Help! Over 20 birds lost

[CarolinaHen]

I'm posting this for a friend that isn't on BYC. She has been having birds die left and right. Took one to the vet and was told it was CRD. She has treated with antibiotics, fogged the pen, and is still losing birds. Here is what she sent me to post on here:

Crd present in the pen. Eating. Healthy appetite. Will take treats. Drinking. Active. One on medicated feed. One not. Attempts to walk but acts drunk. Topples forward if lean forward... rolls to the side...kicks to regain balance. Can kinda balance if put in an upright position but any attempts to walk and must falls over forward or to the side. Not roosters. Wonder if crd infection is affecting brain. Seems to me to be neurological.

 

[boskelli1571]

Hi there,
Don't you think this sounds like Mareks?? The neurological form of Mareks' includes labored breathing - are her birds vaccinated?

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

2x on the Marek's. She should get them vaccinated if she gets any more to replace the ones she lost. Hatcheries charge less than $1 per chick which is worth it if it adds years to their lives.

 

[imtrying]

what are they being fed?

 

[CarolinaHen]

I talked to her last night and she said it doesn't sound like Maerk's. I asked her if she had checked for mites or lice. She went to check on one that she had inside and found him COVERED in mites and lice. She bathed him and one other one who was also full of mites. She now is going to have to bathe her entire flock, treat the coop, and all of the pens. She has nearly 80 birds, so she has a huge job ahead of her. Any suggestions on the best way to treat for mites?
Thanks!

 

[casportpony]

I talked to her last night and she said it doesn't sound like Maerk's. I asked her if she had checked for mites or lice. She went to check on one that she had inside and found him COVERED in mites and lice. She bathed him and one other one who was also full of mites. She now is going to have to bathe her entire flock, treat the coop, and all of the pens. She has nearly 80 birds, so she has a huge job ahead of her. Any suggestions on the best way to treat for mites?
Thanks!

X3 on Marek's. Sounds like she has lots of dusting to to do. If another bird dies she should have a necropsy done.

Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center
500 Clemson Road, PO Box 102406
Columbia, SC 29229 Phone 803-788-2260 Fax 803-788-8058
http://www.clemson.edu/public/lph/lab/

If she's not in SC, this link has other labs listed by state:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

This link shows how to send one for necropsy:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

-Kathy

 

[cafarmgirl]

I talked to her last night and she said it doesn't sound like Maerk's. I asked her if she had checked for mites or lice. She went to check on one that she had inside and found him COVERED in mites and lice. She bathed him and one other one who was also full of mites. She now is going to have to bathe her entire flock, treat the coop, and all of the pens. She has nearly 80 birds, so she has a huge job ahead of her. Any suggestions on the best way to treat for mites?
Thanks!

To treat for mites dust the birds with Poultry Dust or Sevin and same with the coop. Sevin spray is nice for the coop because it is easy to get it into all the little nooks and crannies where the bugs hide. And be sure to retreat every 7 to 10 days until she stops seeing the mites. It is tedious but it's the only way to keep up with the hatch cycle. Miss some bugs and they repopulate very quickly. Mites can be very hard to get rid of.

I do agree with Kathy, I'd still have one sent for necropsy if she looses any more in case there is still something else going on.

 

[CarolinaHen]

I have suggested that to her multiple times, as well as decreasing the number of birds she keeps per coop. She doesn't think it is Marek's because the eyes are not changing color. I would have had mine tested long ago! Thanks so much for all of the info. I will pass it on to her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Your friend needs to learn about Mareks disease. It causes the symptoms she is seeing. It doesn't always affect the eyes. There are 4 types of Mareks, each one affecting the nervous system, the skin and feathers, one that causes tumors, and the eye form--each bird has different symptoms. Mareks will decrease the immunity to other diseases such as CRD, coccidiosis, enteritis, and others. She also shouldn't be bathing birds in winter for mites and lice when they can be dusted with Sevin dust or permethrin. Here are some articles she needs to read:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/90/mareks-disease
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/502

 

[casportpony]

I have suggested that to her multiple times, as well as decreasing the number of birds she keeps per coop. She doesn't think it is Marek's because the eyes are not changing color. I would have had mine tested long ago! Thanks so much for all of the info. I will pass it on to her.

There are four forms of Marek's, visceral, neuro, cutaneous and ocular. Each one can present in a different way.
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf

Pictures below are from:
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease









































This was my rooster:

-Kathy