2 month old welsummer pullet sick, is it mareks?

[casportpony]

Quote: I hope you know I'm *not* suggesting euthanizing her, and if she were mine, I'd try my best to provide supportive care, vitamins, fluids, etc. and hope that she got better
.

-Kathy

 

[steph5253]

Thank you all, I really appreciate the support. She is actually a bit worse tonight and I am kind of shocked after so long with no change. I still hoped she would start getting better and i had seen the worst. She is having a hard time sitting straight and her neck is drifting to the right- the side she is leaning. I made a nest for support out if a blanket and some fresh pine shavings and she is resting. She still eats and trills at me when I come near... I will keep on caring for her for as long as needed

 

[steph5253]

Sorry you're going through this, I know how hard it is. If you decide you want to tube feed I can teach you and I'm available by phone.

-Kathy

Thanks she is eating okay but I am supplementing once a day with a syringe and she is receptive and swallows well. If that changes then I may start tube feeding...

 

[casportpony]

Do you have a kitchen or postal scale that you can weigh her with? She probably needs more water. The amount I give mine is ~ 30ml/kg every 6-8 hours.

-Kathy

 

[Nambroth]

That's the funny part about aspergillosis. You don't need respiratory symptoms.

Absolutely true. Thank you for the reminder, also, as I've updated my FAQ to stress this fact. When I was researching it, I was surprised by how easy it is for aflatoxins to grow on grain (especially corn and peanuts) and that the FDA allows for a greater amount of aflatoxins in corn in years of poor harvest (due to drought, etc). That's just the stuff they catch, of course. And does not count the aflatoxins that grow after the corn is ground and bagged for sale in feeds. The fact that more chickens don't become ill from/die from aspergillosis is actually a testament to the strong immune systems of our birds.

 

[seminolewind]

Nambroth, I had moved my feed can of sweet feed out of the coop and under a carport. Maybe I should move my can of layer out there as well. It must be at least 10 degrees difference if not more.

 

[steph5253]

Absolutely true. Thank you for the reminder, also, as I've updated my FAQ to stress this fact. When I was researching it, I was surprised by how easy it is for aflatoxins to grow on grain (especially corn and peanuts) and that the FDA allows for a greater amount of aflatoxins in corn in years of poor harvest (due to drought, etc). That's just the stuff they catch, of course. And does not count the aflatoxins that grow after the corn is ground and bagged for sale in feeds. The fact that more chickens don't become ill from/die from aspergillosis is actually a testament to the strong immune systems of our birds.

You mentioned grains and I did not think of that aspect. I know some nasty stuff can grow on them if not treated correctly. I have been sprouting grains for scratch and fodder, could this have made her sick? I rinse twice a day but I have only been doing this a few months, I am not sure if I am doing it correctly. I followed the directions of a friend.

No I am worried I made her sick

 

[steph5253]

Do you have a kitchen or postal scale that you can weigh her with? She probably needs more water. The amount I give mine is ~ 30ml/kg every 6-8 hours.

-Kathy

I am not sure how much she's getting on her own but I should probably be giving more then. She is pretty small and even smaller since she got sick. Unfortunately I do not have a scale to weigh her on. I will just increase water to three times a day just to make sure she's getting it.

 

[steph5253]

Update for this morning:
She seems to be doing better than last night. And back to the same she was before. I don't know what happened last night but she's doing better. Other than that no change

 

[cjpines]

I am sure this is on here a lot, and I have done my research, but I am still at a loss!! Maybe mareks, botulism, electrolyte imbalance, worms....

My 9.5 week old welsummer pullet is not able to walk since yesterday. She sits on her hocks and sometimes waddles. She started out looking wobbly three or four days ago. I finally realized something was really up three days ago and separated her with her chick feed and vit water. She was still spunky and eating and drinking. She has progressively gotten worse. Now she can't stand at all and she mostly sits on her hocks and waddles to where she needs to go. It doesn't seem like she is eating and drinking as much either, though she does not seem super lethargic.
This am I took her out of her hospital cage and she took the biggest poop I have ever seen, like she was holding it all night and let it go the minute I took her out so she would not sit on her own poop ( though now she has pooped and sat in it). It was about an inch by 4 inches, then she went again. Warning pic of poop coming, let me know what you think:
First big poop, 1x4 inches!!

A min later poop, smaller 1/2 inch by 1.5 inches


It looks as though she is losing use of her legs, or she doesnt have the energy to use them (except she does move and kick when i pick her up). Seems She has gradually weakened over the past few days but legs are not flaccid and toes are not curled. Both feet are kept under her, so no stereotypical leg forward as seen in mareks. SHE HAS BEEN VACCINATED. Though I know she can technically still get mareks it is not as likely.

Here are pics of her today




I will mention two important things: one, I thought she seemed wobbly a few weeks ago but could not be sure and she seemed fine since. Two, I had another older pullet get wobbly and stop eating about a month ago. This pullet was wobbly but never lost use of her legs. She just stumbled a lot. She was better within 2-3 days of feed and vitamins. This seems different. Take a look at the post about that chicken: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...e-and-lethargic-not-eating-help#post_13505895

Please help!

My 16 week old Araucana had the same exact symptoms except she layed on her side. I tried everything mentioned here. After a few days she seemed to improve, but then went downthill. Took her to the vet and she had Marek's. Vet said there are many strains and symptoms and no blood test could tell if it was Marek's. So we had the vet put her down.

I you can take her poop to the vet for examination, or take her in. That's the only way to tell what can be the problem. I feel for you, it's saddening.