Does this chicken have mereks disease?

[Chickens :)]

Hi everyone! I live in Australia and I am just wondering if anyone has any ideas on what is going on with my speckled Sussex chickens.

Firstly, I bought some chicks from a breeder who offered to take our roosters back but didn’t mention whether they were vaccinated or not. He sold them to us for $7.50 a chicken so we assumed they were pure bread ( but now they are starting to show they are not ).I am now only left with 2 of those chicks which are now 30 weeks old and oddly don’t lay any eggs. When the chicks were about 15-16 weeks one of them suddenly had got paralysed legs and died and a vet had told us it was mereks disease that she had. Now one of the chickens I am left with has a pale iris and is always heavily breathing, wezing and almost making a sneezing sound. Her sister is half her weight ( which is way to light for her breed ). Do you think that this could also be mereks disease or just dodgy breading?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Chickens :)]

If it is mereks, should I seperate her from the flock?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, I would think that the signs could be those of Mareks, unfortunately. I would try to contact a poultry vet who could do testing on a dead bird, if you have another loss. There is a good article called The Great Big Giant Mareks Faq, if you Google it. Mareks is a virus, and there are 4 main types which include paralysis in one or both legs or wings or a twisted neck, eye color and pupil changes, skin tumors, and internal organ tumors. Chickens may show one of those signs or have problems with immunity to common illnesses.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry! I'd have your sickest bird tested at your state veterinary lab, to be sure of a diagnosis. Then you can have a plan to move forward with your chicken project. If it is Marek's disease, getting vaccinated chicks, and having them totally isolated from your flock (and property) for two to three weeks, should protect them from developing the tumors that kill Marek's infected birds.
Mary

 

[Chickens :)]

Thank you for your responses. I will keep an eye on her and her sister and talk to a vet.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... When the chicks were about 15-16 weeks one of them suddenly... got paralysed legs and died and a vet had told us it was mereks disease... Now one of the chickens I am left with has a pale iris and is always heavily breathing.... Her sister is half her weight... Do you think that this could also be mereks disease or just dodgy breading?...

Merek's disease is a form of cancer caused by a herpes virus. As with all cancers Merek's can and does occur in every organ. The first bird seems to have ocular cancer, and the underweight bird is IMHO not long for this world either but the form of Mereks has not yet fully presented itself.

 

[micstrachan]

I’m sorry, but yes, Marek’s sounds most likely at this point.

 

[microchick]

I have been hit hard by Marek's and currently have three chickens with Ocular Marek's. I know how painful this is to face when you have a flock that you love.

As you have been told, having Marek's makes them susceptible to a lot of other opportunistic diseases and illnesses. Mine seem to be hit hard with lung and cardiac failure/tumors and fungal infections. Many seemed to present and die within 24-48 hours.

It is not a kind disease but it is not the end of your flock. Some recommend separating a bird that is acutely ill as they are shedding virus like talcum powder out of a box at this time. BUT, realize that your whole flock is now exposed and in for a penny in for a pound is my way of dealing with it. If a bird is acute and actively dying, I remove them to a quiet place and make them as comfortable as possible until either the end comes or I end their suffering. I do try to leave them with their 'support flockmates' as long as possible though. It's their family after all.

I agree that you will know for sure if you have a biopsy done on a bird but I'm sorry to say that it does sound like that is what you are dealing with. Hang in there. If you are dealing with Marek's disease you will loose birds but you will have birds survive also. Those birds will be the foundation of your resistant flock and worth their weight in gold.

My best advice is to get them on good food, vitamins, probiotics and a thorough worming schedule. Lots of good sunshine and healthy treats. I treat my birds with Terramycin at the first sign of a sneeze or sniffle.

I wish I could offer you more advice or another solution. I enjoy my birds and celebrate every day that I have with them and that is the best advice I can offer. You are not alone. Many flock owners are dealing with this horrible disease and there are lots of threads here on BYC that can help you.

Good luck and let us know how things go.