Flock slowly being wiped out - possibly mareks??

[KirstieJG]

I have looked at the symptoms of botulism but to be honest I had discounted it as none of the other symptoms are there, she doesnt have diahorria and her poo isnt green or yellow and her feathers are not loose. I would agree with the general weakness of her legs and neck but her wings arent drooped.

If you dont mind me asking; do you have personal experience of botulism and if so, did your chickens illness and symptoms fit the description above?

I understand that they dont recover from botulism without an anti toxin? She does seem to be improving with care but if you genuinely think botulism is the case then I will speak to Rudi about paying for a vet again.

 

[umarson]

@kirstieJG
I think you should keep on with what your chick started responding to, cos I think you've got to the bottom of your chicks' case. Thinking of other options might be at a risk.
Apple cider is good for raising chickens cos it has the liquide sulphur that stays in their system and prevent re-occurance of cocci unlike powdered amprolium which end up in their poops. Garlic can also help protect your chicks from protozoa infections, but don't give them too much cos it could cause kidney problem. So take care not to give them too much cos they like its taste. 2 pills are enough for one chick between the age of 1-6 weeks every after 3 days. Crush it before you give them. From ten weeks to adulthood you give them 5 pills every 2 weeks. You can stop the apple cider at 2 month of their age. Cocci thrive in hot and rainy seasons.
Keeping your coop and run clean is very good for your chikens.

 

[KirstieJG]

I didnt realise that the apple cider prevents cocci, I will tell rudi to put it in the water, mine get it in their food but only a couple of table spoonfuls between them twice a week; I am wondering if its better in the water and how much should they have?

Can you feed them fresh garlic? does it affect the flavour of the eggs? that might sound a daft question but i know in my friends dairy herd, they avoided a certain field because the wild garlic growing there flavoured the cows milk!

Gloria Gaynor (i am calling her that because she is so determined to survive!) is improving but slowly and i am still frightened that there is something we might have missed. The symptoms are more cocci than anything else I have found but the lab results should be back soon.

 

[KirstieJG]

@rebrascora I just popped into the UK page (I like to be nosy!) and saw it is your birthday today - Happy birthday and thank you for your help!

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks for birthday wishes. Wish I could do more on the "help" front but it sounds like you are doing a good job there..

I use about a tablespoon of ACV (I have it in a squeezy bottle and just add a splosh) in their gallon plastic waterer for the whole flock but they do also have access to other water when they are free ranging. I'm a big fan of ACV. It's Important not to use a metal waterer if you are using ACV though. I've given them garlic on occasion when I've felt they needed a bit of a boost. I think a couple of cloves between 30+ birds every once in a while isn't going to affect things significantly taste wise.

 

[KirstieJG]

You have helped, thank you so much much! Here are the results for the sample I sent:




Basically its definetly cocci. This means that the amprol doesnt work!!! I'm just about to google baycox!

I am so pleased that I have a diagnosis.

 

[centrarchid]

Discard current bag of feed. Double check run date of replacement feed.

 

[KirstieJG]

is it likely to be in her food?

 

[centrarchid]

Or not in her food. You are making assumption this is a pathogen or toxin but it could also be a vitamin issue which can be hard to distinguish from your description so far. Replacing food would correct for both quickly if problem stemming from feed. If a vitamin issue you should see a rapid improvement. Most vitamin issues will have a clinical sign of reduced feed intake and often lethargy.

 

[KirstieJG]

I believe the cocci causes vitamin deficiencies because it destroys the gut lining. I think that could explain the weakness and the weight loss.