I need help identifying a disease is it poison or Mareks.

[Zalf]

I am worried about a wild Gallus gallus hen. She has started to be sick like at least 6 other hens and one rooster and it always ends the same. Dropped wings, twisting of neck, paralysis and eventually an inability to breathe.

One dead chicken was taken to the vet for an autopsy, but she could not find any nodules like you would expect in Mareks.

I have three different types of hens that I look after: the wild ones, Gallus gallus who just drop by every now and then, 6 local island hens who live in the bush near my home, and my own hens that I leave locked up in their coop. My own imported hens in the coop are from New Zealand and are vaccinated. The local hens are not.
I have never lost a vaccinated hen but then they do not roam. I let them out each day at 4pm for a bit of a wander around but they do not go next door.
My neighbour sprays for cockroaches and centipedes. Is it possible that the roaming hens are eating this and dying slowly of poison? I have phoned the pest controllers and they say that their sprays are not poisonous.

I see I cannot upload a video here. If there is a way I would be happy to do so.

The symptoms seem to match Mareks. Is it also possible that the imported vaccinated hens were vaccinated with a live virus. Then some wild rooster will have his wicked way with them and pass on the disease of mareks? I have not had an outbreak for over a year.

 

[azygous]

If you've observed these wild chickens individually behaving normally one day, and the next day you see the same chicken collapse with these horrifying symptoms, it's more likely poison. Marek's would present with a slower development of symptoms.

If Marek's is present in the wild flock, it can be spread via air currents and dander. Sexual contact isn't necessary. But your flock should be resistant.

The company that sprayed for insects is baldly lying. Poison can be reactivated after spraying by rain, ending up in puddles. The chickens drink from the puddles, and in less than a day, they will display the signs of neuro toxin poisoning you describe.

 

[Zalf]

It seems to be a slow progressive disease. They start with the weak wings, then slowly get leg paralysis and die gasping. They eat fairly well for the first 3/4 of the disease. They seem to die one by one, I have never had more than one sick at a time. A male rooster died as well. Someone on another site, suggested it was a respiratory disease that causes paralysis. I am going to try antibiotics in case it is but they have no discharge and there is no indication of battling to breathe in the beginning. A twisting of the neck and going around in circles... yes..

 

[rebrascora]

Unfortunately it does sound like Marek's to me. Not only does it cause paralysis, but it also compromises the immune system leaving them vulnerable to respiratory infection as well as tumours on internal organs, lungs being a common site. Most of my Marek's sufferers will eat enthusiastically during the initial outbreak but stop when the disease has progressed too far. Once they stop eating I euthanize as there is no hope after that, but I have had some pretty miraculous recoveries of severely incapacitated birds up to a fortnight after initial symptoms and one bird that I nursed for 3-4 months and although still lame, eventually managed to return to free ranging with the flock and lay eggs. Of course many also deteriorate and die, but I offer dietary support in the form of vitamin and mineral supplement and fermented feed and high protein treats to support immune and digestive system to give them the best chance to fight it.
Your own flock may be beyond the vulnerable age to contract the virus.... it mostly (but not exclusively) affects adolescent birds so this may be why your own birds are not suffering. Marek's tends to have a seasonal phase to it as a result of mostly adolescent birds being affected, which may be why you may not have seen an outbreak for a year.

 

[azygous]

I agree, it sure does sound like Marek's. It is wickedly contagious, so it's fortunate your own flock has been vaccinated.

It's one of the most virulent avian viruses and hard to see what its poor little victims go through in the end stages.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Zalf I'm sorry to hear about your chickens.

@azygous and @rebrascora have given you good answers. I just wanted to stop by and wish you well.

If you do have a video - if I understand correctly, you will need to upload it to youtube then provide us a link.