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

[shannon84]

Marek's paralysis is somewhat different to what you might expect. It can just be a weakness where the bird can operate the limb or muscle but it takes a lot of concentration or effort, or the bird can move the limb but has no sensory feedback from it so they don't know if they are putting any pressure on the ground with a leg for instance and as a result they push harder than necessary or it may cause a muscle to extend or another to contract causing a twisting of the neck or tail as in wry neck or wry tail. Sometimes you do get what you or I would consider paralysis where a limb is motionless but more often it is a weakness which makes them appear uncoordinated or drunk. It can be very frustrating and frightening for them not to be able to coordinate their limbs all of a sudden, as that makes them very vulnerable.


I have had several birds recover from an outbreak of neurological Marek's but they always have the disease and be at risk of future attacks. It helps to think of Marek's like the cold sore virus in humans.... both are Herpes viruses. It has dormant phases and outbreaks. During the dormant phases you cannot tell who has the disease and who doesn't and they only actively shed the virus whilst they are symptomatic. We don't all have outbreaks of cold sores at the same time. Some things will be more likely to trigger an outbreak than others but even exposed to the same triggers, some people will have an outbreak and others won't. Unfortunately the Marek's virus in chickens is much more debilitating than the cold sore virus for us. I have had a couple of birds recover from 2 outbreaks of Marek's. Some do not make a full recovery but retain a slight limp or twist. I have had birds fully recover from an initial outbreak of neurological Marek's in a matter of a couple of days. Secondary attacks are usually more prolonged and I have had a few that took over 2 months of supportive care but returned to holding their own in the flock and free ranging after that.
I try not to worry about it too much these days and I certainly see less cases of it than during the first couple of years. I broody raised 46 unvaccinated chicks in 2016 and lost 3 to it and had 2 recover. I didn't raise any chicks last year (needed to get the chicken matchs in check and downsize) but of the 7 chicks I raised this summer I haven't seen any symptoms so far. I did however have a couple of older birds become symptomatic in late winter. One recovered and broody reared chicks a few months later..... so far those chicks are fine as mentioned above and are 6 months old. The other sadly went downhill and died from a secondary respiratory infection.

It is entirely possible that this rooster has been carrying the virus from being a chick and perhaps recovered from an earlier outbreak when he was young before he turned up at the OP's home and it has remained dormant in his system until now when he is suffering a second outbreak.

Well he is more gimped up like his neck is all weak. He is eating though. I hope he didn't have trauma last night when I went to put him in the coop, he got his beak caught in the fence but got it unstuck. Idk how to handicap proof his coop to get in. I know he gets stressed me grabbing him every night. Somehow he makes it out but I guess thats easier to get out than to get in

 

[duluthralphie]

That's a good way to look at it.
I must say that after all this time, I've never had a case of it. It is my understanding that we should all expect the virus to be present everywhere. If that's the case then there are lots of birds that are immune. I've never had a vaccinated bird.

Hopefully you did not jinx yourself by voicing that...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hopefully you did not jinx yourself by voicing that...

Hopefully I've insulated myself by having a closed flock of birds that have never had symptoms. The last time I brought in outside birds was probably 6 years ago.

 

[duluthralphie]

Hopefully I've insulated myself by having a closed flock of birds that have never had symptoms. The last time I brought in outside birds was probably 6 years ago.

With marak's you can never be sure. Some darn tweety bird can bring it in on his little toes...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

With marak's you can never be sure. Some darn tweety bird can bring it in on his little toes...

I imagine it is already here.

 

[shannon84]

 

[shannon84]

Does his color look ok to you all on his comb?

 

[shannon84]

I would just treat him as you have been, and leave him with his girls. The b complex vitamins are always good with a suspected case of Mareks, just to rule out a vitamin deficiency. The thiamine can also increase his appetite. Since you do not yet have a Mareks diagnosis confirmed by a necropsy, I hope that if you do lose him, that you will get him tested through a necropsy.

Once on a TV vet show, a rooster looked to have Mareks, and after he was treated for an infection in his spleen, they found that the inflammation and swelling was causing his lameness. That is a rare occurance, I realize, but I hope that he doesn’t have it. People have been posting about hypericum or SJW for years, and I think most everyone has given it a try, but as said earlier, it would take a lab study to prove that it works.

@Eggcessive I noticed a yellow fungus on my roosters wattle. Two weeks ago. Could that be causing him issues?

 

[Trishamn]

I've been using hypericum (Hyland's) for about 3 years since one of my birds passed from Mereks (UW confirmed necropsy and test). I wanted to make sure that I saved the rest of my flock. One of my birds had a bit of a rough time, falling over, issues laying so I thought I'd give it a go. I mix 2-3 tablets into some yogurt with a plastic spoon and it's their treat. I hope that I don't jinx myself but it's been over 3 years and all my girls are laying and healthy. So, I don't know if this has helped or not but it's pretty good that I've had no death or further symptoms in the 3 years since I've started them on it. This is what I use. https://www.swansonvitamins.com/hyl...DqTHBEGiG33Eal_MC0Rb7d1T8ihVUFaRoCHCoQAvD_BwE

 

[mamachickenfarmer]

I've been using hypericum (Hyland's) for about 3 years since one of my birds passed from Mereks (UW confirmed necropsy and test). I wanted to make sure that I saved the rest of my flock. One of my birds had a bit of a rough time, falling over, issues laying so I thought I'd give it a go. I mix 2-3 tablets into some yogurt with a plastic spoon and it's their treat. I hope that I don't jinx myself but it's been over 3 years and all my girls are laying and healthy. So, I don't know if this has helped or not but it's pretty good that I've had no death or further symptoms in the 3 years since I've started them on it. This is what I use. https://www.swansonvitamins.com/hyl...DqTHBEGiG33Eal_MC0Rb7d1T8ihVUFaRoCHCoQAvD_BwE

Hi! This is so relieving to hear! We have about 35 birds and have been battling Mareks. How are your ladies? Have you ever put the pellets in their water? Any insight on dosing?

Thank you!