- Apr 15, 2012
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Hi Everyone,
I need some help in identifying a problem I've had with 2 silkies. As i only have.... or had 2 I could really use some advice. Last week i noticed that one of my silkies was getting to be a bit on the thin side, had a pooey bum and wasn't really walking around when i let my chooks out to free range so i was kind of thinking she might have had marek's disease but wasn't sure. The next day i was in town and when i came home she was dead, i didn't know what to think. Anyway my other silkie was fine, getting fatter and 100% clean and free ranging, then today i let out my chooks and my rooster decided he was going to chase my silkie. I walked my silkie up the paddock away from my rooster and went inside. When i came out to check on my silkie i found her collapsed on the ground and blood in her beak. Her breathing was muffled and sounded like she had liquid on her lungs. I had no idea what to do. I isolated her in a large cardboard box and went to get some water and bedding. I returned to her having a fit and cackling and then she went limp. She was dead. I wasn't sure because she had looked so healthy yesterday. But i have a few questions anyway.
Firstly did both silkies have Marek's or did they have something else?
Secondly is Marek's contagious throughout the rest of my flock? (I have araucanas, a frizzle, a bantam, Barnevelders and both silver and gold spangled hamburgs.) I know there are no cures for marek's but i need to know if there is any hope for the rest of my birds.
Oh i almost forgot the silkies were about 7-9 months old.
Any advice or knowledge on the topic would be greatly appreciated Chirpy Chickens
I need some help in identifying a problem I've had with 2 silkies. As i only have.... or had 2 I could really use some advice. Last week i noticed that one of my silkies was getting to be a bit on the thin side, had a pooey bum and wasn't really walking around when i let my chooks out to free range so i was kind of thinking she might have had marek's disease but wasn't sure. The next day i was in town and when i came home she was dead, i didn't know what to think. Anyway my other silkie was fine, getting fatter and 100% clean and free ranging, then today i let out my chooks and my rooster decided he was going to chase my silkie. I walked my silkie up the paddock away from my rooster and went inside. When i came out to check on my silkie i found her collapsed on the ground and blood in her beak. Her breathing was muffled and sounded like she had liquid on her lungs. I had no idea what to do. I isolated her in a large cardboard box and went to get some water and bedding. I returned to her having a fit and cackling and then she went limp. She was dead. I wasn't sure because she had looked so healthy yesterday. But i have a few questions anyway.
Firstly did both silkies have Marek's or did they have something else?
Secondly is Marek's contagious throughout the rest of my flock? (I have araucanas, a frizzle, a bantam, Barnevelders and both silver and gold spangled hamburgs.) I know there are no cures for marek's but i need to know if there is any hope for the rest of my birds.
Oh i almost forgot the silkies were about 7-9 months old.
Any advice or knowledge on the topic would be greatly appreciated Chirpy Chickens
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