Drunk, lethargic hens

[chickens really]

A lady I know had a beautiful flock of show quality Orpington and purchased a Cockerel from someone she trusted but neither new that Mereks had infected that ladies flock...All Birds got culled and now they raise goats ...

 

[Newchikntown]

What type of food/treats do you feed?
Photos of your set up?

Give us a little more information - how long before you notice they act drunk and sit around until time of death - 24hrs, a few days, etc.?

Did this happen soon after your last treatment of the Ivermax? Can you have a fecal float performed by your vet?

It's just a guess, but what keeps coming into my mind is Botulism or getting into something toxic. Do they free range - look for anything dead, moldy, maggots or think about if any rat poison, weed killer, etc. has been used that they could have gotten into.

Check your feed for molds, rancid odors and expiration date. It won't hurt to try to start ruling out a few things - maybe buy a new bag of feed - look at the date on the bag and find one that has a date closest to today. You cleaned your water/feed stations, that's good. Provide them with fresh feed only and some poultry vitamins. If you have to give any treats, eliminate the scratch right now and give something fresh - kale, melon, cabbage, etc. This will help you determine if feed/scratch could be the problem. If they range, keep them enclosed in the run for a while. If you have no further problems, then there is something in their environment.


If you lose another one, sending the body to your state lab would be a very good idea
https://cvhs.okstate.edu/oaddl

They don't last 24 hrs after I see them ''moping'', they free range in our city lots only. I lost the first one about 2 months after the first treatment with ivermax. I don't keep enough feed to go bad, I purchase a few bags at a time. I have seen rat traces in the hen house, but I use sticky traps, no poison. We sprayed everything with bleach water this morning to sanitize the area.
What do I treat them to vaccinate from mereks?
Thank you for your help.

I used feed bags for wall paper thinking this would help with the ventilation.

 

[Newchikntown]

Nothing ....Its horrid and a death sentence to many Birds...Some survive as others are carriers...Culling kills the Birds but Mereks will never leave the soil...Can't be treated....

There's NO vaccine??

 

[chickens really]

Only for Chicks the first 24 hours of hatching...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I used feed bags for wall paper thinking this would help with the ventilation.

How much ventilation / air flow do you have?
I don't see any way for ammonia fumes for droppings to exit the coop. If you have all openings closed off with plastic and feed bags, your birds are not getting enough fresh air. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/

You do want to eliminate drafts and protect birds from direct wind, but you need circulation to remove dust and ammonia from the air. Try opening up your coop more to see if there is improvement.

As for Marek's - it's always possible the symptoms you are seeing is due to disease, but re-evaluating their housing would be a very good idea.

 

[junebuggena]

There's NO vaccine??

There is, but it's only effective if given within the first week of hatching. And it doesn't stop them from contracting the disease. It just hides the symptoms and the birds don't seem to get sick. They then become carriers of the disease, and keepers may unknowing spread the disease further. Thats a big reason why many people choose not to vaccinate. We would rather have the flock get Mareks and know about it rather than have it somehow introduced and never know till you add chicks or sell a bird and end up wiping out our flock or someone else's.
Mareks is very serious, and the vaccine has only made it worse.

 

[Sublight]

Nothing ....Its horrid and a death sentence to many Birds...Some survive as others are carriers...Culling kills the Birds but Mereks will never leave the soil...Can't be treated....

Never? You can NEVER get rid of it?

 

[junebuggena]

Never? You can NEVER get rid of it?

Used to be that after a few years, you could have birds again. The vaccine has led the virus to mutate to superbug level. It's now a permanent illness.

 

[chickens really]

It's brought into flocks by wild birds...Our clothes, shoes, car tires etc....No flock is immune to the disease...

 

[chickens really]

The vaccine is not the cause though....
Anyways test a dead Bird to be sure of what your dealing with....