How can you tell if it's Maraks?

[seminolewind]

Just as an aside- sometime a bit of food can get lost in a crevice, get wet and mold. It can cause the same symptoms as Marek's. I lost a roo to it earlier this year. Check your coop carefully.

X2

 

[seminolewind]

To my knowlege there is no scientific evidence that Hypericum cures mareks disease. It may help the symptoms which could lead to a recovery, but the bird will still have the virus and it will spread to all corners of your property through the feather dander.

I would get the bird tested at a lab and if it is a positive diagnosis vaccinate all your birds at once, although this is often futile because they would most likely already be infected. Continue to vaccinate all future birds coming to your property.

X2

 

[seminolewind]

I had one hen that was setting on eggs and developed Mareks I continued to massage therapy her legs and kept her close to food and water. Her eggs hatched and the chicks did fine. I also put poly-visol in her water. she recovered for about 5 months but then developed tumers in her belly and we did have to put her down. I have not seen anymore with Mareks with in the flock though.
We did have necropsy done and was confirmed mareks

I'm glad to see you got the necropsy. At least you know

 

[Chopper112]

I am sorry you are overwhelmed, I know the feeling I currently have a rooster and I am trying to determine what wrong. He is unable to walk

So I have been doing a lot of research and this is what I have heard/am trying...
MoodyChicken posted this on another post, I don't know how to just direct you to the link so I will post what she wrote here, maybe it will help. Also I have heard that if its not Marek's, a good starting place is Enfamils Polyvisol w/ out Iron baby liquid vitamins (you can get at any grocery store) also vitamin B crushed up (for a large bird) and vitamin A. I wish you the best of luck! -Cortney




This isn't an emergency, just a helpful tidbit of information to help. Despite what you may have heard, there IS a cure for Marek's Disease. It is a homeopathic remedy called "Hypericum." Hypericum is a small creeping herb that, when used hollistically, numbs nerves and dulls pain. When given to a bird suffering from the symptoms of Marek's Disease, it will cure the bird by working on the theory that "like cures like," in other words, by giving the bird the symptoms it will take the symptoms away. I've used this herb with great success to fully cure birds of Marek's Disease. You can fnd Hypericum at health food stores, $8 for 100 tablets. Hypericum must be diluted before it can be used:

- 1 tablespoon of DISTILLED water per tablet Hypericum (must be distilled water, tap water is ionized and will deactivate the Hypericum)
- MUST be mixed in a GLASS or PLASTIC bowl (metal with react with the water and herb)
- drip 5-10 drops (bantam) or 10-15 drops (large fowl) on the afflicted bird's tongue. Be sure the bird rubs its beak together because the Hypericum MUST touch the sinuses (located on the roof of the mouth) in order to work
- treat every 12 hours (morning and night) with a fresh batch
- recovery may be as quick as 1 day or as slow as several months

The treatment works best if you begin treating early. If you delay treatment, the Hypericum may not work or it may be a very slow recovery. IF YOU OVERDOSE YOUR BIRDS ON HYPERICUM, don't worry. The bird will exhibit extreme symptoms, and make a drastic improvment within a 24 hours. Hypericum is also helpful for pain. Only treat birds that are showing symptoms.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY BIRD HAS MAREK'S DISEASE?

Check your flock history. Marek's Disease affects birds as early as 6 months of age. Symtoms occur most commonly between 6-8 months of age; however, any age bird can become sick, it just becomes less common with age. The incubation period is 2 weeks.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: sudden death (fairly common), depression (common), gradual weight loss (fairly common), neck paralysis (not common), paleness (in conjunction with other symtoms), wing paralysis (common), leg paralysis (most common), star-gazing (fairly common), extreme sudden emaciation (rare), mishapen pupil (not common), gray iris (not common), crazy behavior (rare), unresponsive (common), internal tumor growth (not common), tumors on feather follicles (not common), fearful (not common)

Hope this helps someone!!! big_smile

Last edited by MoodyChicken (02/19/2009 10:21 pm)
-Courtney
Something smells fowl... Moody's Bantams
Modern and Old English Game Bantams

Hello, Please if you could help answer this. I suddenly lost 2- two month old chickens with sudden death. I believed that the one possibly fell off a roosting are up high during the night which I know is uncommon? She was a Bantam and a few like to roost high. Then just today a lost another after a week later to sudden death within 1 hour of me realizing she was I'll. Within 20 mins she went from standing to falling over and died. I read on this post that if it was Maraks disease you can treat them for it. Any suggestions to protect the remaining flock or could I treat them with this holistic medicine now? Please advise! Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Hello, Please if you could help answer this. I suddenly lost 2- two month old chickens with sudden death. I believed that the one possibly fell off a roosting are up high during the night which I know is uncommon? She was a Bantam and a few like to roost high. Then just today a lost another after a week later to sudden death within 1 hour of me realizing she was I'll. Within 20 mins she went from standing to falling over and died. I read on this post that if it was Maraks disease you can treat them for it. Any suggestions to protect the remaining flock or could I treat them with this holistic medicine now? Please advise! Thank you!

The best way to know what killed your chicks is to get a necropsy performed by your state poultry vet. The body should be kept wrapped in plastic on ice in a cooler. Contact them here from this list today:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

There is no proven treatment for Mareks, but it would be important to know if that was a cause. Here is a good link for reading about Mareks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[Chopper112]

The best way to know what killed your chicks is to get a necropsy performed by your state poultry vet. The body should be kept wrapped in plastic on ice in a cooler. Contact them here from this list today:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

There is no proven treatment for Mareks, but it would be important to know if that was a cause. Here is a good link for reading about Mareks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

I was at the feed store trying to buy oxine to clean the coop. They mentioned it sounded like coccidiosis? I am treating everyone now with that and cleaning the coop completely. It has wood floors, very large and I keep it very clean and dust it everytime with DE powder. They free range plenty of room to roam ventilation, etc. I just found it odd that she was fine yesterday,acting normal outside. When I let her out this morning she walked out, stood by the door and let me pick her up. I noticed she felt skinny and definitely was odd that she let me pick her up so easy so I brought her in and gave her electrolytes with a dropper. She laid down in the towel. I put her in a clean cage, called the vet and within a half an hour she was dead. I noticed when I put her in the cage she couldn't stand and laid on her side and spread out her wings. As I also said in prior post that a week earlier I had a young Bantam same age die. No reason,but we thought she fell off the high roost to her death. Seemed odd, but now I'm thinking it's related. Your thoughts please! All 58 chickens all ages seem healthy and are fine. I don't want to loose anymore.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry that you lost her. Keep her body cold and get a necropy to look for a cause of death. Most are open M-F, and you can deliver the body in person or ship it overnight via Fedex or UPS with a prepaid label emailed from the state vet.

At 2 months coccidiosis is indeed a frequent cause of death. Most chicks appear lethargic, puffed up, hunched, do not eat, and have runny poops. Corid (amprollium liquid or powder) is the treatment. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid or 1.5 tsp of the powder per gallon of water for 7 days.

Be careful with DE since it can affect breathing and eyes of both you and the chicks.

 

[Chopper112]

So sorry that you lost her. Keep her body cold and get a necropy to look for a cause of death. Most are open M-F, and you can deliver the body in person or ship it overnight via Fedex or UPS with a prepaid label emailed from the state vet.

At 2 months coccidiosis is indeed a frequent cause of death. Most chicks appear lethargic, puffed up, hunched, do not eat, and have runny poops. Corid (amprollium liquid or powder) is the treatment. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid or 1.5 tsp of the powder per gallon of water for 7 days.

Be careful with DE since it can affect breathing and eyes of both you and the chicks.

Thank you very much for your help and advice! It is always greatly appreciated.