nevermind everyone, i couldn't get on the computer to see the suggestions that you guys made but i bet they were helpful, anyway, i came out today and she was dead in the nest . . .
I hate to continue this post but, thought I'd ask, isn't mareks disease transmitted through feather dander. As per an avian vet friend of mine he had mentioned this before and stated that if they breath that they are either carriers and or with weak immune systems they own the disease in which is contagious to all chickens for miles through out the air until it desinigrates on it's own and or has nothing to attach itself to. I remember him telling me that if mine ever had it that my neighbors down the way could catch it also. I also think that after a certain age that it's not mareks anymore, it's lymphoma (sp) or something of the sorts!
I don't know which part of Aus you live in but I wouldn't think it'd be a Vit D thing since it's summer. Maybe Mareks... I dunno. Sorry for your loss. Maybe an autopsy is in order?
i'm sorry she died... there must have more goiin on than she could handle.
you did all you could and you learned a whole lot of info that will come in handy when there is a next time..... and there always is
From what I've been reading, and I have had some of this happen to me, Marek's is somewhat rare. Key word - SOMEWHAT. Not saying it isn't, but since I lost a few birds from this chicken paraylsis, I have also saved a few in the past few weeks, and the vitamin regimen was the thing that saved mine. Baby vitamins, two droppers full twice a day, for 5 days, then vitamins and electrolytes in the water, not both at the same time.