Just completed my $3000 dream coop and planned to move young flock in. Now one has Marek’s. Now what…

[miss_shickenchit]

Following. My fingers are crossed for you and your flock.

thank you and everyone -

UPDATE: (and I welcome advice and thoughts on what you think could be going on)

The SS has not improved, if anything he has more paralysis (or extreme weakness??). That said, his poops which were completely liquid the last two days were solid today (twice!). He is greatly emaciated and almost just skin and bones and feathers whereas he had some meat on him at some point. I could tell he was losing weight as of two days ago, but at least since starting Corid yesterday he is no longer pooping water.

HOWEVER…he still has a will to live! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So as long as he does, we have decided to accommodate what we can for him and he seems to be happy with that. He is using his wings and flops them around (this is more or less how he moves). He can hold his head up and flop over but can’t stand on his own at all. When we offer him water or food though, he gobbles it down! He is alert when we engage him and though he doesn’t seem well, he is still coo’ing a bit when we hold him.

So far - NO other chicken in our flocks are showing ANY sign of illness. He is in his own little kennel a few feet from our 3 week old chicks, but they seem better with him near since one of the four was attacked yesterday and perished.

Any thoughts on what could be going on with this little guy? Provided he makes it through the night I’ll film him in the morning for everyone. I haven’t been able to see anything about coccidiosis that would lead to paralysis like this - and it started with a limp, not just overall weakness. Marek’s seems to fit the paralysis but not the liquid poops (that are improving now).

iono ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ hope he lives. he’s sweet.

 

[TwoCrows]

thank you and everyone -

UPDATE: (and I welcome advice and thoughts on what you think could be going on)

The SS has not improved, if anything he has more paralysis (or extreme weakness??). That said, his poops which were completely liquid the last two days were solid today (twice!). He is greatly emaciated and almost just skin and bones and feathers whereas he had some meat on him at some point. I could tell he was losing weight as of two days ago, but at least since starting Corid yesterday he is no longer pooping water.

HOWEVER…he still has a will to live! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So as long as he does, we have decided to accommodate what we can for him and he seems to be happy with that. He is using his wings and flops them around (this is more or less how he moves). He can hold his head up and flop over but can’t stand on his own at all. When we offer him water or food though, he gobbles it down! He is alert when we engage him and though he doesn’t seem well, he is still coo’ing a bit when we hold him.

So far - NO other chicken in our flocks are showing ANY sign of illness. He is in his own little kennel a few feet from our 3 week old chicks, but they seem better with him near since one of the four was attacked yesterday and perished.

Any thoughts on what could be going on with this little guy? Provided he makes it through the night I’ll film him in the morning for everyone. I haven’t been able to see anything about coccidiosis that would lead to paralysis like this - and it started with a limp, not just overall weakness. Marek’s seems to fit the paralysis but not the liquid poops (that are improving now).

iono ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ hope he lives. he’s sweet.

The only other things aside from Mareks I know of that cause severe lameness are MS (Mycoplasma Synoviae, which is very evident to see in the foot and hock joints, extremely swollen like a balloon, hot and red), a "stroke" as in heart disease can cause paralysis and Tetnus from a puncture wound or even snake bite, the bacteria can cause the bird to lock up. Nerve damage in the spine or neck from some injury or fall could do it too. A concussion can cause lameness. Encephalitis, brain swelling from a virus or bacteria, can make it difficult to walk and function. I am not aware of anything else that would cause this. I think at this point it's supportive care that will help him. Do you have a vet that you can take him to for a blood sample to test for Mareks?

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

thank you and everyone -

UPDATE: (and I welcome advice and thoughts on what you think could be going on)

The SS has not improved, if anything he has more paralysis (or extreme weakness??). That said, his poops which were completely liquid the last two days were solid today (twice!). He is greatly emaciated and almost just skin and bones and feathers whereas he had some meat on him at some point. I could tell he was losing weight as of two days ago, but at least since starting Corid yesterday he is no longer pooping water.

HOWEVER…he still has a will to live! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ So as long as he does, we have decided to accommodate what we can for him and he seems to be happy with that. He is using his wings and flops them around (this is more or less how he moves). He can hold his head up and flop over but can’t stand on his own at all. When we offer him water or food though, he gobbles it down! He is alert when we engage him and though he doesn’t seem well, he is still coo’ing a bit when we hold him.

So far - NO other chicken in our flocks are showing ANY sign of illness. He is in his own little kennel a few feet from our 3 week old chicks, but they seem better with him near since one of the four was attacked yesterday and perished.

Any thoughts on what could be going on with this little guy? Provided he makes it through the night I’ll film him in the morning for everyone. I haven’t been able to see anything about coccidiosis that would lead to paralysis like this - and it started with a limp, not just overall weakness. Marek’s seems to fit the paralysis but not the liquid poops (that are improving now).

iono ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ hope he lives. he’s sweet.

here is an example of something that can mimic mareks disease. I’d say it’s worth a shot to try this treatment.

 

[TwoCrows]

here is an example of something that can mimic mareks disease. I’d say it’s worth a shot to try this treatment.

Dietary issues are definitely worth mentioning as well as this member has shown. Roosters especially can be prone to dietary deficiencies as are certain breeds of chickens and other poultry.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

How are you and your flock doing?

 

[miss_shickenchit]

How are you and your flock doing?

*deep sigh*

well, we put the SS down yesterday. it was traumatic as it was a new experience for us, but we accepted this as part of the responsibility of caring for our flock from day one. it wasn’t quick, but i believe it was painless - especially since he was paralyzed entirely at this point.

he had still taken water and food from a dropper and up until yesterday, while he was skin and bones at this point, he could raise his head and put up a fuss a bit to complain to us about his current frustration. yesterday, he appeared ready to go and needed us to let him do so. so we did.

it was sad and i miss him. he was just a chicken, but his name was Beverly and I raised him from day one until 8 weeks - and he fed from my hand and followed me around everyday he could. i’m humbled by the trust our creature companions give to us. we are lucky to have such connections with the natural world.

for what it’s worth, none of the rest of our flock appears affected by this same mystery disease. we did lose a chick to a predator a few days ago, so we acquired two black australorps to replace the two we’ve lost.

thank you all.

 

[1Slayer]

so sorry..
I hope the rest of your flock remain healthy a happy

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Keep your chin up. Go love on the other girls. Please keep us post on the move in date.

 

[aart]

none of the rest of our flock appears affected by this same mystery disease

Will you have this bird necropsied?
Sorry for your loss.

 

[RcoM]

Theoretically the vaccinated birds shouldn’t show symptoms, the vaccine masks them but doesn’t prevent the disease. I would go with plan C as it makes the most sense.

For what it’s worth there are other things that mimic Marek’s symptoms so you might want to get a necropsy if the sick bird passes before you cull the rest. Or take him to a vet. There is a risk the vaccinated can leak the disease and make the other birds sick, but no guarantee that will happen.

I wish you the best!

I would keep the two flocks separate for now. The flock in which the suspected case occurred, was it mostly vaxxed or unvaxxed? I believe that you should not mix the vaxxed and unvaxxed although too late in flock A and possibly not exposed?

Based on hours of reading last night, I’m about 99% sure our 8 week old Speckled Sussex has Marek’s. If you could read below and give me your best thoughts on what to do next in my situation, I would absolutely appreciate it. I’m realistic but also…my babies…

Context: I’m new to this chicken keeping stuff but I’m informed and doing my best by my birds. This is a hobby for me as a new empty-nester. (Sadly I was not informed enough, but I keep learning.) All of my young birds have been kept in giant dogs cages that are wrapped in hardware cloth since I brought them home with the best of everything they can have. They are spoiled and the dogs are jealous. The 8 week old flock’s cage was moved outside recently (3 weeks ago) and they have had outside free range time everyday while I’m outside. The 2-3 week old younger flock has had their cage outside once, but they have not been out of the cage. The new coop is sand and litter/PDZ/DE based due to my own allergies and it’s beautiful - and will be ready tomorrow…

• Here’s our two flocks that have been kept separately, but together based on chick age since we got them:
  • 1 flock of 6: Five birds of different breeds from a local farmer - whom I just learned doesn’t vaccinate her chicks (no judgement- just wish I had known!). And, One Sapphire gem from a hatchery that I have confirmed IS vax’d for Marek’s. I got them all when less than a week old (SS, Swedish Flower, Delaware, Welsummer, Del/Welsummer mix) and they are all now 8 weeks old and a good flock together. We planned to move this flock of six 8 week old chicks into the coop fortress (Fort Yolk) tomorrow. And…of course…These 6 have been all over each other, my family, our house, and our yard. Only one is confirmed vax’d.
  • Our other smaller flock is a flock of 4 hybrids: two 3 week old Calico Princesses and two 2 week old Aquilas. All 4 of these are from our co-op and I have confirmed they have ALL been vaccinated for Marek’s. (whew!) We planned to move these four into Fort Yolk in a couple of weeks with the others after integrating them. The ten birds have only been all together one time two weeks ago for a short few mins while I cleaned cages. (I know better now.)

Here’s what’s going on, I have options below if you could help me move forward in the best way possible for the greater good

-Our SS cockerel started limping Friday. Was sure it was due to an injury (then remembered it was a different bird that was injured - it’s fine now). Saturday he was still limping, by last night (Sun), he could barely walk and now has a paralyzed wing. Sleeping constantly and not playful like just a few days ago. Not appearing to eat or drink but does still seems curious to pick at the grass if he’s plopped in it. Doesn’t complain and doesn’t appear to be in pain. Yesterday he managed to hobble and join his flockmates when they followed me. (This is before I knew how hard it is to contain Marek’s or that it was probably Marek’s - of course we isolated him immediately afterward and he is all alone now with just a hope and a prayer for company.) For what it’s worth, his poop is liquidish and has been for about a week now and as of yesterday it’s nearly all urine because he’s not eating. No treatment so far other than isolation and a treatment for worms on Saturday (because I worried that’s what the runny poop was because they just moved outside two weeks ago).

My intent is to not let him suffer, not to have any others suffer, and to not suffer myself through stress/sadness and worry. I’m prepared to cull him today if it’s best (although it is hard to know if I should wait to see for improvement - sort of like putting any pet down). (And if I should cull all the confirmed unvax’d birds…)

All that said, this is my current issue :

Now what?

So far - NONE OF THE OTHER BIRDS HAVE SYMPTOMS, both those vax’d and unvax’d. Fort Yolk is complete and the older birds need to be moved in (at least the confirmed vax’d one, right?).

Should I…

A. Just keep the SS isolated and wait and see what happens. Don’t change the plan. Move all the 8 week old birds besides the SS into the coop tomorrow and move the other younger flock into the coop in a few weeks. Assume this is Marek’s but hope for the best for the 5 unvax’d birds and accept that the vax’d birds will likely get it but at least survive. If any birds show symptoms, isolate the bird and cull it if it is suffering. Cut my losses but know I did my best at something hard that’s new to me… Assume all birds will have Marek’s now in this yard and only get vax’d birds and do not give away any birds.

OR

B. Same as A but cull the SS currently showing signs of Marek’s NOW and cull any other unvax’d birds ASAP IF they show signs of it. Cut my losses but know I did my best at something hard that’s new to me… Assume all birds will have Marek’s now in this yard and only get vax’d birds and do not give away any birds.

C. Cull the SS and ALL unvax’d birds today. Assume all the exposed birds have Marek’s and the unvax’d are likely to suffer from and/or die of it. Cull all the older flock now, whether showing signs of Marek’s or not (except for the one that is confirmed vaccinated). Slowly integrate the ONE confirmed vax’d 8 week old of the older flock with the new younger vaccinated chicks in the new coop. Cut my losses but know I did my best at something hard that’s new to me… Assume all birds will have Marek’s now in this yard and only get vax’d birds and do not give away any birds.

D. Set fire to everything and ponder midlife as I stare at the flames and cut my losses but know I did my best at something hard that’s new to me…and hope for the best.

E. Same as D but then move from my new dream home and then set fire to the new place. Wait 10 years, set it on fire again, then finally get new chicks that are vax’d and hope for the best.

What did you do and how did it work out? I have very similar dilemma!