Is it Marek's??

[seminolewind]

Everything Leadwolf said is true. I've been going thru the same thing for over a year. If you get new chicks, have them vaccinated. Then keep them separate for 2 or more weeks, I keep mine separate for 6-10 weeks.

 

[jahphotogal]

How is Henny Penny now? I've just had a chicken with the symptoms yours had, so I'm curious to know the long-term outcome!

 

[brynjim2012]

Thank you all for posting this great thread. It has been so helpful. Especially the information about cleaning/disinfecting the coop, clothes and run as well as bathing. My poor Barbara has poop on her tail feathers and back side from sitting in her convalescent box and not being able to get up. I was nervous about bathing her, but now knowing that is an option, I will do that.
I started the hypericum tonight, I am hoping there will be results. I realize that it is not full proof, but if there is a chance, I will do it. She did eat quite a bit of yogurt, but mixing it w/ egg and oatmeal is a great idea. I will try that too. Can it be instant oatmeal? Does it matter?

 

[seminolewind]

No it doesn't matter. If they are not eating well, I give them what ever they want, I can always add vitamins to the water . I think the more they eat, the greater the chances of having a recovery, either temp or permanent.

Cut all the dirty feathers off. That helps alot. If you have some hardware cloth, take her off shavings and put her on that-it stays cleaner. I usually put a piece of cardboard in a corner for sleeping.

 

[brynjim2012]

My poor Barbara passed away at the beginning of the week. I'm so glad she is no longer suffering, it was so hard to watch. I couldn't bring myself to put her down though. I thought she was rallying, but it wasn't the case. I feel so drained from the experience though. I put so much time, energy and effort into trying to save her, I don't have the same enthusiasm for my 7 other girls. I'm so paranoid that the others will catch whatever she was sick with. I don't seem to get the same joy from them. I hope this will pass.
Thank you all for your wonderful advice and support. I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. It's awful.

 

[tahlias]

How is Henny Penny now? I've just had a chicken with the symptoms yours had, so I'm curious to know the long-term outcome!

Henny Penny is good! She's running around like normal now..... I have no idea what was wrong with her... I'm suspect of a vitamin deficiency. I definately thought she was on deaths door when I found her upside down a few times. How is your chook that was exhibiting the same symptoms?

 

[kimtimp]

I'm glad I found this thread. I currently have a pullet who's been down for 12 days now. 2 days prior to her going down, I found one of her sisters lying in a water dish nearly lifeless. Unfortunately the first one died about 20 minutes after I found her. I did a lot of research online and my chicken's symptoms only seem to fit with a diagnosis of Marek's. It started with her staggering around one afternoon even though she had been perfectly healthy that morning. She had trouble standing for any length of time. The following day she was still able to walk some but her balance seemed progressively worse until she finally succumbed to lying on her side. She has been able to move her legs and flaps her wings. She has remained alert and eats and drinks really well. No other symptoms except the "paralysis". I've called a vet, an Ag extension agent, and other "chicken experts". No one has any answers. Oh, I forgot to mention she was vaccinated at the hatchery for Marek's. I am interested to know what happens with vitamin deficiency as you have mentioned. For the last 10 days, I've been giving her a mixture of yogurt, liquid vitamins, and layer ration. She loves it as do the other chickens. This morning we noticed she is sitting up more with her feet under her; a huge improvement to how she was before. She's starting to attempt to stand so I am taking that as a good sign. I live in TX. It is so darn hot and dry right now. I was told that some folks here put tetracycline in the chicken water for a few weeks in the hottest part of the summer because of the stress caused by the heat. What do you think about tetracycline? I read another thread on this site (a much older thread) that said hypericum disolved in water seemed to have a beneficial effect.

 

[seminolewind]

Hi. Yes it does sound like Marek's, but it could also be other, like you said, the weather. I just had a pullet who was living in my bedroom with paralysis and 6 weeks later, was put out -running around. She had been vaccinated as well.

12 Days is a long time. I hope she's eating and maintaining her weight.

I would try vitamins. But that's all.

See if you can trace back where (they) got it from. Any new chickens in the past few months? Where have all your chickens come from?

 

[kimtimp]

It's a chicken miracle!!!! I kept giving my pullet vitamins and yogurt daily. After nearly 2 weeks she suddenly started sitting upright (instead of lying on her side), then every day for the last 3 days she has gotten progressively better. She is even outside free-ranging with the others. Sometimes she loses her balance but it improves every day and she is RUNNING now. I'm happy we didn't give up on her.

All my chickens have come from the same source and were hatchery chicks. I was assured by the hatchery that all of them were vaccinated and I have personally visited the place. It's very clean and all their chickens look healthy, but I think I will use another source next time.

 

[brynjim2012]

Congratulations on your chicken. The hard work is paying off. That is wonderful news!