Mamagirl3
Songster
I have read as much as possible here and on line. But, if she has mareks then i have questions?
First time we have ever had this-- had chickens this time 4+ years. ( have raised chickens at other times when permitted where we lived over our 48 yrs together) never paralysis like this.
1) how long does this take to progress to the point we know she has no hope of recovery? With every aspect of her being normal except not standing- it is hard to decide to put her down.
2) since the 2nd episode of not standing we have been giving her vitamin supplements orally an
d in water ( under her situation we are not sure how much she gets thru water)
What else should we give her?
3) not knowing what is causing this -- should we not eat her eggs? Have not because of not knowing.. have scrambled some for her... but maybe that isnt good for her either?
4) since mareks is so contagious when will others start coming down with it? What is the incubation time?
5) and... how did she get it? Where did it come from? When we started this flock almost 5 years ago they were vaccinated at the hatchery. All the others we have now were born here by broody hens. The hen with problems now is 2 years old... hatched here.
THANK YOU for your time!
THE FACTS SURROUNDING OUR
MZ GOLDIE- BUFF ORPINGTON
hens have coop with auto door. And completely enclosed pen. Let out to free range almost every day.. except severe weather and winters.
We check eggs twice daily when at all possible. When entering coop to get eggs mid morning she was discovered to be just inside the auto door... when talked to she was trying to go out door but couldnt get up? On inspection we noticed she had an area on her side - not under wing but from wing back.. that most of the feathers were gone with some skin still covered with soft down type feathers. This area extended from her side up to include an area on her back. Found no puncture wounds, no blood, could see no injury other than a small area about the size of a dime that looked like it might be a bruise? Took her to our hospital we have.. not near pen. Soaked her in epsom salt bath which she seemed to enjoy. At this time we suspected an injury but wondered if a critter tried to get her how did she get back into the coop since she couldnt stand. Once in her cage we gave her water and feed and a scrambled egg. She drank water and ignored food and kept drinking water until i felt i should take it away for a little bit then let her have it back. That made us wonder just how long had she been without water? For sure she was not in there about 5:30ish the night before because that was last egg grab. As they come in and into coop to roost before door closes, unless there is a need we usually dont go into the coop.. just a look to make sure no critter in pen before closing it up for the night. The coop door opens auto in the mornings and they are in the pen until let out. We found her about 11ish the next morning. When her water was removed she immediately ate her egg.. after a little bit i gave her water again. She drank a good bit.. pecked gingerly at her food and was done. Late that afternoon noon we gave her fresh water and gave her more feed and a few eggshells. She immediately took care of all the eggshells.. they love them! It is there human equivalent of chocolate! She seemed content.. singing her little trills she always does when we talk to her. The next morning all her feed was gone she was happy to see us.. brought her another egg to eat and in turn she had a new egg for us. In 6 days she began standing-- we moved her feed/water back to normal place and she walked slowly but navigated well. When we went in to check on her she was always standing. For a week we continued to keep her in the hospital making sure everything was ok and she was strong enough to go back with the others. Then after being great for a week one morning she couldnt stand again? At which time i began searching for answers. Began with the vitamins. She has continued to sit up almost like standing erect except she cant stand when we come in.. trills and sings happy to see us. If the flock get around the building she is in.. and she hears the rooster crow.. she answers him! The only thing new we have noticed is she will sorta shake her head.. a few times.. like saying NO-- but it is not always... just from time to time. She has continued to lay eggs 4 out of 5 days. She seems happy, alert, and begs for treats- mealworms. We had added a little flaked oyster shell to her cage when she began standing and she has been eating it. We give her eggshells every few days as she would normally get. She is still eating normally ... talking cheerfully to us when we are with her. She has never had her legs out stretched like pics show. They are under her like she just had sat down normally. On the first day she couldnt stand again, she got another epsom salt soak. At that time one of her feet when not against my hand or lap seemed to let the toes curl a little but not the other side. But once sitting back in the cage with her foot against the bottom of the cage the foot did not do that. At day 4 there is no change, that foot has gotten no worse.. and the other one is normal. No wing droop on either side and when we hold her up she will flap her wings pleasingly... there is no greying or pupil difference. Today hubby didnt close door when going in to check on her and a few of the hens followed behind... he said she was so excited.. she kept trying to stand to see them.. clucked at them and they clucked back at her and she seemed to be happy they were there.
At this point, we dont know what we should do? That is why i am reaching out for advice! She does not seem to be in distress-- but if she is... WE DONT WANT THAT!
First time we have ever had this-- had chickens this time 4+ years. ( have raised chickens at other times when permitted where we lived over our 48 yrs together) never paralysis like this.
1) how long does this take to progress to the point we know she has no hope of recovery? With every aspect of her being normal except not standing- it is hard to decide to put her down.
2) since the 2nd episode of not standing we have been giving her vitamin supplements orally an
d in water ( under her situation we are not sure how much she gets thru water)
What else should we give her?
3) not knowing what is causing this -- should we not eat her eggs? Have not because of not knowing.. have scrambled some for her... but maybe that isnt good for her either?
4) since mareks is so contagious when will others start coming down with it? What is the incubation time?
5) and... how did she get it? Where did it come from? When we started this flock almost 5 years ago they were vaccinated at the hatchery. All the others we have now were born here by broody hens. The hen with problems now is 2 years old... hatched here.
THANK YOU for your time!
THE FACTS SURROUNDING OUR
MZ GOLDIE- BUFF ORPINGTON
hens have coop with auto door. And completely enclosed pen. Let out to free range almost every day.. except severe weather and winters.
We check eggs twice daily when at all possible. When entering coop to get eggs mid morning she was discovered to be just inside the auto door... when talked to she was trying to go out door but couldnt get up? On inspection we noticed she had an area on her side - not under wing but from wing back.. that most of the feathers were gone with some skin still covered with soft down type feathers. This area extended from her side up to include an area on her back. Found no puncture wounds, no blood, could see no injury other than a small area about the size of a dime that looked like it might be a bruise? Took her to our hospital we have.. not near pen. Soaked her in epsom salt bath which she seemed to enjoy. At this time we suspected an injury but wondered if a critter tried to get her how did she get back into the coop since she couldnt stand. Once in her cage we gave her water and feed and a scrambled egg. She drank water and ignored food and kept drinking water until i felt i should take it away for a little bit then let her have it back. That made us wonder just how long had she been without water? For sure she was not in there about 5:30ish the night before because that was last egg grab. As they come in and into coop to roost before door closes, unless there is a need we usually dont go into the coop.. just a look to make sure no critter in pen before closing it up for the night. The coop door opens auto in the mornings and they are in the pen until let out. We found her about 11ish the next morning. When her water was removed she immediately ate her egg.. after a little bit i gave her water again. She drank a good bit.. pecked gingerly at her food and was done. Late that afternoon noon we gave her fresh water and gave her more feed and a few eggshells. She immediately took care of all the eggshells.. they love them! It is there human equivalent of chocolate! She seemed content.. singing her little trills she always does when we talk to her. The next morning all her feed was gone she was happy to see us.. brought her another egg to eat and in turn she had a new egg for us. In 6 days she began standing-- we moved her feed/water back to normal place and she walked slowly but navigated well. When we went in to check on her she was always standing. For a week we continued to keep her in the hospital making sure everything was ok and she was strong enough to go back with the others. Then after being great for a week one morning she couldnt stand again? At which time i began searching for answers. Began with the vitamins. She has continued to sit up almost like standing erect except she cant stand when we come in.. trills and sings happy to see us. If the flock get around the building she is in.. and she hears the rooster crow.. she answers him! The only thing new we have noticed is she will sorta shake her head.. a few times.. like saying NO-- but it is not always... just from time to time. She has continued to lay eggs 4 out of 5 days. She seems happy, alert, and begs for treats- mealworms. We had added a little flaked oyster shell to her cage when she began standing and she has been eating it. We give her eggshells every few days as she would normally get. She is still eating normally ... talking cheerfully to us when we are with her. She has never had her legs out stretched like pics show. They are under her like she just had sat down normally. On the first day she couldnt stand again, she got another epsom salt soak. At that time one of her feet when not against my hand or lap seemed to let the toes curl a little but not the other side. But once sitting back in the cage with her foot against the bottom of the cage the foot did not do that. At day 4 there is no change, that foot has gotten no worse.. and the other one is normal. No wing droop on either side and when we hold her up she will flap her wings pleasingly... there is no greying or pupil difference. Today hubby didnt close door when going in to check on her and a few of the hens followed behind... he said she was so excited.. she kept trying to stand to see them.. clucked at them and they clucked back at her and she seemed to be happy they were there.
At this point, we dont know what we should do? That is why i am reaching out for advice! She does not seem to be in distress-- but if she is... WE DONT WANT THAT!
