It's Marek's. How long does she have?

[KRack]

I don't know the measurements, but it was probably a few tablespoons of water to maybe two or three teaspoons of the liquid. I didn't give it all at one time. I had a syringe that I filled up a couple of times and just pushed the mixture out on his beak, which seemed to work. I did that a few times a day. I don't think the measurements matter too much, just as long as the bird is getting enough.

Thank you! I brought my chicken in last Saturday and yesterday she seemed a bit better and today she's worse than she has been this whole time. How long did it take for your Roo to turn around?

 

[The_Chicken_Tender]

Thank you! I brought my chicken in last Saturday and yesterday she seemed a bit better and today she's worse than she has been this whole time. How long did it take for your Roo to turn around?

It was probably a week and a half or two before he was completely healed and could go back to the flock.

 

[KRack]

I'm sending mine to Research Associates Laboratory in Austin, TX. The website is https://www.vetdna.com/ It's only 20 bucks to get the testing done. Pretty cool!! I live in Maryland, so the only way around here to do testing for Marek's is post-mortem, so this is awesome.

Did you ever get results??

 

[Sandy2003]

I currently have Marek's in my flock. There's been birds with leg & wing paralysis, ocular, external tumors, wry neck, the works.

Each strain of Marek's is different...manifest differently... differences in severity...

In my flock, it can be 0 to 7 days from onset of symptoms to death. Most recently I had a girl that was just starting to show leg paralysis, I brought her in side and she seizured and passed while I was on the phone with the vet.

The one that presented with ocular also had tumors. He went through 7 days of antibiotics and vitamins before I gave in and had him euthanized.

I had a 17 week cockerel that developed wry neck. We tried vitamins, antibiotics, the works... Once he list interest in eating and drinking, I euthanized him.

I had birds that presented with pecking coordination problems. They will either have sudden death in 3-4 days or will develop paralysis and go for a little longer before I euthanize.

This is all from this year. I April I got six 3 week old cream Legbars and icebars from a local breeder. When they hit 17 weeks, symptoms started. I list all 6. During that time I had two broody hatches on 4 another with 7. I have lost 4 of those. From my previous year flock of 23, I have lost 2.

Once symptoms presented, I have had no survivors.

Denial teaches you a lot in observation, but it comes with the cost of suffering. Don't let your birds suffer.

Sorry I’m using this thread for research. How long where they paralysis for before they died. I took in a hen who hasn’t been walking for about 3 months. The women said she had a vitamin defiency but I’m scared it’s Mareks.

 

[Sandy2003]

Thanks for the tag, @Wyrop Rock.

@krissyweso I'm so sorry. I'll try to answer your questions the best I can using my experience as a source.

1. How long since first seeing signs of paralysis do you see it start to spread to other extremities (it has just been her right foot for three weeks)?

I've had one bird present with leg paralysis and that was a 8 week old pullet. She started with a limp which progressed rapidly to dragging the foot behind her within a span of 3 days. During that time she began to drag the wing on the affected side. When it began to affect the good leg on day 4-5 and she began being picked on by her flock mates, I decided to end her suffering. At no time did I notice any improvement with her.

2. How long since first seeing signs of paralysis does Marek's usually kill the chicken?

Hard to say. Chickens can survive the initial infection only to have secondary signs of MD appear at a later date. None of my roosters survived to be 2 years of age. Only a few exceptions and they lived to be 2 and a half years. All died of either Neurological or tumors. All lost weight and weakened. Some expired on their own. Others had to be euthanized to end sufferings. My hens that died all died the same way, they lost weight in spite of a healthy appetite weakened and either died or had to be euthanized. I lost one to crop problems, one to Ocular Marek's (RIP sweet Sassy). When my birds showed the secondary symptoms, it happened suddenly and progressed rapidly until I decided that once I saw the secondary symptoms appear I culled immediately.

3. If a chicken does survive Marek's, do they get their motor abilities back or will her foot be paralyzed forever?

They can survive this stage and from what I've read, they can regain use of the affected leg. Sounds like you are doing all you can supportive but please keep in mind. If she recovers, the disease is still there and at some point in time she will display secondary symptoms and effects from MD. I cannot say how long it will take because I have never had a bird survive the paralysis stage of the disease. My best advice is to wait and see what happens. If she recovers, enjoy what time the Great Spirit gives her and keep up the supportive care as you will have a hard time keeping weight on her and keeping her free from infections.

@Sahraschweiss wow! Your experiences sound as bad as mine are and were. I'm so sorry and offer to both of you.

"Denial teaches you a lot in observation, but it comes with the cost of suffering. Don't let your birds suffer."

This has got to be the best one line advice/quote I've ever seen about dealing with Marek's Disease. My hats off to you for creating it.

What’s the difference between the original symptoms of MD and the secondary symptoms of MD

 

[Sahraschweiss]

Sorry I’m using this thread for research. How long where they paralysis for before they died. I took in a hen who hasn’t been walking for about 3 months. The women said she had a vitamin defiency but I’m scared it’s Mareks.

My flock has a pretty agressive strain. The first girl that has paralysis lasted about 2 weeks. We made a sling, hand feed and watered her...in my ignorance of trying to save her I let her suffer. Her organs were shutting down and infection was setting in.

Because of her, the vet confirmed Marek's. Now when paralysis starts they get a vitamin boost and 48 hours to improve or be euthanized. I still have denial, or maybe hope, that's why I give them a chance. No bird should have suffered like the first one did.

While some have had success with chicken slings, chickens don't one leg well. Part of chickening walking around, scratching the dirt...

i do have one house chicken. She gets around okay but tires quickly. She has hip joint issues and a heart murmur. Because of her energy issues, she couldn't stay with the flock. She's 2 years old this spring and still lays 70 gram eggs 3-4 days a week. She and the dogs get along fine. Instead of a flock she has a pack. She has a dirt bath on the porch and pecks at the door when she wants bath time. I shared her story in that she is still chickening. Looking for yummies, laying eggs, chattering with us and the dogs, answers to her name, comes running when she hears the mealworm box being opened.

There comes a point when a keeper needs to be honest about quality of life a member of the flock has. Once my birds show signs of paralysis they stop doing chicken things. Won't eat, even if it is their favorite treats. Soon they stop drinking. I know this and will euthanize before they waste away. Be merciful.

 

[The_Chicken_Tender]

Thank you! I brought my chicken in last Saturday and yesterday she seemed a bit better and today she's worse than she has been this whole time. How long did it take for your Roo to turn around?

Did your chicken get better?

 

[Sandy2003]

My flock has a pretty agressive strain. The first girl that has paralysis lasted about 2 weeks. We made a sling, hand feed and watered her...in my ignorance of trying to save her I let her suffer. Her organs were shutting down and infection was setting in.

Because of her, the vet confirmed Marek's. Now when paralysis starts they get a vitamin boost and 48 hours to improve or be euthanized. I still have denial, or maybe hope, that's why I give them a chance. No bird should have suffered like the first one did.

While some have had success with chicken slings, chickens don't one leg well. Part of chickening walking around, scratching the dirt...

i do have one house chicken. She gets around okay but tires quickly. She has hip joint issues and a heart murmur. Because of her energy issues, she couldn't stay with the flock. She's 2 years old this spring and still lays 70 gram eggs 3-4 days a week. She and the dogs get along fine. Instead of a flock she has a pack. She has a dirt bath on the porch and pecks at the door when she wants bath time. I shared her story in that she is still chickening. Looking for yummies, laying eggs, chattering with us and the dogs, answers to her name, comes running when she hears the mealworm box being opened.

There comes a point when a keeper needs to be honest about quality of life a member of the flock has. Once my birds show signs of paralysis they stop doing chicken things. Won't eat, even if it is their favorite treats. Soon they stop drinking. I know this and will euthanize before they waste away. Be merciful.

Thank you, she’s been showing symptoms for 3 months now. Do you think this will severely effect my other flock

 

[raingarden]

You gals and guys are freaking me out. I think if our birds got Maerk's I'd just be done with them and take up another hobby. Not bringing in any new stuff sort of takes the fun out of it all, so there's that too.

 

[The_Chicken_Tender]

Thank you, she’s been showing symptoms for 3 months now. Do you think this will severely effect my other flock

You should work on boosting everyone's immune systems. If I were you I would give them colloidal silver, garlic and oregano in their water (I haven't tried this combo yet but I've heard it works well keeping them healthy)