I am so grateful to those of you who have discussed your struggles with Marek's Disease on this site! With the help of your wisdom, experiences and speculations, my lovely 6 month-old Cuckoo Maran is as good as new! She runs, she flies, she jumps, she eats, and she can once again outrun the relentless roosters, who pester the pullets constantly!
About two weeks ago, Harriet (the Cuckoo Maran) could not walk properly. The first day, she staggered as though she had been drinking. The next day, I found her lying in the yard, unable to rise, and with her legs splayed foreword and backward, in the typical Marek's posture. I was so frustrated! Harriet was the third among my flock to develop the symptoms; the first two, both favorites of mine, had died "of" Marek's.
In each case, it was their inability to control their movements, and my inability to be constantly in attendance, that was the cause of death. My beloved Polish hen suffocated in her bedding; her mate, also a glorious white-crested Polish, died on a hot day when he wandered out into the sun, and apparently succumbed to exposure. I am still agonized over my failure to take better care, and more importantly, my failure to research deeply enough to find the treatment that has, apparently, given Harriet her full mobility back.
HERE IS WHAT I DID: Because in the posts I discovered this time, you informed me that Marek's is akin to herpes, I immediately began to mix acyclovir (Zovirax) into her water and food. I have gel-caps, prescribed for my pesky cold-sores; I just opened one, and stirred the contents into the water, then did the same for the food. I was afraid of some sort of toxic overdose, but more afraid of watching another little friend slowly and miserably waste away.
THEN, also on this site, I read about St. John's Wort, in a different thread. We do not have a store within bicycle-distance that carries it, so I ordered it on Ebay. It was not expensive, but it did take about a week to get here. That was too long, for this worried chicken-mom. So, when my kids came to visit me a couple of days later, I asked them, instead of some fabulous treat, would they please bring me St, John's Wort. With raised brows, they brought me the fabulous stuff. Again, it came in gel-caps, so again, in addition to the acyclovir, I stirred the contents of one gel-cap into each, Harriet's food and water. I kept both dishes full, and changed them for fresh, daily.
Harriet's progress from that point wan not an instant miracle, but she has gotten better every day, until today, her personality is the only lasting change from her pre-Marek's self. Harriet has become cuddly, affectionate, emotionally-needy, and she is in love with my husband. I try not to be wounded by her choice, as it was I who nursed her, not he. But, I can't fault her taste; he is attractive to most chicks! (Hee-hee...)
So, there it is: in Harriet's case, acyclovir, St. John's Wort, either, or both in combination, have given my sweet little hen a recovery, at least for now. I realize that it can recur, and it will almost certainly crop up in other flock members. But, if so, I will not feel so helpless.
Thanks again, all who have posted about Marek's. I am truly grateful.
About two weeks ago, Harriet (the Cuckoo Maran) could not walk properly. The first day, she staggered as though she had been drinking. The next day, I found her lying in the yard, unable to rise, and with her legs splayed foreword and backward, in the typical Marek's posture. I was so frustrated! Harriet was the third among my flock to develop the symptoms; the first two, both favorites of mine, had died "of" Marek's.
In each case, it was their inability to control their movements, and my inability to be constantly in attendance, that was the cause of death. My beloved Polish hen suffocated in her bedding; her mate, also a glorious white-crested Polish, died on a hot day when he wandered out into the sun, and apparently succumbed to exposure. I am still agonized over my failure to take better care, and more importantly, my failure to research deeply enough to find the treatment that has, apparently, given Harriet her full mobility back.
HERE IS WHAT I DID: Because in the posts I discovered this time, you informed me that Marek's is akin to herpes, I immediately began to mix acyclovir (Zovirax) into her water and food. I have gel-caps, prescribed for my pesky cold-sores; I just opened one, and stirred the contents into the water, then did the same for the food. I was afraid of some sort of toxic overdose, but more afraid of watching another little friend slowly and miserably waste away.
THEN, also on this site, I read about St. John's Wort, in a different thread. We do not have a store within bicycle-distance that carries it, so I ordered it on Ebay. It was not expensive, but it did take about a week to get here. That was too long, for this worried chicken-mom. So, when my kids came to visit me a couple of days later, I asked them, instead of some fabulous treat, would they please bring me St, John's Wort. With raised brows, they brought me the fabulous stuff. Again, it came in gel-caps, so again, in addition to the acyclovir, I stirred the contents of one gel-cap into each, Harriet's food and water. I kept both dishes full, and changed them for fresh, daily.
Harriet's progress from that point wan not an instant miracle, but she has gotten better every day, until today, her personality is the only lasting change from her pre-Marek's self. Harriet has become cuddly, affectionate, emotionally-needy, and she is in love with my husband. I try not to be wounded by her choice, as it was I who nursed her, not he. But, I can't fault her taste; he is attractive to most chicks! (Hee-hee...)
So, there it is: in Harriet's case, acyclovir, St. John's Wort, either, or both in combination, have given my sweet little hen a recovery, at least for now. I realize that it can recur, and it will almost certainly crop up in other flock members. But, if so, I will not feel so helpless.
Thanks again, all who have posted about Marek's. I am truly grateful.
