Blind cockerel

[debsiddle]

Can anyone please help me.
8 months ago I had 3 ayam cemani chicks hatch. Two cockerels one hen.
The hen was always quiet and thin. She became emaciated over time and she developed a huge mass, possibly her liver. She died at 5 months.
I lost one of her brothers a week ago (age ~7.5 months). He literally went downhill within hours from looking a picture of health. I had a PM done and he had tumours in his liver, which was 4x the size it should’ve been.
His brother has been going the same way. Came home tonight and he was gasping, very weak. Held him in my arms waiting for him to pass . For about an hour he could hardly breathe, head lolling around, could hardly stand. Suddenly he leapt off my knee and was spinning round on his side on the floor.
I thought he’d gone. I picked him up but he was still alive. Much calmer, stronger and breathing better. However he is blind
He is now much calmer and stronger, breathing through his mouth but not like he was.
I’ve given him nutridrops and hypericum (in case of vit deficiency or Mareks).
Does anyone have any idea what is happening and what I could try to help his eyesight.
Please be sensitive with your replies as he is a much loved pet and I’m devastated with what’s happened over the last two months.
Thank you in advance x

 

[Shadrach]

Hello debsiddle
Welcome to BYC.
I'm sorry to read about the deaths of your chickens and the current illness.
May I ask what you feed them?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like Mareks possibly. It can cause tumors, paralysis, and blindness.

 

[rebrascora]

Sadly, taking into account age, the other deaths and tumours and the neurological and respiratory and visual issues with this boy, it is almost certainly Marek's and very much in the lap of the God's if he survives this outbreak. As long as he is prepared to eat and drink there is hope but he will no doubt need help with that. If he is no longer interested in food and he has all those other issues then in my experience with the disease, there is little to no hope. Force feeding them stresses them and risks aspiration and as a result additional respiratory distress. If he still has an interest in food them tempt him with whatever you can get him to eat. I found that my Marek's birds did not like Hypericum and would stop eating if I put it in their food and trying to dose them with it stressed them and me which was counter productive. The ones that have recovered from outbreaks have been supported but not medicated other than Nutri Drops. Sunshine and grass and the company of other chickens but in a safe environment were common factors with their care. I appreciate that at this time of year, 2 of those commodities are not easily come by ie sunshine and grass.

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry for hour loss. There are 2 viruses that cause cancer in chickens—Mareks disease and avian lymphoid leukosis. Mareks can cause paralysis of a leg or wing, while leukosis does not cause the neurological symptoms. I would get a necropsy by your state poultry vet or lab if you should lose this cockerel, to get a diagnosis. His body would need to be refrigerated and contact your state lab here:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Eggcessive]

With the neurological symptoms, it probably was Mareks disease, but here is some reading about the two diseases:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...d4MYjY9dfosOh86_XH3PCXd5BOqwS1J4aAqxVEALw_wcB

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/202/lymphoid-leukosis/

 

[Shadrach]

It may well be Mareks disease, but that isn't what you've come here to find out. Only a necropsy will give a certain diagnosis.
Meanwhile, you still have your cockerel living and he will need care. Any care you give will center around diet and not drugs.

 

[debsiddle]

Thanks everyone.
He’s actually so much stronger and breathing better than he was. He’s been eating really well.
Now he's blind he’s scared and obviously doesn’t know where the food etc is.
If he wasn’t blind I’d actualy have more hope than I did this morning

 

[Shadrach]

This article which is very clear might help you with feeding the poor chap.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

 

[debsiddle]

Very sorry for hour loss. There are 2 viruses that cause cancer in chickens—Mareks disease and avian lymphoid leukosis. Mareks can cause paralysis of a leg or wing, while leukosis does not cause the neurological symptoms. I would get a necropsy by your state poultry vet or lab if you should lose this cockerel, to get a diagnosis. His body would need to be refrigerated and contact your state lab here:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

I had a PM done on my other cockerel and they have sent samples off to test for those very things.
I had three chicks a few years ago. The mother and eggs I got from the same breeder who never vaccinated and hadn’t had a problem. I didn’t vaccinate and they were fine, hence why I didn’t bother this time.
I will never not vaccinate again