Lethargic hen, suspect Marek's

[Henhouse Harlot]

Thank you!

-Female Silky, 9 months old, the larger of the two pullets.
2
-Lethargic, seems off-balanced, like there's a problem with her nerves, and yesterday I saw her stumbling while walking. She has a weak response to my finger with her foot (gripping test), and she literally fell asleep in her breakfast bowl this morning. Tremors/shaking, gaping/gasping, head shaking, weakness in her neck, difficult to stay upright. I found her laying in the mud in the run last night.
-She has been showing symptoms for 2 days, perhaps 2 1/2.
-Just this one bird is sick, and I have her isolated from the others now.
-No signs of trauma/injury. Her poop looks normal, and her eyes bright.
-Shes been eating a warm mash of Scratch & Peck organic layer. Whole grain complete feed, made soft and mixed well.
-I've given her some Nutridrench, 1 syringe full. Comfort, a warm bed, warm food and a playlist on Spotify called (seriously), "Happy Chicken Music" (it's a super relaxing new-classical mix.)
-I'm the vet tech, and my landlord/friend is the vet. We've got medical supplies, we're just not sure what we're dealing with yet...
I'm calling in the Big Guns.
@azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @casportpony I'm forgetting someone, a couple of someones.
Did I mention she STINKS? Way worse than any other chickens my kid brings inside from time to time. Lots of head shaking!
Any ideas..?

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

Is the smell coming from her head? Check her mouth and throat for canker (yellow lesions).

I also always check and double check for mites/lice.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I'm following because I lost an eight-week-old Shetland Hen pullet this week with exactly the same symptoms except for the bad smell. And another SH pullet is now exhibiting the same symptoms.

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

No smell on her breath, her crop seems okay

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

I'm following because I lost an eight-week-old Shetland Hen pullet this week with exactly the same symptoms except for the bad smell. And another SH pullet is now exhibiting the same symptoms.

Let's keep in touch, share notes! No smell here either. Did yours have balance issues too?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Lethargic, seems off-balanced, like there's a problem with her nerves, and yesterday I saw her stumbling while walking. She has a weak response to my finger with her foot (gripping test), and she literally fell asleep in her breakfast bowl this morning. Tremors/shaking, gaping/gasping, head shaking, weakness in her neck, difficult to stay upright.

Sounds more like botulism or poisoning (or other infection) than Marek's.

https://www.omlet.us/guide/chickens/chicken_health/illness/

Is she pooping or possibly egg bound?

I'm following because I lost an eight-week-old Shetland Hen pullet this week with exactly the same symptoms

Different ages.. most likely cause at yours stated age is coccidiosis.

 

[azygous]

From the symptoms, I would start an antibiotic. Botulism poisoning can produce all these symptoms and you really don't have time to wait and see what else develops if it is botulism, as it will kill in short order if an anitbiotic isn't begun right away.

I've faced this in my flock, and I start the antibiotic out of caution because waiting even 24 more hours can result in death. If it turns out to be another issue causing the symptoms, it's easy enough to switch to another treatment protocol.

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

Thank you!

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

@EggSighted4Life thank you for responding! She's pooping completely normal, which is so weird from such a sick chicken! She's unable to hold her head up, she's sitting tipped back, as well. I don't believe it's botulism, it sounds a lot like Newcastle disease... without the diarrhea.

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

Not egg bound, I dumped some Nutri-drench down her throat a bit ago, that seems to be helping a bit. Vitamin or mineral deficiency..?