Not an Emergency...Marek's in the Flock

[tridentk9]

Since the mareks diagnosis, I've been doing a lot of tumeric (by a lot, I mean a spice jar in the 12 cups of feed, so maybe that isn't "alot") and garlic weekly.  They finishe the 5 day course of corid today, so tomorrow I'll be adding buttermilk, yougurt, and brewers yeast.  

I don't know if chickens are the same but I would guess they're at least similar. From the article I posted on dogs .....

Bromelain/Curcumin:

Bromelain is an extract of pineapple stems which has the property of decreasing circulating immune-complexes. As such, there is no Western medicine which is its equal. Since many of the complications and the direct initiation of the immune damage may be caused by the elevated immune-complexes in DM, bromelain may be an important key in helping to control the progression of DM. Curcumin (the yellow pigment of turmeric plants) is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Bromelain and curcumin have a synergistic effect whereby they assist the absorption of each other from the gastrointestinal tract, increasing their potency. As such, they should be given together. Many health food stores carry combinations of bromelain and curcumin. For dogs with DM, give 400-500 mg of bromelain with 500-400 mg of curcumin twice a day. (Curcumin is found in low concentrations in the spices turmeric and yellow mustard. As such, it is possible to replace the "capsule" form by adding 1-2 Tbs of turmeric and 1-2 tsp of dry yellow mustard to the diet.)

 

[Haunted55]

I do believe that putting chicks with Turkeys that carry Marek's does work-theoretically. Problem is trying to get the chicks exposed to turkeys prior to them being exposed to Marek's carrying chickens. Or turkeys carrying chicken Marek's dander.

The goal is always the same. Getting chicks to build resistance safely prior to being exposed to the Marek's that is deadly to them . How does one expose chicks to turkeys that aren't covered in exposed-chicken dander?

Actually Seminole, from what I see here, it doesn't matter if they are exposed or not. I wasn't trying to immunize babies from the disease. That here is impossible. What is happening is birds that I know are infected and not just exposed, are actually living normal lives. Paralysis and or stumbling gait? Gone. No Ocular at all. Just normal birds. There is something about the constant exposure that is working here. As for the dander, since that isn't the only means of transmission, I think that's a small issue. Turkeys make a lot more of it than chickens do just by being so much larger. Even using the same waterers and feeders, there is nothing showing. As I said, would this work for everyone? No clue, all I'm doing is reporting in something that's going on here. The semantics of it all are another issue that would mean a lot of investigation. So many questions, but not for today.

 

[lalaland]

Trident, thanks for the info on bromelain and the cucurmin. thats interesting!

and haunted55, after reading your posts, I know its time to go get more turkey litter to spread in the run. I'll have to give some thought to raising turkeys, but what the heck do you do with them? do you raise them for meat? (apologies in advance if that idea is upsetting)

 

[lalaland]

oh, I wanted to say that I finished the corid on Saturday, and I'm happy to report that all droppings are looking normal now - no intestinal lining being shed. Its amazing how much diff it made and so fast. Now if it would just get above freezing to make it easier to give the flock buttermilk and yogurt - but I'll be home in daylight Fri. During the week I leave home so early in the dark that I think it would freeze before daylight.

 

[LolaChick]

predictable and depressing update today on the 15 week old remaining hatchmate of the cream legbar i lost two weeks ago to marek's. she was looking great until sunday, two weeks to the day the first one presented with symptoms. sunday she was quiet and seemed depressed, but nothing else i could put my finger on. monday morning, she seemed to be struggling to breathe.... when she walked around too much, she would open mouth breathe and at one point even started gaping. after what we had just been through with the first one, i took her to the avian vet first thing monday. positive fecal for roundworms. positive sputum for bacteria. wanting to decide whether to euthanize (for suspected marek's affecting lungs) but not wanting to euthanize if it wasn't that, we x-rayed. yes, i'm the lady who x-rays a chicken. i hear what i'm saying but whatever, they're pets for me. anyway, x-ray was negative. YAY! great news. started antibiotic for the bacterial pneumonia, apparently started by the juvenile stage of roundworms that were compromising the lungs. did injectable dewormer for the rounds. all of this was at vet. vet monitored chicken overnight, gave her a 60/40% chance of making it if the drugs could start helping before breathing became more compromised. guess what? not fast enough. her breathing never improved, and she died yesterday (tuesday) afternoon, still at the vet. and it's an avian specialist, she was getting excellent care, so that was not the problem. just couldn't get enough air. sooooo, never did have a marek's diagnosis on this one. passed on the necropsy since the sister had already tested positive. but even the vet said that it was a strong possibility the marek's virus set the bird up for very low resistance to the rounds and subsequent lung infection. sigh. might have to go get myself a turkey, too. geez. no sign of anything with the remaining (and much older) flock members.

 

[jgoldy2]

oh, I wanted to say that I finished the corid on Saturday, and I'm happy to report that all droppings are looking normal now - no intestinal lining being shed. Its amazing how much diff it made and so fast. Now if it would just get above freezing to make it easier to give the flock buttermilk and yogurt - but I'll be home in daylight Fri. During the week I leave home so early in the dark that I think it would freeze before daylight.

Ya ho exciting lalaland

 

[lalaland]

lolachick, I'm so sorry to hear about your pullet.

 

[LolaChick]

thank you so much! so am i. she was my favorite of my six chickens even though she was newer. super sweet and talkative and always up on my shoulder or in my lap.

 

[KAT Bird]

predictable and depressing update today on the 15 week old remaining hatchmate of the cream legbar i lost two weeks ago to marek's. she was looking great until sunday, two weeks to the day the first one presented with symptoms. sunday she was quiet and seemed depressed, but nothing else i could put my finger on. monday morning, she seemed to be struggling to breathe.... when she walked around too much, she would open mouth breathe and at one point even started gaping. after what we had just been through with the first one, i took her to the avian vet first thing monday. positive fecal for roundworms. positive sputum for bacteria. wanting to decide whether to euthanize (for suspected marek's affecting lungs) but not wanting to euthanize if it wasn't that, we x-rayed. yes, i'm the lady who x-rays a chicken. i hear what i'm saying but whatever, they're pets for me. anyway, x-ray was negative. YAY! great news. started antibiotic for the bacterial pneumonia, apparently started by the juvenile stage of roundworms that were compromising the lungs. did injectable dewormer for the rounds. all of this was at vet. vet monitored chicken overnight, gave her a 60/40% chance of making it if the drugs could start helping before breathing became more compromised. guess what? not fast enough. her breathing never improved, and she died yesterday (tuesday) afternoon, still at the vet. and it's an avian specialist, she was getting excellent care, so that was not the problem. just couldn't get enough air. sooooo, never did have a marek's diagnosis on this one. passed on the necropsy since the sister had already tested positive. but even the vet said that it was a strong possibility the marek's virus set the bird up for very low resistance to the rounds and subsequent lung infection. sigh. might have to go get myself a turkey, too. geez. no sign of anything with the remaining (and much older) flock members.  

Sorry for your loss. Marek's is a heart breaking disease, especially when they are your pets.

And just so you know you aren't crazy for x-raying a chicken. I have an appt tomorrow to get one x-rayed. I've also had theraputic laser therapy done for a distended crop (it worked remarkably well).

Here is a photo of Hazel getting ready for her laser treatment with my vet. She has to wear sunglasses to protect her eyes.

 

[LolaChick]

yes! i love it! i'm not the only one who goes all out on chicken care! have a great night.