Lame hen..is she doomed?

[zylechicks]

Thanks to all of you for your post. We have a flock of about 60 chickens and have been blessed with no disease over this time. We separated the hen as soon as she showed symptoms, and then cleaned the coop area the best we could. We used a mixture of bleach and water - not sure if that was the right thing to do but at least it was clean. She was actually doing very well over the past week, standing up, walking and eating and drinking. We thought we had dodged the bullet. Yesterday we put her out in the sun and she was upright for a couple of hours and seemed good. I did notice she had a lot of dander on her feathers but didn't connect that with Mareks until reading these latest posts. This morning, when I went to feed her in her indoor cage, I saw that her left eye had turned completely gray. I guess that pretty much seals the deal, according to what I have been reading. So sad, and frightening.

The rest of the flock seems fine, although this bird lived with the other young hens that came as part of a purchase from a local feed store. They are integrated with our flock so grave concern about what this could mean down the road. From some of your posts it sounds like it could be months before we find out the impact of all us this.

I guess my question now has to do with whether there is a better way to clean to the coop. Does bleach kill this virus as well as some of the other chemicals you mentioned. Any insight into why one or the other chemicals is better than the others. What seems obvious to me is that even if we clean the coop again, there is still so much area on the ground that cannot be cleaned. Seems like dander can and will go everywhere. Is it realistic to think that we can truly contain this, given that our birds free-range?

My gut is that we simply need to wait and see what happens and let this thing run its course. And of course, help our sick bird to exit this world as humanely as possible.

Again, really appreciate all of the posts on this. Really helps all of this who are dealing with this.

 

[rcentner]

Quote:
I am with you...just waiting to see what happens next (or to whom it happens next).

I did some reading on cleaning agents and which ones worked best for which microbes. The bleach and the Quaternary Ammonium (QUAT) solutions work for mareks, mycoplasmas, newcastle, salmonella (and many more). The main differences I saw were that the QUAT works in 5% fecal material (they used different terminology, but I can't find the article) whereas bleach did not. So basically, even though I will have cleaned the coop as best as I can, I know there will be some debris that I wont be able to get up...like poop that is stuck in the roost crevices..I feel better using the QUAT over the bleach for that reason. Secondly, the QUAT has some residual effect and bleach does not. I like the sound of residual disinfection

this was a great chart that I foundspecifically regarding cleaning of avian housing.
the stuff I have is called Roccal http://www.amazon.com/Pfizer-Roccal-D-Plus-Gallon/dp/B0002XJ19Q
but once again...I have access to buy that from my work...I wouldn't buy a huge thing of it cause it is so expensive. BUT I believe that Mr Clean is a QUAT, so I would check that out and see if it has the same antimicrobial activity. That will be much cheaper.
Just wanted to share what I came up with in my research. I am sure the bleach will be the best and easiest thing to come by though.
Good luck to you and anyone else who may gain knowledge from this thread

 

[Kansas Gal]

There is a product out there called Oxine that is a very good disinfectant. This website gives you very good information about this product! I bought 4 gallons of it this summer to have on hand, and have fogged my coop with it several times. Be sure to check around several different sites, as there are big price differences out there! I paid, I believe, about $25 for a gallon of it! Hope this helps. http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm

 

[henney penny]

I just purchased a gallon of oxine a couple days ago and am unsing it to spray in the coop and add to the water every other day.I have a few that are sneezing,it says it works on respatory problems so I spray it over them a couple times a day

 

[rcentner]

oxine is a bleach solution....I too bought the oxine, but why spend that much for a bleach solution?

 

[Ksane]

Rcentner, where did you get the injection to put her down with? I'd give my left arm to be able to find an injection I could give like vets do with dogs.
I'm very interested in what you used and where you got it.

 

[rcentner]

Quote:
your left arm you say?

I work at a vet clinic and was given permission by the Dr to take an injection for her (the beuthanasia solution - sodium pentobarbital) . I wish I could help you, cause it went so easy and she didn't freak out when I poked her like I expected. I wish we could all go so peaceful

 

[Ksane]

Quote:
your left arm you say?

I work at a vet clinic and was given permission by the Dr to take an injection for her (the beuthanasia solution - sodium pentobarbital) . I wish I could help you, cause it went so easy and she didn't freak out when I poked her like I expected. I wish we could all go so peaceful

I worked for years for a vet, I know what you're talking about. I wonfer if there's somewhere on one of those online pharmacies I could order that stuff. I'm going to go look.

 

[bucky52]

i had a lame hen,she had bumble foot.like the other posters suggested look for a dark spot on her foot.thanks to all the posters on byc.my hen is doing great.

 

[rcentner]

Quote:
your left arm you say?

I work at a vet clinic and was given permission by the Dr to take an injection for her (the beuthanasia solution - sodium pentobarbital) . I wish I could help you, cause it went so easy and she didn't freak out when I poked her like I expected. I wish we could all go so peaceful

I worked for years for a vet, I know what you're talking about. I wonfer if there's somewhere on one of those online pharmacies I could order that stuff. I'm going to go look.

It is a controlled substance...you must have a prescription, it can be abused by people since it is a narcotic and that is why I am certain that you will not be able to get it unless you are super good friends with a veterinarian (who is willing to put his license on the line). and i am not sure if it comes in a smaller quantity than 100mls (which is enough to euthanize 200 birds)