Bird died, unusual symptoms

[BigBlueHen53]

They were suggesting you cut the bird open yourself and have some of the Educators walk you through it to look for disease processes. If you're interested I think @Eggcessive has a video she can share showing what a healthy bird's organs should look like.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Possibly. My most recent clutches that I hatched from my free roaming birds, who share a general area with my coop birds, birthed a blind bird and a bird that periodically suffers from wry neck. Our turkey tom also developed a neck issue and sometimes walks backwards in circles. All this time I thought it was just a crick in his neck cause the unnatural curvature matches how he sleeps leaned up against the coop wall. I’ve tried to brace it and massage it out, but the bird has none of it.

I think wry neck can be caused by a vitamin deficiency, have you done a search for it here on BYC?

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

I think wry neck can be caused by a vitamin deficiency, have you done a search for it here on BYC?

Yes and I am well stocked on rooster booster plus k and nutri-drench as a result of that research. But now I am scared that it may be mareks causing neurological issues. Mareks would explain the blind bird. Im praying it’s not Mareks. If it is I’ll have to permanently quarantine all of my birds and have my entire half-acre back yard scraped at least a foot down…

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

Is Mareks passed genetically?

 

[Eggcessive]

Mareks is contagious and spread through feather dust and dander. When you have chicken with Mareks, all of your chickens will be exposed and be carriers for life. The environment remains contaminated for months to years after the last chicken is gone. Other poultry are not affected by Mareks.

What state are you in? The best way to find out what is affecting your chickens is to have your state vet do a necropsy and testing after death. A few national labs can send you material to collect a blood sample from a cut too short toenail, send it back and they will run a pcr test. Zoologix and Vetdna/RAL are the labs I know of that do it.

 

[FrostRanger]

I thought about it. I can’t afford it. I gave as respectful of a burial as I could far away from the other birds and wrapped in multiple plastic bags.

In many places it's free

 

[Debbie292d]

I am well stocked on rooster booster

I presume rooster booster Poultry Cell? I would mix that into all of your birds' water every other day or twice a week for a few weeks. After that, just once a week for a booster. This should help any with vitamin deficiencies and give the rest a little vitamin boost.

Even if they have Marek's, Poultry Cell is advised by some experts, as is CS/B (Chinese skullcap 85% Baicalin). Neither is a cure. The CS/B reduces/stops tumor growth for those with Marek's, and is a preventative for those who don't have it, and AI too. There is a different dosage for prevention than for those affected.

The free or lower-cost lab tests are those done on a dead bird. The two labs @Eggcessive linked for you do them on live birds.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

In many places it's free

… I did not know that.