6 weeks old chick with Marek's?

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

Paralyzed right leg, unable to stand. Doesn't look good.

Never had a baby chick with Marek's. Should I isolate her? Let nature run its course? She has a little sister showing no symptoms at all and still handing with her mom Mrs Yvette (she pops in mid video).

Sucks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've had them that young with Mareks. I generally give them a week or so to see if they improve. If they worsen I assume Mareks and cull. An injury should improve or stay about the same. You could always try vitamins, but in my experiences they don't help.

 

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

I've had them that young with Mareks. I generally give them a week or so to see if they improve. If they worsen I assume Mareks and cull. An injury should improve or stay about the same. You could always try vitamins, but in my experiences they don't help.

Good point... had some success with massive B vitamins injections with older hen but not so sure about a tiny wet napkin like this one. I'll quarantine him in the "nursery coop" tonight, food and goodies, calm, see what happens.

On the positive side, looks like hawks aren't lurking anymore... feel bad but he was laying in the middle of the yard for hours with no takers... hoping for a "resolution".

Thank you @oldhenlikesdogs (they do ), much appreciated.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always hope vitamins will work, but so far I haven't been successful.

It's hard to watch them struggle when they are so small and even harder to decide to cull so I always take my time before making that decision. If course you don't want to take too long either as an active Mareks bird is shedding the virus.

I have Mareks in my flock. It seems to affect one or so young bird a season. The rest are fine. I thankfully haven't experienced a more aggressive strain of Mareks.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Should I isolate her?

She is a he... sorry you face this.

The other chick has already been exposed if it is Marek's. Not all will show symptoms even if they do become carriers. One gene has been identified that does create resistance.

Only way to know for sure is send his body for necropsy if he passes or you cull.. With New Castle in Ca, I would (cull and necropsy)...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Good luck!

 

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

She is a he... sorry you face this.

The other chick has already been exposed if it is Marek's. Not all will show symptoms even if they do become carriers. One gene has been identified that does create resistance.

Only way to know for sure is send his body for necropsy if he passes or you cull.. With New Castle in Ca, I would (cull and necropsy)...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Good luck!

Great insight @EggSighted4Life...

Yea they pretty much all have been exposed at this point. The "nursery coop" is a 12x12 shed with Yvette and her 2 chicks and 3 12weeks old who show no symptoms. The other 10 adults are in the main coop but they sneak in there and have been exposed too.

I do have an Ameraucana who showed symptoms 8 months ago, couldn't stand yet recovered ok (the B vitamins shots I mentioned seemed to have helped). They say the virus doesn't cross egg membrane but I suspect this one is her offspring. I had another of her offspring who had "splayed legs" a few weeks ago, nursed her for a while but she passed while trying to hydrate her.

Long story short, seems like no one's showing symptoms beside this lil guy. Won't cull yet, but if I he passes, I'll send him to UC Riverside to get a necropsy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Paralyzed right leg, unable to stand. Doesn't look good.

Never had a baby chick with Marek's. Should I isolate her? Let nature run its course? She has a little sister showing no symptoms at all and still handing with her mom Mrs Yvette (she pops in mid video).

Sucks

Good point... had some success with massive B vitamins injections with older hen but not so sure about a tiny wet napkin like this one. I'll quarantine him in the "nursery coop" tonight, food and goodies, calm, see what happens.

On the positive side, looks like hawks aren't lurking anymore... feel bad but he was laying in the middle of the yard for hours with no takers... hoping for a "resolution".

Thank you @oldhenlikesdogs (they do ), much appreciated.

It could be Marek's. Hard to know.
I would give him 1/2 tablet human B-Complex daily for 1 week to see if that makes a difference.

 

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

So weird, a week later she's back almost 100%, runs around doesn't wabble at all.

I did give her some B complex and a shot of B12.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's great to hear.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So weird, a week later she's back almost 100%, runs around doesn't wabble at all.

I did give her some B complex and a shot of B12.

Glad he's better.
What do you feed your chicks?