Anyone have experience dealing with Marek's?

[shannon84]

Yep, northern Miami county.

I'm southern Indiana, closer to Kentucky. You must be way up north? Does your chickens have Marek's?

 

[centrarchid]

I am from very close to Dale, Indiana but went to Purdue. I have family there with chickens still.

 

[casportpony]

So I read the whole thread and I think it looks more like Marek's than anything else. But if he were mine I would try to treat for the other stuff just in case.

Is taking him to a vet an option? There was an episode on one of those vet shows where someone brought in a limping rooster that recovered after antibiotic treatment.

If he were mine, I would go into full blown treatment mode and treat for worms, coccidiosis, bacterial infection, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. I would also give start tubing fluids, then tube fluids and baby bird food.

He's a bird and needs lots of fluids! A small buff Orpington weighs about 8 pounds, a large one 10 pounds.

An 8 pound bird needs 6 ounces of water per day.
A 10 pound bird needs 8 ounces of water per day.

Dehydration and mineral deficiencies can look like Marek's too, so I suggest that you think about learning to tube.

 

[shannon84]

I am from very close to Dale, Indiana but went to Purdue. I have family there with chickens still.

Oh wow! Small world! I'm at tractor supply to get him some things. Then B complex at CVS. So he would need half tablet of the human kind? They all say super b complex?

 

[centrarchid]

Oh wow! Small world! I'm at tractor supply to get him some things. Then B complex at CVS. So he would need half tablet of the human kind? They all say super b complex?

Others better for ideas on vitamin supplementation. When I do it, flat out voodoo.

 

[casportpony]

Oh wow! Small world! I'm at tractor supply to get him some things. Then B complex at CVS. So he would need half tablet of the human kind? They all say super b complex?

Tractor Supply sell a b complex for cattle that I like a lot. They also sell Rooster Booster Poultry Cell which I have used too.

 

[Trish1974]

I'm southern Indiana, closer to Kentucky. You must be way up north? Does your chickens have Marek's?

No, I haven't had to deal with any diseases yet. Only laying issues.
Purdue is very reasonable on their fees. I assume that is because it's a teaching facility. I was very impressed with how thorough they were, too. About 10 years ago I had a young Quarter Horse gelding I took there thinking he had a neurological issue. They spent 4-5 hours doing exams and testing and my bill was half of what I thought it would be. (Turns out he just had a glucose sensitivity).

 

[casportpony]

Others better for ideas on vitamin supplementation. When I do it, flat out voodoo.

I'd like to hear more about the voodoo?

 

[centrarchid]

I'd like to hear more about the voodoo?

I switch over to fresh / essentially live food items. Dark green vegetables, live mealworms, BOSS, chopped smelt, topped with fresh chick starter and olive oil.

 

[centrarchid]

This batch also had some salmon with skin on.