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

[Sandy2003]

It might be a vitamin deficiency. I would try the selenium with vitamin e but would still keep giving the vitamin b.

I’m treating her for that now! Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it!

 

[Uselessfarmlife88]

I’m treating her for that now! Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it!

You're welcome.

 

[Sandy2003]

I’m so sorry for all the questions, does age have an affect on the bird and their health. Most of mine are between the ages of 2-3 the oldest being 6/7 and the youngest being 6 months. The youngest was raised by my silkie who passed away so she has an incredibly special place in my heart. The one who has symptoms is 1.5/2. I’m really hoping and praying for the best

 

[Uselessfarmlife88]

You are fine, i dont mind at all. From what I have read it's most common from 6 to 30 weeks but can happen at any age and even to vaccinated chickens. It can also show up as pretty much anything bc it attacks the nerves. So really no chicken is safe. I hope it is a vitamin deficiency in your case. I am leaning toward that bc you said she was walking backwards but I also dont think it should have lasted 3 months. There is a blood test for mareks but not all vets will do it. Mine wouldn't. I had to send a polish rooster for necropsy. I would keep your hen separated and just keep giving medicine and do the garlic water for all.

 

[Sandy2003]

You are fine, i dont mind at all. From what I have read it's most common from 6 to 30 weeks but can happen at any age and even to vaccinated chickens. It can also show up as pretty much anything bc it attacks the nerves. So really no chicken is safe. I hope it is a vitamin deficiency in your case. I am leaning toward that bc you said she was walking backwards but I also dont think it should have lasted 3 months. There is a blood test for mareks but not all vets will do it. Mine wouldn't. I had to send a polish rooster for necropsy. I would keep your hen separated and just keep giving medicine and do the garlic water for all.

You have no clue how much better you made me feel. She hasn’t been walking backwards recently but I think thats due to not being on the vitamins. I love her and my ladies so much and I’ve been majorly stressing about loosing them. I’m adding stuff to their food to boost their immunity. What scared me is she’s getting worse and now flops on her side when I don’t support her.

 

[microchick]

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

I can only speak from my own experience with my flock concerning this.

My birds except for one bird, showed no symptoms from their original infection with Marek's. With the exception of the birds that had contracted Ocular Marek's and they presented with the grey eye, irregular pinpoint, bulging pupil and blindness or poor vision.

I had one 9 week old pullet that developed scissor paralysis and had to be euthanized. And one three month old cockerel who developed neurological symptoms, seizures, etc and had to be euthanized.

Without exception the rest of my birds developed symptoms at 1 year to 18 months. The roosters developed tumors, lost weight or developed neurological symptoms. Once they developed secondary symptoms their decline was swift. My oldest rooster lived to 22 months of age.

Hens developed Ocular Marek's, lost weight, suffered prolapses, bad crops, but more times than not, I would simply find them dead under their roost bars.

The hens with OMD lost weight and developed stroke like symptoms and seizures and had to be euthanized.

I never let one of my birds suffer. If they showed the secondary symptoms and lost weight, I euthanized them. It was the last gift of love I could give them.

 

[Sandy2003]

I can only speak from my own experience with my flock concerning this.

My birds except for one bird, showed no symptoms from their original infection with Marek's. With the exception of the birds that had contracted Ocular Marek's and they presented with the grey eye, irregular pinpoint, bulging pupil and blindness or poor vision.

I had one 9 week old pullet that developed scissor paralysis and had to be euthanized. And one three month old cockerel who developed neurological symptoms, seizures, etc and had to be euthanized.

Without exception the rest of my birds developed symptoms at 1 year to 18 months. The roosters developed tumors, lost weight or developed neurological symptoms. Once they developed secondary symptoms their decline was swift. My oldest rooster lived to 22 months of age.

Hens developed Ocular Marek's, lost weight, suffered prolapses, bad crops, but more times than not, I would simply find them dead under their roost bars.

The hens with OMD lost weight and developed stroke like symptoms and seizures and had to be euthanized.

I never let one of my birds suffer. If they showed the secondary symptoms and lost weight, I euthanized them. It was the last gift of love I could give them.

I’m so sorry for your lost

 

[microchick]

Thank you, @Sandy2003.

I wrote an article concerning my adventures with Marek's disease. You can find it here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/

 

[Sandy2003]

Thank you, @Sandy2003.

I wrote an article concerning my adventures with Marek's disease. You can find it here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/

Thank you, I’m so sorry for all your losses. That must have been incredibly difficult

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

@krissyweso How is your bird?