Is this Mareks? - video

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

Is this Mareks disease? She is a 4 month old Icelandic pullet. Has not laid yet. She is smaller than the rest of them, but was always a bit of a runt.

She has been having issues for about 2 weeks. It got to the current point about 10 days ago. I lost an Icelandic cockeral that was unsteady on his feet a few days before this pullet got sick. He had a swollen joint on his leg, I think he got in a tussle with a much older BCM Cockeral.

She walks with both open and closed feet. Saturday and this afternoon I found her on her back looking dead with legs up in the air and eyes closed. I picked her up and put her right side up, she returned to the condition in the videos.

She is eating and drinking and will
Pursue a grasshopper/scratch if it is presented within a 6 feet.

When carried she cannot hold her head up and will close her eyes and go mostly limp. Eyes are Normal color.

Comb is light but looks normal to me. I don’t feel any

Wings appear mostly immobile. She does not use them when picked up and will “fall” on them sometimes when walking.

Vent looks normal

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'd suggest checking the ears for a possible ear infection before considering Marek's Disease.

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

I'd suggest checking the ears for a possible ear infection before considering Marek's Disease.

Ears look clear. I compared to two other birds I have.

No dots or wax or build up.

Edit: this is my first time checking chicken ears. I watched a video from an old thread on here.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ears look clear. I compared to two other birds I have.

No dots or wax or build up.

No, crust, so no ear infection.


What's their diet like?

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

No, crust, so no ear infection.


What's their diet like?

Her ears seemed extra small compared to the RIR and Swedish Flower I compared to. But she is a much smaller bird. I am not an experienced chicken keeper. Less than one year.

I feed currently:


Naturesmart non gmo/organic grower. (Birds are now over 16 weeks, this feed will cease when the last 20lbs runs out)

Organic scratch from a farm in central Montana. Wheat and black sunflower seeds primarily.

TSC type “party mix” of mealworms, corn, sunflower seeds.

Because of their age, I started mixing in a little layer mash from the same Montana organic grain farm as of Saturday. They should start laying soon and I don’t want to change feed cold turkey.

They find bugs and I catch and toss them (8 birds) 10-20 grasshoppers a day. They also eat some grass and other forage. I have a problem black bear currently, so no free range, they have access to a 1600 sq ft run most of the day.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Her ears seemed extra small compared to the RIR and Swedish Flower I compared to. But she is a much smaller bird. I am not an experienced chicken keeper. Less than one year.

I feed currently:


Naturesmart non gmo/organic grower. (Birds are now over 16 weeks, this feed will cease when the last 20lbs runs out)

Organic scratch from a farm in central Montana. Wheat and black sunflower seeds primarily.

TSC type “party mix” of mealworms, corn, sunflower seeds.

Because of their age, I started mixing in a little layer mash from the same Montana organic grain farm as of Saturday. They should start laying soon and I don’t want to change feed cold turkey.

They find bugs and I catch and toss them (8 birds) 10-20 grasshoppers a day. They also eat some grass and other forage. I have a problem black bear currently, so no free range, they have access to a 1600 sq ft run most of the day.

I never heard that brand of feed.

I was wondering if this maybe a Vitamin Deficiency based on feed, but I have no experience with that feed.

I'm thinking it may actually be Marek's Disease though.

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

I never heard that brand of feed.

I was wondering if this maybe a Vitamin Deficiency based on feed, but I have no experience with that feed.

I'm thinking it may actually be Marek's Disease though.

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/naturesmart-organic-poultry-feeds

The first one is the Grower.

The layer mash comes from this company (although I buy locally).

https://www.montanaflour.com/organic-layer-mash-chicken-feed-no-corn/

 

[MysteryChicken]

https://www.nutrenaworld.com/naturesmart-organic-poultry-feeds

The first one is the Grower.

The layer mash comes from this company (although I buy locally).

https://www.montanaflour.com/organic-layer-mash-chicken-feed-no-corn/

Oh, Nutrena. I misread the post alittle.

I don't know the other one though.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Oh, Nutrena. I misread the post alittle.

I don't know the other one though.

The Nutrena Chick feed is only E 20IU, which a very low dose of Vitamin E.

I'm still thinking Marek's is a possibility, though.

Hopefully someone more experienced will pop in, & help you.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would worry about Mareks disease with her gait, and neck weakness, wings, and losing the other one.. But dehydration, vitamin deficiency, and injury should be ruled out. There are 2 main ways to get a diagnosis for Mareks—through a blood test by a lab, such as RAL or University of Georgia, or a necropsy by your state vet pathologist if she dies. Here is a link for RAL where they will send you materials to collect blood from a trimmed toenail:
https://www.vetdna.com/application/forms/aviansubmittalform.pdf

This is a link to call your state vet and ask how to get a necropsy:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm