Help! Sick flock! Is this Marek's Disease?

[threehorses]

Did you mistype grain - and mean that you're feeding their age-specific products? One with a vitamin/mineral complete package even if the mash itself is grain based?

p.s. I just emailed them to see what the deal is on the vitamin/mineral package and try to get a complete ingredient list for their Grower/Finisher.

 

[Namble]

If they are barking they might be dogs?

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
I'm not sure that now is the time to joke about this. She's very upset and we're trying our best to help her.

Did you have help or support to offer?

 

[orplove]

Hi All,
I think that i did misrepresent what i meant by "grain". I meant to stay gower finisher pellet; I guess i just tend to lump everything that i buy at the co-op as grain.

Glenda, I do think your mash diet sounds wonderful, but i am wondering about OD ing my birds on vitamins right now as they are currently getting the Polyvisol Enfamil by beak as recommended by dlhunicorn. Would adding all the other stuff to the mash react badly with the Polyvisol? i hope this is not a dumb question too, but what is ACV?

Three horses, did you hear back form Poulin? (thanks for e-mailing them by the way

)I would hate to think i have been feeding a non complete grower! Poulin came highly recommended to me by a close friend who had kept large flocks of birds for years..... but you know what??? My Buff orps, the ones that are eight months old never had any issues, but i had them on Blue Seal chicken feeds.... hmmm???
Do you think i should start them on Sulmet or Tylan for the sneezing/cough, or wait a bit?

I don't see much improvement yet...however, they don't seem to have gotten any worse at least. I did see Slate (the cockerel) stand up almost fully on his right leg though! ...but then he went back down to his hocks and the left foot seems the same.... but at least he stretched a bit! Maybe that is a slight improvement, or maybe its just wishful thinking. Its awfully early to see improvement i guess...

I know i sound redundant, but i am really grateful to all who have posted and offered suggestions! Its nice to know i am not alone!

 

[Mabel's Mom]

I have to admit, I'm totally new to this site and I didn't read over every post word for word so my apologies if I'm doing something wrong... Has anyone ever heard of perosis or had a chicken that had it? This seems to fit the description as well. I'd be interested to see if anyone has experience with perosis and what the outcome was. I have 3 chickens at home and volunteer at an animal rescue that currently has a duckling with the same leg issue.

 

[threehorses]

ORPLOVE: Well I read between the lines and assumed that's what you meant. I think the confusion is the company is "Poulin grain" and then they don't list that it's not just grain. But if they have things divided, SURELY it's fortified and complete. Unfortunately no email back from them yet. But YW - I'm big about knowing different feed brands and designs as that's a passion of mine.

I figured the one I emailed them about was the one you were using.

I suspect it's fine - but wish they'd put an option to read the label like many companies do. BlueSeal, btw, is supposed to be a really nice feed.

On the sneezing - you know, i'd just start it. That's not my usual answer, but I'm getting a bit punchy about respiratory things lately.

MABEL'S MOM: Yes, perosis is a manganese deficiency resulting in joint abnormalities both in appearance and function. Like any joint deficiency, it can result in a lack of ambulatory function and thus sometimes starvation and thereafter death. Manganese and choline are usually sufficiently provided in a complete age-appropriate crumble or pellet, but it does happen. Tendon slips are common with that. It's corrected with supplementation.

Incidentally with ducklings and goslings, I've more often had problems with them getting too much protein and not enough D3/calcium (or too many grains too early) to support their body weight. That's what I'd rule out first with the duckling.

 

[orplove]

Hi Threehorses,
Tylan is on order too. I will start that as soon as i get it. You know, i think that Slate is better already? When i came home from work, he was standing up!

I can't believe it! I am keeping my fingers crossed for continued improvement! Thanks again and i will post pics again soon to show his improvement! You guys are lifesavers!

 

[threehorses]

Yay for Slate! Well that's good news!

By the way, I heard from Poulin today:

Hi Nathalie,

I am attaching you a brochure on the poultry feeds and also an ingredient listing for layer pellet and grower.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Layer Pellet ingredients-- Distillers, Poultry vitamin pack, Soymeal, Wheat, corn meal.

Grower crumblets ingredients- Distillers, Poultry vitamin pack, soymeal, wheat, corn meal.

All of Poulin Grain's products are designed for specific ages, breeds and performance and balanced for the nutrition needed.

Thanks for your interest in Poulin Grain."

The "brochure" was the same one that they have on their page. /sigh

But at least they confirm that these are "balanced for the nutrition needed". And the ingredients confirm a vitamin mineral package.

They're just so vague aren't they? I was looking for a nice label.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Assume the "fortification" of the feed is minimal... (and seeing how the NRC recquirements are way out of date and supplements appear to be the "norm" now in the industry ....)
you can add AviaCharge 2000 through their feed in addition to the polyvisol no problem as this is a daily formulation supplement.
You can also chop up some dried cranberries and sprinkle on top...
(just dont go overboard and give too much where they pig out)

 

[Bizzybirdy]

What kind of shavings are you using???

CEDAR shavings or pine shavings mixed with cedar will cause the symptoms you stated, respiratory and otherwise. Cedar shavings are extremely toxic to all birds!

I use wheat straw for bedding and aspen bedding if I need to use wood shavings of any kind. It is non toxic...I use Aspen for nest box bedding for my parrots also. TSC has large compacted bales of Aspen...