Eastern Panhandle WV (MD, VA, PA) Chickenstock -July10th Gower's Feed

[Orpygal]

Quote:
Boo Hiss. Daughter just went thru all the info she's been given so far and it looks like they will evaluate 4-6 meat birds and 4-6 egg layers and rank them. There's no judging breed specific for conformation, type etc. Darn.
But I do believe she will eventually get into egg grading.

 

[Msbear]

Something has come to my attention and I thought everyone had a right to know but, I'd like to keep both parties involved confidential as to avoid any judgement or talk that we all know can get out of hand.

Someone purchased a bird at Chickenstock and was concerned about its "wierd breathing" so they took it to a vet. The vet is unsure of what is wrong with the bird but suspects mereks disease. Before panic insues, I'd like to make a few comments about mereks. I wasn't too familiar with it until this but, took some time to research a bit. Mereks can spread from bird to bird through feather dander even a mile away

It is extemely contagious but is equally as common. An infected bird can infect an entire flock leading to some birds dying, some birds showing symptoms but recovering and some not affected. ALL birds are now carriers. Business as usual may carry on as all seems normal but, this disease may spread to other flocks (even a mile away) as long as these animals live. Selling any adult birds can sell the disease as well. Hatching eggs are not infected. Now, for the reality. Many of us may have mereks in our flocks. We don't know unless symptoms occur, a bird dies and we get that bird tested. There are many threads here on BYC that get into great depth on it... please read up if you are concerned.

Quarantining your new birds is a MUST but, even that isn't 100% when dealing with mereks. A helpful technique is the "sacrificial roo theory" as this least special bird

can be tossed in with your quarantined birds and his reaction to them can be studied to determine if these new birds are carriers.

Here's some helpful links

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/90/mareks-disease
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page9.htm

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=113931

Here is a post from Glenda Heywood - a long time poultry keeper and well-respected fancier.

no you can tell mareks as the bird is definetly paralyzed in one area or another
I personally would cull the very paralized ones as they sluff off dander and pass it on
every chicken carry's genetically mareks germs
it is just when they get severely stress either by high heat or low cold or just some stress from living with other chickens
then the mareks comes forth in very direct paralyzing or in the eye lucosis ( grey eye)

so tell them they need to at least cull the bad ones

now here is what I know some folks did and helped keep the others from coming down with it

the best thing for them is the
wet mash probiotic with Vit E and Vit B complex
this will help the birds nervous system which is being attacked at this time
because you see discordanation in his attempt to walk okay
or for those needing the Vit's for not getting mareks
this may help

do this
*** Multiply the amt of the wet mash with the vit's by amt of chickens fed
each chick needs the same amt of vit's each time

(A) natural probiotic wet mash with Vit E and Vit B complex added immediately
basically the chicken has some nerve damage do this immediately
need neurolodigal vit E and Vit B complex for nervous disorder Also the apple cider vineager in water

(1) 2 tbsp per gallon of water till chickens are well and the 2 times a week for life
for one chicken use 1 tbsp of ACV
1 pint of water

(2 immediately give the chicken 1000 mg capsule of liquid Vit E by cutting the end of the capsule and taking the vit E liquid and mix in wet mash probiotic

(2-B) total amt of capsules equals the total amt of chickens fed vit's

(3 also need to crush a vit B complex pill in tabsp and add it the chickens wet mash after it is disolved

(3-C) then give this to the chicken or chickens twice a week for two weeks should see much improvement

(4 Do both Vit's twice today then for 7 days till you see some improvement in the chicken or chickens

(5 today I would see if the chicken will eat a wet mash with the Vitamins E and B complex

(-B) THIS IS FOR ONE CHICKEN

natural probiotic wet mash
2 tbp of dry crumbles
3 tbp of milk sweet, sour or buttermilk
1 tbsp of non flavored yogurt
1 tbsp of apple sauce
put it on top so the chicken can smell and see it
mix good and put the
vit E liquid as directed in the wet mash
and crumble the Vit B complex tablet in a tabsp and add to the wet mash

**BESURE AND MIX VIT'S VERY GOOD IN WET MASH***

(6 Do this twice a day for 7 days to see if the chickens are better
then do this once a day for another week then once a week for a while
this should give the nervous system some stability

(6-A) they should clean it up in 20-30 minutes
clean out wet feeders and restock the dry chicken crumbles

I will keep you guys posted as to the outcome.

 

[nursecat9]

So sorry to hear that.

I hope the vet is very familiar with poultry. I know I had a bird with sour crop last year, and made many phone calls to vets in the area, and none knew anything about poultry. I found 1 who was willing to email a friend from vet school with poultry experience, and was able to get me the correct doses for meds.

Please keep us posted... thanks for everything you do Erin!

 

[Msbear]

Yeah, Im wondering if mereks is a good guess when the vets do not know for sure. I do know that this particular vet is pretty familiar w/ poultry.. Just keep an eye out and don't worry too much. We don't know anything yet

 

[nursecat9]

You'll have to pm me with who the vet is...I'd like to know someone in case I need 1. No worries, I'm not in a panic. I'll just keep an eye on everyone...I didn't buy any birds...hubbie wouldn't let me! Said we were downsizing...

 

[berkeleysprings]

well i sure hope the mereks question is untrue but only time well tell, if i here anything i will post asap. a person at the show bought a silkie that is in question , lucky for me we didnt and dont breed silkie , but we did pass out many buisness cards to people and thats how they contacted me because they did not have a phone number to the people that sold the supposed sick bird ..... , the only connection to the show /sale for the girl who bought the sick bird had was my phone number and email ...as far as i know the buyer is not a byc member so she contacted me threw regular email......its unclear to me who was the seller was also... lastly i should say the sick bird was going to be given another day to recover and if not the girl was going to put it down then take it to the vet for testing , from what i was told its tested after death ... if i here any news il post

 

[kymhhs]

Hi do you still have any kittens?
were looking for one...and if so,how old are they?
we live in hedgesville and want a free kitten..we found a 6 week old kitten that was hurt and had a couple problems..he passd away at the vet yesterday morning so were looking for a kitten.

 

[Msbear]

Moutainlaurelpoultry is affiliated with a wonderful rescue. Im sure she can find ya some!!

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

We have 4 kittens about 6 weeks old. Gray, yellow and white, and tri-color. I am terrible at sexing kittens but the tri-color will be a girl. It's a genetic thing aka calico.

I am in Berkeley Springs.

 

[stoo]

There's a vet in Purcellville Virginia that cares for all animals and is open 24/7. Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates. website: http://www.blueridgevets.com