Flock slowly being wiped out - possibly mareks??

[centrarchid]

Are you tracking her weight. Weight changes are a very sensitive measure of how she is holding up. If cocci induced scaring, then weight should come up within a couple of days of condition being stabilized. Generally, the ability to walk with heavy cocci infections is not lost unless birds is weak enough to suffer from hypothermia.. BE careful with the heat management and the recovery period. What you really need to watch for is a secondary bacterial infection going after your bird. Most treatments I have seen for poultry do not consider impacts of the secondary infection, When comes to that with bird I am trying to salvage I act prophylacticly. The bacteria in the GIT sometimes respond to cocci induced changes and start to cause harm and it can be quick.

 

[umarson]

@centrarchid
I think probiotics can take care of the secondary infections. Milk or yoghout with probiotics can serve at this point.
Any alternavte you like to share wuth us?

 

[centrarchid]

I am not well versed in probiotics. I have used antibiotics resulting in increased odds of at least short-term survival. I will need to try the probiotic route before making any statements on that.

 

[enola]

If there is a secondary infection, probiotics will not take care of it.

 

[KirstieJG]

I am keeping her inside so warmth is not a problem. I have noticed she is maintaining her body warmth now whereas before she felt chilled.

She lost her ability to walk the day after I rescued her, it was quick and I hadnt been able to get the extra vitmins and probiotics into her at that point, I suspect as was mentioned earlier, Rudi hadnt noticed how ill Gloria was until it was almost too late. When I collected her she was walking but was weak and lethagic. She still isnt walking but can support herself for short periods and she does kick her legs out to move around her cage. She holds herself more centrally now and doesnt flop over unless she is tired. She sleeps a lot and eats a lot but I think it is going to be a slow recovery, she was showing signs of wry neck but this has already improved with the added vitameins in her diet. I have added oats and some berries now to her mix and she is still eating well. I cannot describe to you how close to death she came and I know it still might go backwards.

I will keep an eye out for secondary infection, I have told Rudi that I am keeping Gloria now (!) so if she needs antibiotics I will get them prescribed.

 

[horseshoe13]

For the glucose use honey. It worked miracles on my new chicks with shipping shock. Even the weak ones bounced back. Electrolytes, probiotics and honey can be used together in their water.

 

[horseshoe13]

Anti biotics kills all bacteria good and bad probiotics put back the good bacteria necessary for the animals survival.

 

[enola]

Anti biotics kills all bacteria good and bad probiotics put back the good bacteria necessary for the animals survival.

I realize how probiotics work. But, probiotics don't treat secondary infections.

 

[umarson]

Honey is good but expensive in some parts of the world. I prefer glucose its cheep here in Nigeria.
Thanks for this new alternative.

 

[umarson]

I believe boosting their imune system to work effectively is better than exposing chickens to synthetic chemicals and they'll end up in our systems through the eggs we take.
This is my opinion.