3 week old bantam cochin with Mareks--H.E.L.P!!!!

[Lilchickmama]

My family and I have ten 3 week old bantam blue Cochin's--truly the sweetest, most precious little birds on the planet. We have fallen in love

Sadly though, my perfect flock now has fallen victim to Mareks, or so I believe.

Yesterday morning I went to check on the babies (as I do at least 20 times a day--LOVE watching them) and to change their water. I noticed one little chick laying all alone and breathing funny. I reached in, picked her up and as I put her down, I noticed that one leg was curled in. She flopped around trying to steady herself on her wings then fell sideways. I can only describe her breathing as if she is choking or gasping for breath. When given food and water she will eat and drink. I started her on antibiotics and electrolytes (in the even that she was dehydrated). As of this morning, she is not walking but will scoot around to drink. She is not gasping for breath as bad as she was last night. She had watery diarrhea last night. As of this morning I have not seen any droppings from her.

I read in a post where this disease does not happen over night, but if this is what my little chicken has, then it actually did, but then again I have never dealt with this before so had no idea of symptoms to watch for. The ONLY other odd behavior I can say she had was the night before she was laying on her side with one leg stretched out--but we thought she just had a full belly and was relaxing. She seemed fine and normal after that. Fluttering around, chirping, eating, and drinking--normal baby chick behaviour.

By the way, these chickens are from a hatchery and were not immunized.

I have several questions--I pray that ya'll can help me or at least put my mind at ease.

By any chance did I happen to catch this in time to save my little chick?
Is there anything else I can do or give her to make her better?
Will her other brothers and sisters develop this? (oh how I hope they do not, such a cruel disease!)
I have 10 more babies being shipped next week, what are the odds that they will "catch" this from these chickens? I didn't opt in to have them immunized either. What do I need to do to ensure that they do not get Mareks?
I don't know if it makes a difference but I have them on medicated feed, so how did this happen?

Being so new to raising chickens and so traumatized by seeing this cruel disease affect this sweet little girl, I am paranoid that my whole flock and next flock will be wiped out by Mareks--I'm stressing a little here!

Any help would be so greatly appreciated and welcomed
Thank you!
Allie

 

[speckledhen]

First of all, you are jumping to conclusions about Mareks. There are numerous things that would cause a chick to act as it's doing, numerous.

I've never immunized any birds for anything, not ever. Never had Mareks in my flock and folks are making a mistake to think Mareks the moment a chick has trouble walking. I have had chicks with slipped tendons and other hock issues that would maybe look like it to someone who had read enough to scare them to death.

I don't know what is wrong with your chick, but if the others are fine, it's probably something confined to that one chick.

 

[Lilchickmama]

All arrows seemed to be pointing toward Mareks, so I took it as such.

She is eating now and has had somewhat solid droppings. Still opening her mouth as though she is gasping for breath. She is somewhat walking, only when you make her move since she acts as though she wants to do nothing but sleep. She either walks backwards or stumbles sideways. Her toes are curled up on both feet. Last night her tongue and feet were pale, today they are pale pink again. yay!

Any clue as to what it could be?

 

[Lilchickmama]

It was Mareks...confirmed by several members of the local 4H poultry club. He was put down last night. Very sad :-(

 

[hannahwren]

How are the other babies doing?

 

[carpenterb120]

I don't know if your baby had Mareks or not. I got my chicks from Cackle Hatchery. One did die with the same problems yours had. It was not Mareks because mine had it's shots. The hatchery said it could be stress or something didn't form right.
I have dealt with Mareks before and it's not good. If your bird had it then all your birds do and have to be put down. I lost all my birds one time thanks to Mareks.
What you need to do is talk with your hatchery first. Is this hatchery reliable...
This is the only way your babies could have Mareks
1. Do you have other chickens?
2. Did you get your chicks from someone who is private with older chickens there?
3. Do you have chickens next door?

My advise would be to always go with a hatchery like Meyer or cackle......etc.
Always get the shots!!!! Your chicks can even get it from your next door flocks.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote: ???

I have my doubts unless they are vets and/or have testing facilities available to them. We've seen plenty of people jump to that conclusion on BYC, too.

 

[welasharon]

I would have at least tried poly vi sol (without iron) one drop per day in the beak and crushed up vitamin B complex tablets in the feed....esp if you are feeding medicated chick starter. Some chicks have trouble processing the B vitamin when eating the medicated feed. It wouldn't hurt to try if you have another do that. I had two that suffered from this. Stumbled and would fall over. Eventually stopped being able to walk, sometimes could scoot and then the feet started curling. After a few days of the vitamins were much better. Now completely recovered.