Dying Pullet and Zombie Roo / Marek's would be better than this guessing game.

[iheartnh]

We culled the pullet and had her sent to the state lab. Initial findings is that she was emaciated and dehydrated, something with her femur/legs/hips (can't remember exactly what the pathologist said, but DH pointed out that he culled her using the broom handle/pulling on legs method), and one of her ovaries was strange, almost tumorish.

Will find out more when the cultures come back. The pathologist's best guess is Fowl Cholera, given the roo's deafness.

Depressing situation after more than a year of research and trying to do everything right before we started on our first flock. At the moment, I have four sick pullets/roos (this last one was the plumpest and if she was emaciated, then so are they), and a recovering roo who will potentially never be healthy. Easy to say cull and start over, but these are also meant to be pets and we have become attached to them.

E (Sad E instead of Big E. And Angry E because I am suspecting that the breeder is dealing with the same thing but instead of helping me is hoping that I go away.)

I am sorry for your loss. I hope you get some definitive answers from the testing. And shame on the breeder.

 

[BigECarter]

I got the Necropsy Report this afternoon - "probable Marek's Disease". At least now I know. And that means that there is nothing I can do for my ailing roo, so will be culling him.

The breeder did finally respond - he continues to say that his flocks are fine. I sent the necropsy report to him for what that's worth. I will give him a couple of days to respond, then I will be writing a review.