2 month old welsummer pullet sick, is it mareks?

[steph5253]

Oh, forgot to mention when I talked with our poultry person he had a bird who stopped walking, he said he did physical therapy (massaging) her legs.  Now she up and running.  If I'd known this I would of tried it on Arabelle.  Worth a try if it's not painful.

I don't know what he did for PT but I have been stretching her legs and wings and doing some massage when I give her a look over everyday. Thanks for the info!

 

[steph5253]

Update for today:

She has been looking worse and then better on and off lately. She looks as she did before she got worse as of now. Though she is now pooping on herself. I had to trim some feathers but it is still sticking as she is pooping where she sits.
She is eating (but won't eat her crumble or mash (?) and I have been seeing her drink more on her own which is great. She is fighting her syringe feeds now though. I guess it is good that she is spunky.
She can move less now. Her right foot is worse than the left, and she sits tilted towards the right and uses the left foot to balance.

So still in limbo...

 

[steph5253]

Another worry, we are leaving for a trip to see family in Canada in a week and we will be gone for three weeks! I don't know what I am going to do. I don't have anyone I can ask to care for her and the person taking care of the other chickens when I am gone is already doing me a favor :-(

 

[cjpines]

Another worry, we are leaving for a trip to see family in Canada in a week and we will be gone for three weeks! I don't know what I am going to do. I don't have anyone I can ask to care for her and the person taking care of the other chickens when I am gone is already doing me a favor :-(

Oh gosh. is there anyplace you can board her? But, then she would be lonely. Maybe put up a flyer at a feed store and see if anyone would take her in. Or maybe someone who works for a feed store would care for her at their place if they have chickens and a separate area and take a friend to go with her. It may cost you, but she's worth it.

 

[cjpines]

I don't know what he did for PT but I have been stretching her legs and wings and doing some massage when I give her a look over everyday. Thanks for the info!

Yap, that's what he did as he said, stretching and massage.

 

[cjpines]

Oh gosh. is there anyplace you can board her? But, then she would be lonely. Maybe put up a flyer at a feed store and see if anyone would take her in. Or maybe someone who works for a feed store would care for her at their place if they have chickens and a separate area and take a friend to go with her. It may cost you, but she's worth it.

I wasn't thinking, anyone with chickens probably won't want to take care of her not knowing what she may have that may be contagious.

Try asking the person who's doing a favor if they would treat her, with pay if that helps. Or hire a chicken sitter.

 

[steph5253]

I

I wasn't thinking, anyone with chickens probably won't want to take care of her not knowing what she may have that may be contagious. 

Try asking the person who's doing a favor if they would treat her, with pay if that helps.  Or hire a chicken sitter.

I was thinking that while reading your message, no one will want exposure.

The person taking care of the chickens will come by once a day and that's enough on her plate as she has three kids full-time and the youngest is only six months. I cannot ask her to come multiple times during the day to give her water, and make sure she's comfortable in her nest, and make sure she's eating and drinking… Not to mention cleaning off her bottom now

I don't know about hiring a sitter either because I don't want random people in my home that I don't know.

Seems a little hopeless right now....

 

[cjpines]

I
I was thinking that while reading your message, no one will want to exposure.

The person taking care of the chickens will come by once a day and that's enough on her plate as she has three kids full-time and the youngest is only six months. I cannot ask her to come multiple times during the day to give her water, and make sure she's comfortable in her nest, and make sure she's eating and drinking… Not to mention cleaning off her bottom now

I don't know about hiring a sitter either because I don't want random people in my home that I don't know.

Seems a little hopeless right now....

For your last hope, could you find a avian veterinarian who may board her and care for her? I know weekends would be hard unless they have someone on duty, but worth a couple of phone calls and maybe, they may have other options for you that we may not know about.

 

[seminolewind]

Take her with you

 

[Nambroth]

I know many avian vets have boarding facilities that will board birds like this-- If she was the only chicken they have at the time there may not be a worry for exposure. It might be worth calling around to find out.

You mentioned that she has a lot of pinfeathers coming in.. it sounds like she is going through a partial or 'soft' molt. It might be worth keeping in mind that during this time the body is under more stress than usual, and diseases (including Marek's) LOVE stress... because it means the immune system is not always at the top of its game. It might explain her swings from doing well to not. A little extra quality protein could possibly aid her right now.