Do Mareks symptoms come and go?

[Becbec013]

EDIT - video added showing the pullet I’m concerned about alongside an older pullet from the same flock - I’m a first time chicken owner, trying to balance my paranoia about chickens randomly dying (as I’ve been told repeatedly they will do), with the wellbeing of the chickens - in this case, I don’t want to isolate a POL pullet for no reason.
I have a pullet who, for the last couple of weeks, has seemed to have some kind of issue with her legs. Aside from this issue, and frequently runny poo, she’s otherwise completely normal. The best way I can explain it, is that she has sometimes appeared like she has no strength in her legs or that her joints aren’t holding her up. She sometimes looks like she is squatting/ waddling when she moves around, looking a bit unco because she’s not lifting her feet much and has her body so low to the ground. She will often end up just sitting down and pecking at the grass, like it’s too much to stay standing. How bad this is varies significantly, and randomly from what I can tell.
This morning I was convinced she was seriously unwell, I went and got antibiotics etc., preparing to isolate her this afternoon. However, this afternoon, she’s FINE. Walking normally, upright. Feathers aren’t fluffed up like they are when she’s doing the squatting stance…she’s a different chicken.
So my question is, could the issue still be Mareks if the symptoms come and go so drastically? Any ideas what it might be if it’s not Mareks?

 

[Debbie292d]

How old is she?

The behavior you describe sounds like what an egg-bound hen sometimes does. If she's been laying eggs, then didn't suddenly, and acted like this, that's what I'd think it was.

But otherwise, I'm thinking it could be a vitamin deficiency.

Assuming she's fed a layer feed or all-flock, I'd try Poultry Cell in her water every other day for a week or two and see if that helps.

I've read a lot about Marek's and never heard of one that's had the symptoms of it just go away.

 

[LaFleche]

She may have trouble getting soft shelled eggs out or even be laying internally.

You can treat her with a daily tablet of calcium citrate 600 + vitamin D3 for 7 days and see if she improves.

What exactly are you feeding and does she have access to crushed oyster shells and granite grit free choice?

And welcome to the BYC community!

 

[LaFleche]

POL pullet

Has she ever laid an egg yet?

for the last couple of weeks, has seemed to have some kind of issue with her legs.

A stuck egg can put a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve resembling paralysis symptoms.

she has sometimes appeared like she has no strength in her legs or that her joints aren’t holding her up. She sometimes looks like she is squatting/ waddling when she moves around,

You can check her buttom to see if she is in lay. There is an article by @aart on how to do it
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Becbec013]

How old is she?

The behavior you describe sounds like what an egg-bound hen sometimes does. If she's been laying eggs, then didn't suddenly, and acted like this, that's what I'd think it was.

But otherwise, I'm thinking it could be a vitamin deficiency.

Assuming she's fed a layer feed or all-flock, I'd try Poultry Cell in her water every other day for a week or two and see if that helps.

I've read a lot about Marek's and never heard of one that's had the symptoms of it just go away.

I’m not sure how old she is exactly, but she hasn’t laid yet. Definitely still developing, she’s only recently had the feathers around her face fill out, and her crown has just started growing.

 

[Becbec013]

She may have trouble getting soft shelled eggs out or even be laying internally.

You can treat her with a daily tablet of calcium citrate 600 + vitamin D3 for 7 days and see if she improves.

What exactly are you feeding and does she have access to crushed oyster shells and granite grit free choice?

And welcome to the BYC community!

Thank you!
She’s on Laucke Showbird Breeder MP, which I’m told is a good feed? She doesn’t have access to oyster shells or granite grit, but I bake and crush eggshells so they always have access to that if they want it.

 

[theoldchick]

Show us a video of what she is doing. It may help us determine how to help. Also, you can make a chicken wheelchair to help her remain upright.

 

[Becbec013]

Show us a video of what she is doing. It may help us determine how to help. Also, you can make a chicken wheelchair to help her remain upright.

I’ve got a video, I just need to figure out how to upload it! I may need to make a you tube channel…

 

[Eggcessive]

I would get some human vitamin super B complex, and crush 1/4 tablet daily into a bit of egg or wet chicken feed. That can help if she is having symptoms of riboflavin deficiency. But it could be a reproductive problem laying egg as others have said. Worth a try with the B complex which you can get here:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spring-V...MIzfP0ueaYjQMVa2xHAR1riBeaEAQYASABEgI7mfD_BwE

 

[LaFleche]

Thank you!
She’s on Laucke Showbird Breeder MP, which I’m told is a good feed? She doesn’t have access to oyster shells or granite grit, but I bake and crush eggshells so they always have access to that if they want it.

While feeding them their own eggshells is good, it does not provide enough calcium and minerals to maintain bone health and strong egg shells at the same time.

Chickens will use the calcium from their bones to form egg shells, but over time this will cause weakness/ osteoporosis without a proper additional calcium and minerals supply.