Just had to post this.....

[chickenzoo]

If possible I would test for MG, MS, Avian Tuberculosis, Mareks...... but I'm afraid Mareks is one of those that need a necropsy...

All of those can have paralysis accompanying it.

MG can be hidden in the bird, becoming a host, and that bird can seem fine... but it can spread the illness to others with out ever getting sick itself. that is called a carrier state. Others may show no signs of being sick until stressed somehow.... who new birds could be so complicated.

never really found out what it was, they replaced all the chicks, for me and many customers... but i had problems for a long time. I put a lot of birds down, and restarted from almost scratch.
Bird illnesses are never easy.

Your big guy looks very much like a Silkie cross I had named Peanut.

 

[NewToFarming]

I will ask him to test for these things and if he feels they cannot get better, unfortunately I will have him put them down.

They are both so darn sweet too. It seems it is always the sweet ones that get taken from you.
Lyle is a silkie mix. I am thinking he is a silkie and brown leghorn. I thought he was a Lilly for awhile because he was just so mild mannered but ended up to become a Lyle. He is a very determined boy. Even though his feet are curling under, he still wants to try to stand to eat. That is why I sit on the floor with him because I can balance him between my legs and he thinks he is standing to eat all by himself!

It is tough with these chicken illnesses, isn't it? And they are so stoic too. Sometimes you don't know something is wrong until it is too late.
I love having chickens but I really hate this part of it!

 

[chickenzoo]

I don't know if you already know this, but often your local State Dept of Ag can do testing for you, often at little charge depending on the State. Here in FL it is $30 for up to 3 birds for a necropsy.... but a vet may be able to do things more suited for pet birds.....

 

[NewToFarming]

Thank you! I did take both Lyle and Baby to the vet and opted to have them euthanize humanely. If I didn't have my first pullet go through this I might have waited to see how they did but I did not want to prolong this for them and though I would have liked to have them around me longer. But that would have been very selfish of me to make them hang on just for me to be near them. But they are now happier to be flying and running again!
I then took them to the Penn State University lab and the vet there was great also. She explained alot of stuff and will call me tonight or tomorrow morning since I got there later. She will let me know if she sees anything initial and labs can take 2 to 6 weeks depending what she needs to do.
But the initial thought is Mareks. It is not quite as devastating as I first thought and I can have a productive flock but still might end up with some chickens come down with this if their immune system is down or extreme weather changes. She said even vaccinated chickens can shed the virus.
Both of the vets were very good. I was expecting hundreds for the avian vet but he only charged me $54 for both Lyle and Baby. He knew I was a basketcase over this and maybe that is why he cut me a break??

 

[Rachy]

I am so sorry about your lovely chickens

 

[chickenzoo]

I'm so sorry, but you did what is best for them. They are at peace and in no more discomfort. I hope you find the results and others can learn from their loss. best wishes for you and your flock.....

 

[Dudu]

Quote:
Absolutely so, and I am so sorry for the sad ending for your beautiful babies. But by the sound of it they had a fantastic life with you, the best they could ever have.

 

[NewToFarming]

Thank you so much for your support through this! It is a hard thing to do but it made it a little easier knowing there are people here that care and I thank you all!!! I will post anything that comes back from the vet.

 

[iFairyx]

(((hugs))) Sorry to hear about your chickens (I hope they get on as well as they can at the vets).

They look beautiful!!!

iFairy x

 

[fishnet1971]

I am so sorry for you loss. I know it is hard, but you did the right thing. hang in there. our thoughts are with ya.