cools off they are completely red again.

I have had a lot of roosters die from Marek's. A couple of them had combs that were totally purple/gray with no pink left to them at all. This is a sign of poor circulation and/or respiratory problems. Recently most of my sick chickens have breathing distress which is probably caused by marek's tumors in the chest or around the heart. The comb does not get redder with treatment or cooler temps.

ochochicas said:

My rooster's comb turns purple on the end when it gets really hot outside.  I have a hen that has the same thing happen.  In the morning when it cools off they are completely red again.

I have had a lot of roosters die from Marek's.  A couple of them had combs that were totally purple/gray with no pink left to them at all.  This is a sign of poor circulation and/or respiratory problems.  Recently most of my sick chickens have breathing distress which is probably caused by marek's tumors in the chest or around the heart.  The comb does not get redder with treatment or cooler temps.

Click to expand...

Thanks!