Lame chickens

[katagnese]

Hi all-
I hope someone here can help. I am a new chicken owner...I got 11 chickens on Mother's Day, and 8 more 3 week old chickens a few weeks ago. Last week my cochin hen was walking drunkenly, and now lays on one side and can't walk at all. She is eating and drinking, and my son is exercising her legs every day. Now we have another chicken-one of the newer ones-who is walking with a slight stagger. I called the woman who sold us the first girls, and she said she is having a problem with Marek's. She said to expect an 11% loss, and told me she had all her chickens vaccinated at 1 day old. I am confused, then, how the cochin got Marek's-if that is what is wrong. Also, what can I do to help her make it? And if she does make it are her eggs safe to eat? Thanks for any info.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Congratulations on the wonderful mother's day present though I'm very sorry to hear you're having problems with them.

I'm going to want to ask some questions to help establish a 'flock history'. First, are the younger birds with the older birds?

What are the flocks eating? Are they all on completely fortified starter or starter/grower?

Are they free ranging? Are you saying the woman who sold you the birds is having birds die of Marek's?

Marek's can still happen even if birds are vaccinated if they're young. It takes a while for the vaccine to "take hold". If the bird's body is challenged by a strong threat of Marek's before the vaccine is effective, then the bird will get Marek's. That's one of the reasons that I always recommend that birds be kept with babies of their own age until at least four months of age. The building of the immune system is complicated and delicate and must be respected. Most people don't realize it; unfortunately people often learn too late.

First, separate the babies from the older birds. Second, separate the effected birds from the others. They should be in a small area where they can get to food and water without having to try hard. I would treat for neurological and vitamin issues because you never really know if it's Marek's until a necropsy is done. Treating with high level vitamin E, B, and then regular vitamins might help the birds to survive. Or since yours weren't in with hers, it could be something else. That also lessens the chances of active marek's spreading.

Separating by age and then the effected allows at least some chance of some birds surviving. I assume that you won't be breeding for sale, yes?

Here's an article that you might find helpful. It explains how Marek's works, etc.

http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/poultry-health/mareks-disease.html

In the mean time, here are some supplements that can help neurological issues and over all immune health. I would give ALL your birds a general vitamin/mineral supplement in their water, as well as fortified wheat germ oil (fortified with ADE) sprayed on their feed twice weekly. Fortified wheat germ oil can be found for sale for horses at feedstore or online. Farnam is a good brand but a little higher priced than say Horse Health or another brand. (Here's an example of a gallon though they're usually sold in quarts: http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...10551_10001_29137_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1 )

Spraying with a hand-held sprayer allows the oil's A, D, and E vitamins to be given without overdosing. I just use a cosmetics type sprayer, or mini garden mister.

For the effected birds, instead of the wheat germ oil, buy E vitamin capsules (400 to 700 IU) and slit the end of the capsule, give each bird a few drops via beak daily for 2 weeks. Also for the effected birds, I'd consider giving a 1/2 tablet of a B-complex tablet once daily - crushed in wet food like applesauce or boiled egg. There are a number of B vitamins and sometimes this type of symptom can come from a deficiency in one of them. AT this point the flock history points more towards marek's, but again - there's no certainty until necropsy. So it's worth a shot. Additionally, make sure they have the vitamin/mineral water at all times.

If you decide to euthanize, I would honestly consider BEFORE hand contacting your local state ag college and their extensions and arrange to have a necropsy done. Some places require a live bird, others will accept carcasses but stored a certain way within a certain number of hourse. So calling ahead will help so that when the time comes (and you're upset) you don't have to try to gather the information, or miss the chance to get some answers because of not knowing what they need.

If I can help you find someone to do that for you, I'll be glad to help.

I'd also ask your supplier how she knows it was Marek's - if she had birds tested, then perhaps you can use the same tester.

In the mean time, I would consider vaccinating everything you get from now on and keeping them separate until their 'of age'. I think it will bring you much greater peace of mind and make your chicken-owning experience a little happier.

Please let me know if I can be of any help at all. This stuff I've just written is just a beginning. I don't want to overload you with information. BUt I felt you really wanted something to start with, so I hope this does help in that respect.

I look forward to your reply. Incidentally, if you need to update or add something about other symptoms, please update *this* thread as other issues will probably be related and you'll have at least one subscriber to your thread waiting to help already.

 

[katagnese]

Thank you for all your advice. My girl passed away last week. She did not appear to be in pain, and was eating and drinking until the end. Then 2 days later another perfectly healthy appearing hen-sister to the first girl-was found dead in her coop. The younger birds seem fine and no new symptoms have been noticed. I have given everyone vitamins, and all are on fortified laying feed. I have heard since my first post that the woman I bought the first girls from has a bad reputation for having her birds die-mainly from Marek's. It would seem that she should not sell any more until she gets a handle on things. I do know she does not have her babies immunized for Marek's. Kathy

 

[threehorses]

Well how very disappointing that the woman who sells had that problem. Of course, there are still many people who do that. I dont' know how they can do it and still look themselves in the face in the mirror in the morning, but.... she likely knows and just doesn't.

That's one reason that I will be making sure all birds from now on are marek's vaccinated, even if I raise them. I don't sell, but I buy and I hate marek's and just don't want to have to deal with it any more than I absolutely have to.

I'm very very sorry that you lost your hen. I hope you have no more losses, but thank you for trying to help the hen.