Advice needed for sick chicken

[wortinguk]

Hi there,

I am very new to this forum - only joined today but my partner and I have kept chickens for several years and branched out into ducks earlier this year

Following a fox attack earlier inthe year which wiped out all our stock

We recently bought 3 Indian Runner ducks (female we hope), 2 Buff Orpingtons and 2 Speckled Sussex hens

The hens were described as 13 and 15 weeks old and seemed fine when we bought them 3 weeks ago but we noticed soon after that one of the Speckled seemed much smaller than the others and quite lethargic

We wormed them but the poorly one continued to go downhill and died a couple of weeks later

This week we have noticed that one of the Buffs is displaying the same symptoms ie very lethargic, wanting to be alone, appearing to be asleep sitting up in the run, looking confused, hunched appearance - eyes are still bright and she is eating but not very enthusiastically

I have read a few articles which suggest it may be Marek's which I understand is not curable

I have the following questions if anyone could help:

1. do the symptoms sound like Marek's?
2. the hens all came from the same breeder (via an auction) so are they all likely to be infected?
3. is there anything I can do or a vet can do (although I am reluctant to take chickens to the vet)
4. are my ducks likely to contract the same illness as they share a run

Many thanks in advance

Sue
Basingstoke UK

 

[ethingtonart]

1. do the symptoms sound like Marek's?

It sounds like exactly what I'm dealing with, and yes my poor chickens have the tumor form of Marek's. The only additional (and strange) symptom that I have is my girl's combs are turning black. I'm certain of what we have though because we sent one to Purdue for an autopsy.

2. the hens all came from the same breeder (via an auction) so are they all likely to be infected?

Yes. Marek's is spread though dust from feathers and skin.

3. is there anything I can do or a vet can do (although I am reluctant to take chickens to the vet)

Unfortunatly no. It's a herpes virus, so there is no cure. The best thing to do is to keep their stress to a minimum, and try to boost their immunity.

4. are my ducks likely to contract the same illness as they share a run

I have no idea!

I'm so sorry you are going through this too! For what it's worth, welcome to the forum!​