Bantam pullet might have Mareks.She needs your hopes and prayers.

[chickenzoo]

With Mareks, typically it is often just one leg, and normally just on one side, I can't remember which side. They start off normal except with the one leg paralysis. Many things can cause a drunken walk. Head trauma, vitamin deff, toxins, mold etc..... Keep up the vitamin therapy and the things 3 horses suggested. Let us know what the vet says.

 

[threehorses]

I"m still wondering about some sort of toxin, or mycotoxin. Drunken just doesn't sound like marek's - it sounds more like some systemic neurological issue, particularly because she's not drooping in the wing, not doing the 'splits', IS grabbing with her toes.

Have you been able to do any of the vitamin stuff? Would you consider a mycotoxin flush? it won't work without intensive vitamin follow up.

By the way, if the vet gives you antibiotics, make sure she tells you exactly what bacteria it's for. Don't let them send you home with a bottle if they don't know why they're sending it home.

 

[Attack Chicken]

I don't know whats going to happen to her.. I won't be able to get any sleep tonight.

I have been giving her polyvistol without iron to her beak or on some food. I don't have any B-complex tablets or E oil capsules.

She has been in the house since Tuesday and nothing has happend to my OEGB pullet that is right next her cage. I hope it isn't a disease that can spread... Or I'm really going to be messed up. I can't stand the thought of loosing all my babies...

 

[miss_jayne]

By the way, if the vet gives you antibiotics, make sure she tells you exactly what bacteria it's for. Don't let them send you home with a bottle if they don't know why they're sending it home.

i second this advice!!!

AC...make sure the doc knows why they are prescribing what they are prescribing and that they aren't just 'stabbing and guessing'.

that can be just as dangerous as doing nothing if not more so. it also can cover up symptoms.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
And you know - even the best vets do this. I always feel sheepish when at my specialist avian vet (nationally recognized and respected) I have to say "and we did do a culture and sensitivity, right?" just to hear "good idea!"

On at least one occasion the medicine sent home was the wrong one... and this is a really very very good vet, and not sloppy.

Vets aren't psychics.

Sometimes we just have to remind them (gently and with respect) of that fact.

 

[Attack Chicken]

Just got back tfrom the vet.. She doesn't know exactly what it is but she is thinking mareks. I brought her home because she said to keep an eye on her and see if anything gets worse or better. So thats it. My whole flock could be gone within a month. Never ever am I going to get chickens again. It's to painfull for the heart.

 

[chickenzoo]

I'm so sorry. I know how you feel, I've been there. Mareks can affect some chickens, but rarely a whole flock. It is a form of Chicken Cancer, and can be very nasty, but your vet does not know for sure. Treat her with vitamins, keep her separated and use good bio-security measures. I'd order the Mareks vaccine from Jeffers Livestock, only $9 and $3 for cooler and icepack. It is a dryed wafer and then a separate bottle of diluent. Once you mix the wafer & Diluent you have 1 hr. to use it. You can divide the dried wafer into 4 equal sections , put 1 section in a glass cup and add 1/4 of the diluent. This way you 4 doses instead of 1. That said, many chickens are exposed to Mareks but never show symptoms, and go on being fine, others go downhill. With the vaccine, it does not stop them from getting the Mareks virus, it only stops the symptoms from developing that will ultimately kill the bird. I hope she has something more from trauma or vitamin deff.

to you, and keep loving your chickens even though it's sometimes very hard.

 

[Attack Chicken]

Here after my mother is done cooking we are going to drive up to Schultz (god bless her) house because she said she will give me some of the mareks vaccine to give to my chickens in the needles. I am in fear of the rest of my flock catching it but they have already been exposed.

 

[chickenzoo]

If you can, get a hold of some Oxine AH, mix 1/4 Oxine to rest water and mist the heck out of everything, coop, cages, birds, feeders, waters , yourself.... it helps. it's like $21-25 a gallon, but it lasts. So sorry you are going through this, I'll be praying for you and your flock.

 

[threehorses]

Oxine doesn't actually have any effect on the Marek's virus. Virkon-S does though (I always check effectiveness lists). It's also good against a zillion other things and can be used for incubators.