13 week old chicks walking funny / having trouble standing

[Sarah.Gallitz]

Wanted to update that these little guys seem to have recovered. Tested for Mareks at the vet which came back negative, so not sure what's up with them. Made sure to redo their worming and mite dusting, and they're looking ok. Roos still a little bit wobbly, but the hens all look normal. Just about 20 weeks old now.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi

I would be interested to know what testing they performed to rule out Marek's Disease? What type of sample was tested ie faecal or feather shaft or blood or some other? Was it expensive to have them tested? I've heard that it can now be tested for on a live bird but I'm a bit sceptical as to how reliable the testing is, especially if birds have been vaccinated.
I'm very pleased to hear that they are all improved though. Does that include the worst one that you isolated and posted a photo of. If so, how long was the recovery period and was it suddenly improved or slow steady progress over a period of weeks? Sorry to ask so many questions but just wanting to improve my knowledge so I can best advise others. I'm sceptical about vitamin deficiency as I mentioned in my previous post but perhaps this was indeed a case of it.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would also be careful about a negative Mareks test done by a local vet. The most accurate testing includes a PCR Mareks test on feather shafts and tumor tissue after death. Most people on here that get a diagnosis of Mareks is not usually available until some time has passed while testing in done. I have not ever dealt with Mareks, but I know in the US, some state poultry labs are better than others in diagnosing illnesses. We learn a lot here on this forum when others deal with vets and poultry labs.

 

[Sarah.Gallitz]

Thanks for all the advice.

RE: the test
It was $60 for the test plus the vet consultation fee. She said she was drawing blood for the test but they took him to another room, so not 100% sure. It is a residential avian vet though, as we live in the city I do not have access to a farm vet. I know the test can't be 100% conclusive however when I asked her she said the results would be pretty accurate. I am mostly looking at the test as another piece of information about what it may or may not be. So now I know:
- test indicates probably not mareks
- not one chicken lost
- recovered with administration of vitamins
- no symptoms in adult flock mates

RE: their recovery
The two roos did go down the hardest, the one that I had isolated slowly recovered over about a week to where he could stand. At first he couldn't stand at all, but with additional vitamins, he began to be able to stand if you helped him get up, at first for just 5 minutes, then the next day 15-30, then the next day he'd walk around until he sat down, at which point he just needed help to stand again. He started sitting down against a wall or fence, so he could push himself up. Within 7 days of isolating him, he was able to stand and walk around independently, though he's still a bit wobbly to this day. When we tried to reintroduce him to the flock we had issues with the roos not getting along, so we put him back with the adult flock. However they were not getting vitamins every day. He was fine for 2 weeks then started to show the same symptoms with trouble standing, at which point we popped him back on daily vitamins and he recovered almost immediately (within 1 day). After some integration we've managed to get everyone to get along and now have 1 big flock of 14 chooks. All are now receiving the vitamin supplement with it coming into winter here anyway.

Right now I'm mostly waiting to see what happens when the pullets start laying, as they seem healthy now, while the roos still seem a touch wobbly.

Thanks again for all the advice guys! I am just so glad they seem to be ok (at least for now)