Has anyone had good luck using Hypericum for Marek's?

[shannon84]

Possible Marek's in adult rooster

 

[ShannonR]

Never heard of the stuff before

 

[Cragg Klefor]

That's St. Johns wort right?
I know I have read of people using it for chickens before alright, but I can't remember if it was for Mareks or not. Hopefully someone who knows will be along!
I know humans use it to treat anxiety and depression. It is also used for sleep disorders. It increases activity in the liver (enzymes) I believe. But chickens, I don't know sorry.

 

[rebrascora]

I have heard of people using it for Marek's and I did try it briefly myself but felt that it did not help and seemed to discourage them from eating if I put it in their food or stressed them if I tried to squeeze it down their throat. Both of those scenarios were detrimental, because stress makes Marek's worse and once they go off their food they are pretty much finished. I also tried Turmeric and Black pepper but had the same problems with it discouraging them from eating. I now just give them whatever will tempt them to eat, and a few drops of vitamin supplement on it to support their immune system. If your bird has neurological Marek's and he is still eating then there is a chance that he may recover from this attack but will be at risk of future attacks and will always carry the disease. I have had birds recover from some very debilitating and prolonged Marek's paralysis without any treatment at all other than supportive care, so it really is hard to say what if any treatments do work. Once tumours start to develop there is no hope (but of course you can't see that until necropsy after death) and it is a steady decline and usually they will lose interest in food towards the end stages of that, so as long as they keep eating there is hope and that's why I don't give them anything which discourages them from eating.

 

[rebrascora]

I also just give my Marek's birds sloppy food.... wet mash (made with unmedicated chick crumbs is best) or fermented feed, scrambled egg, raw liver or even bread soaked in blood or gravy... the salt in gravy is not good so don't give that every day but vary to keep their interest. Someone's sick rooster which appears to have Marewk's was very enthusiastically tucking into a tomato the other day..... not much nutrition in that but the sugars will give them energy and it makes them happy and you happy to see them eating with gusto, so my advice is to give them whatever they will gladly eat, rather than trying to force feed them nutritious stuff or medication. A bit of sunshine and grass has proved beneficial with my Marek's sick birds but is in short supply at this time of year unfortunately.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've used it for bumblefoot but I doubt it would have any effect on an incurable disease.
There has been exhaustive research into Marek's cures. If you find a benefit, it would be earthshattering.

 

[rebrascora]

I've used it for bumblefoot but I doubt it would have any effect on an incurable disease.
There has been exhaustive research into Marek's cures. If you find a benefit, it would be earthshattering.

Unfortunately the nature of the disease is such that an attack of neurological Marek's can resolve without any treatment or with/despite a treatment being given and it is not possible to draw any conclusion from a sample of one sick bird or even 5. I'm pretty sure I have read threads here on BYC where people have used Hypericum/St John's Wort and seen an improvement, but that doesn't mean to say the treatment was successful because the bird may have recovered without using it, as some of mine have. There will also be lots who have tried Hypericum/SJW and not seen an improvement but don't post that negative result. Personally I did not find it beneficial and was just stressful for me and the bird to administer.

 

[Melky]

Possible Marek's in adult rooster

I haven’t heard this as a treatment. There is none. Vaccination is only preventative.

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

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Unfortunately the nature of the disease is such that an attack of neurological Marek's can resolve without any treatment or with/despite a treatment being given and it is not possible to draw any conclusion from a sample of one sick bird or even 5. I'm pretty sure I have read threads here on BYC where people have used Hypericum/St John's Wort and seen an improvement, but that doesn't mean to say the treatment was successful because the bird may have recovered without using it, as some of mine have. There will also be lots who have tried Hypericum/SJW and not seen an improvement but don't post that negative result. Personally I did not find it beneficial and was just stressful for me and the bird to administer.

Agreed. It would have to be tested on thousands of birds in a clinical/scientific setting.
Are you saying that you had birds afflicted with Marek's that recovered and no longer suffered from the disease. I had not heard of that.

 

[Melky]

Agreed. It would have to be tested on thousands of birds in a clinical/scientific setting.
Are you saying that you had birds afflicted with Marek's that recovered and no longer suffered from the disease. I had not heard of that.

Occasionally birds can survive but if do have carrier status for life and can infect new flock members. It is true most tend not to survive.