Hen can't walk.... why?

[ranchgirlcooks]

Where do I buy vaccinations to do it myself?

 

[justplainbatty]

Where do I buy vaccinations to do it myself?

You can get them on line or maybe from vets. I believe it is too late to vaccinate your current birds for mareks but there are other vacs you may be able to give if you wish. Next time you get chicks, you can request the hatchery or breeder to vaccinate for mareks or if you are hatching them yourself. The vac is given on first day of life. There are particular dosing schedules for each vaccine.

 

[ranchgirlcooks]

That you all for your advice. She is still alert and eating very well. I took her away from the coop today and cleaned her behind, her vent was clear but she did have some poop on her feathers. I was touching her legs and moving them very gently and I can tell that she can still feel her legs so not paralyzed but I did feel her thighs the other day to see if I could feel a break or anything and they def. felt plumper the other day....I feel that she is eating the same amount as when she could walk so possible her legs are wasting away? Her eyes are not cloudy and she is pooping fine. I'm going to give her some electrolytes tomorrow and see how that goes.

 

[justplainbatty]

That you all for your advice. She is still alert and eating very well. I took her away from the coop today and cleaned her behind, her vent was clear but she did have some poop on her feathers. I was touching her legs and moving them very gently and I can tell that she can still feel her legs so not paralyzed but I did feel her thighs the other day to see if I could feel a break or anything and they def. felt plumper the other day....I feel that she is eating the same amount as when she could walk so possible her legs are wasting away? Her eyes are not cloudy and she is pooping fine. I'm going to give her some electrolytes tomorrow and see how that goes.

YW. She could have some wasting, hard to know since she is new to you (except compare to another bird) Just my thoughts here, I don't know what you feed, I'll give a guide (based on my own practices) Purina All Flock, Scratch grains (small amounts) Free choice oyster shell and grit every day. Treats should not be more than 10% of daily diet ( especially free range birds) Your bird having neurological symptoms, in case it is malnutrition (or mareks), 6 drops of polyvisol infant vitamins w/o iron per Qt of water daily. Polyvisol has many of the B vitamins needed to correct malnutrition/neurological symptoms. PT, a good idea- letting her curl feet on your arm or finger, range of motion exercise if it isn't terribly painful. 81mg chew-able cherry baby aspirin quartered 2x daily for pain if needed (probably not). The only other diagnosis I am aware of would be ascites, tumors similar to Mareks but not contagious. The tumors can cause pressure on organs (affect breathing and heart function, egg laying, etc) or spine (pressing on nerves), creating immobility/paralysis.
High protein snacks are best for her right now such as cooked eggs and meal worms. When she is better, BOSS, greens etc., will be fine. the reason I suggest All Flock is that the protein is a little higher than layer but with less calcium, better for non-layers and cockerels. With free choice oyster, layers will eat what they need.
I hope I have been helpful with this info, good luck to you both! Update sometime please?

 

[justplainbatty]

HI,
We are 1 week into dealing with a 5month old that has slowly lost it's mobility. Please see my thread. We also got 3 at the same time and the other 2 are healthy and happy.
I think it is either Marek's or malnutrition.
I am guessing that the cure for both is the same.
But I am not sure, and have not found any concrete evidence from others who have had chickens that recovered from Marek's. I think that would be helpful at this stage.
Good luck, I will check back to see how your both going.

@seminolewind (moderator) has dealt with Mareks in her flock for years, look her up!

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
Very nice, Batty. I agree with what you're saying. it does sound like Marek's and the age is right, but I would still treat for a vitamin B deficiency. Make sure she stays hydrated and eating. Dehydration can cause those neuro like symptoms too .

Ranchgirlcooks, to get most of the basic information please read Nambroth's Big Marek's FAQ -the link is at the bottom of my posts. I hear a few of the hatcheries sell Marek's vaccine but it needs to be given day one of life. And follow Batty's advice. The twisted neck is something different from Marek's. I've had a few for no idea what so ever, and just now, I have a 4 week old chick that started turning her neck, so I kept tubing water, then water and baby bird food, and it stopped. I hope it stays that way.

Marek's birds some will continue to eat, but lose weight, or look like they're eating but have lost their depth perception. You can never tell which birds will die from it.

I got my Marek's bird from a well known breeder. I know it was that bird because all the others had been hatched at home here by me. I do vaccinate my own but with this last batch, I just don't want to do it anymore. I worry too much.

 

[alibabba]

I have Marek's in my flock. (only one pullet succomed so far, just after POL 3 montys ago in January, she layed six eggs and then was ill and passed, Necropsy was visceral Marek's.

I have 2 in the infirmary now. weak legs, sort of drunk staggery. Not stiff paralyzed, but possibly nerve issues. Intention tremors (like, "I want to jump up on that perch, but my leg wont work" and it tremors and twitches). Hen falls on her face and rooster falls down sometimes when he defecates. (He was laying on his side unable to move at all the day after II brought him in. I made a sling for him. But it depressed him. You could see it on his face. He is standing on his own now,

It may be botulism or toxoplasmosis, or fungus intoxication.....among everything else of course.

If Marek's I know mine eventually succumb. If not, there are many treatments I am trying. Epsom salt or Charcoal flush.(pretty harmless, and might help, but you have to do it as soon as symptoms appear to clear the toxins and save the nerves), Worming, Corid...
And food, the roo has not lost weight! Eggs (raw in bread) or cooked a bit in the micro, Tuna, tomato, cat food (wet food or dried and soaked)
After 2 weeks they are now interested steel ground oats and scratch also.

I have them in low storage boxes on paper towels (shoe box size, for easy cleaning) with a heating pad on low in the pan under the cage. Medium was too hot for their feet. I just include this, because I struggled at first to figure a way to care for them, because they can't walk in a cage or big box. These are just their size and they don't flip over or struggle because the side support them.

Hen got dehydrated and a member on BYC, a tube feeding guru helped her through.

Oh, I have been researching nerve issues....protein is good, selenium (red meat, fish, shellfish) tons of herbal ideas.... They do love the "tiny shrimp" I bought for ahem me...to share with the chickens...




Best of Luck


ETA - a bunch of stuff

 

[ranchgirlcooks]

Thank you SO much for this advice. I did give her some cooked egg today and she gobbled it up. I had been feeding all of the chickens the same thing: Purina crumbles, eggshells, oats, seeds and nuts and veggies/fruit. I've not seen her drink. I bring her water to her several times a day but she does not drink it. She box is a good idea...she can wiggle her way so that she is against 2 sides of the coop and that helps to keep her from falling around....the past few days she was at least able to tuck her feet under her and now they are just stretched out behind her and curled up. She has such a great appetite and clear eyes and is so alert that I feel there may be hope for her but goodness, how long do I let her live like this? I have some younger pullets in with her so she is not alone but the older ones will pick on her so I keep them in the big area of the coop. I am going to spend the better part of the day tomorrow getting her to drink more and maybe just do a little massage and see what I can find on her body...nothing seems to be swollen or enlarged elsewhere....just those legs that do nothing :/

 

[alibabba]

rachgirlchooks, I sent a pm. Let me know if you didn't get it, okay?

 

[Akrnaf2]

It sims that you have,unfortunately,Marek's in your floc, the infected hen is almost
For certain in no chance of recovery situation, you must think about the other chickens health. They are for certainly exposed to the virus also. but the exposer to the virus doesn't means that they will be sick, they can live as carriers and Fulfill their lives in good health. One of the main things to keep them healthy is the amount of stress they are exposed to.
Marek's disease is caused by virus from the Herpes viruses family. And like Herpes Simplex-1 in humans, it's very common and I would estimated and say that there is no place and no floc of chickens that isn't affected by this virus. The epidemiology of the virus and especial the strand that infect the skein and the feathers follicles, shoes that this virus spreads billions of viruses every day and they can travel over 60 miles on winds. So its virtually impossible do avoid the exposer to this virus. So what to do? The best thing that you can do is cut down the level of stress in your floc as much as you can! Stress causes the excretion of stress hormones, like Cortisol, in the chicken, and they reduce the efficiency of the immune system, which causes the eruption of diseases like Marek. Some tips for stress free floc:
1. Reduce the changes in the floc to minimum,if you can prefer the method of "all in all out" it for the best.
2. Reduce the changes of coops and habitat.
3. Keep away from the floc pets especially dogs.
4. Keep away from the floc little children that chase the chickens.
5. Give your chicken the best balanced food you can buy.
6.Provide them a good supply of vegetables and fruits.( add hot chili flacks and shredded garlic on a daily bases, to keep down the pathogens load Capsaicin and Allicin do it wonderfully!)
7. Provide them a constant unlimited supply of fresh water.
8. Give them a good shelter from the elements.
9. Keep them happy!( treats,toys, a compost pile, seed some sunflower, and millet seeds in your garden, plant some lettuce or kale plant they can eat etc.)
Good luck!
Akarnf(the Rhinoceros)