Long-term support for probable Marek's survivor--recommendations?

[Downton Eggy]

This is Bubble. She is the fifth hen across a year that we've had present with symptoms that seem a lot like Marek's. All developed the classic splits, and three of the five started out with a limp and curled toes on one foot. The four prior to her all died within 13 days of their first stagger or limp, though all were given separated, supportive care.

Bubble, however, is now 3 weeks into the disease, and it does not seem to be progressing further. She eats and drinks very well. After a period of paralysis, she can now kick both feet, but cannot stand on them. We have a system for propping her up in various positions so she can eat and drink comfortably, is stable and upraight, and can poop freely without danger of pasting up. She is alert and communicative. I have a little Pomeranian who likes to come sit with her, and she seems to enjoy his visits!

We are feeding her high quality crumble, sunflower seed hearts, oats, fresh basil leaves, and finely chopped strawberry w/leaves for a treat. She has a vitamin B & other vitamins supplement in her water.

So, what are possible prognoses now? Will a hen who's become paralyzed from Marek's ever regain even partial function, or is it once down, always down?

We are prepared to give Bubble supportive special-needs care for the rest of her life. And we are doing things to ensure she has a high-quality life (she quite enjoyed sitting out in the porch swing while we put up Christmas lights).

We do recognize the issue with possible Marek's and the contamination concern, and while we scrub in / scrub out and are careful to not wear same clothes/shoes with our other chickens that we do caring for her, we also know it is very likely the virus is present out there already. We have cleaned the coop and chicken yard as thoroughly as able and hope for the best. Bubble is the fifth of our young hens to present with this in 18 mos.--all between 7 months to a year old. (Though we've never had more than one hen down with it at a time.)

Looking for any additional tips for quality-of-life care, special fortifying treats, etc.--I'm sure the experts here have some! I also adopt hospice dogs and am comfortable doing whatever is needed to give special-needs animals a good life for as long as possible.

Here she is just now, eating some strawberry bits. Thoughts welcomed!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Are those that passed & Bubbles from your hatch or purchased?
Have you tried vitamin/electrolye treatments?
What were/are the ages when these symptoms started? Was it just limping & curly toes?
What/how have you treated?

 

[Downton Eggy]

All hens that passed were purchased. Three from same breeder. The other two from two different hatcheries. The breeder whose hen we believe brought it in now vaccinates, so I suspect other purchasers reported the same problem.

We do have vitamin and electrolyte supplements in the water. Poultry Cell and a powdered electrolyte.

Ages when hens presented: 10 mos, 10 mos, 6 mos, 13 mos, 11 mos.

Three of the five started with limp, curled toes on one foot that progressed to a stagger within 3 days and an inability to stand by 7. Death by 11-13 days. The other two started with just a limp, no curled toes ever for one of them but did lose ability to walk, curled toes by Day 8 or so for Bubble. Classic splits for all five, most by 1 week; Bubble by Day 10 or so. Bubble can now kick both legs, but cannot stand.

In all cases we isolated, started with Epsom Salts soaks, then began slinging or bolstering wobbly hens as needed for ease of breathing, hygiene, and access to food and water. All were given Poultry Cell and electrolytes mixed in water. Bubble alone has had more augmented meals in addition to her normal crumble, including the oats, sunflower hearts, mealworms, fresh basil, and occasional diced strawberry bits.

 

[ShiftyShickens]

does she have a chicken sling that she sits in?

 

[Downton Eggy]

She does not. We have out the others in slings and had some problems with them struggling and sometimes getting twisted up in their slings. We have a sort of padded roost bar system that allows her to sit like she's roosting, while supported with bumpers so she doesn't fall over. We've been talking about trying a different sort of sling, though, just to give her a change.

 

[ShiftyShickens]

a suspended net sling has worked out the best for me in the past, at first the girls fight it but then are instantly soothed by the heat of the house and the comfort of not having any weight on her legs. often though as time goes on i bolster her ability to stand by gradually elevating her standing surface below the flat sling so she can get a footing, but doesn't let her fall over while supplies of food and water are still available for easy access without movement. the gradual height increase is what i do for all my stock weather they have a broken leg or debilitating illness, it allows them to get use to their own weight again, most of the time... though it is more often than not that sadly older hens are not so quick to recover and may never fully return to their former selves. good luck to your girls, we are all keeping our fingers crossed.

 

[ShiftyShickens]

i'd really like to see that supported roost you have

 

[Eggcessive]

Rebascora is very good with Mareks experience about explaining her history with Mareks in her flock. She has written quite a few posts about that experience. Hopefully, she will chime in here.

 

[Downton Eggy]

a suspended net sling has worked out the best for me in the past, at first the girls fight it but then are instantly soothed by the heat of the house and the comfort of not having any weight on her legs. often though as time goes on i bolster her ability to stand by gradually elevating her standing surface below the flat sling so she can get a footing, but doesn't let her fall over while supplies of food and water are still available for easy access without movement. the gradual height increase is what i do for all my stock weather they have a broken leg or debilitating illness, it allows them to get use to their own weight again, most of the time... though it is more often than not that sadly older hens are not so quick to recover and may never fully return to their former selves. good luck to your girls, we are all keeping our fingers crossed.

Can you explain your net sling? What kind of net did you use? When we've tried slings before, it was the leg-holes-cut-in-a-towel kind. The hens seemed comfortable, but if they moved much at all, they could get twisted up in it.

 

[Downton Eggy]

i'd really like to see that supported roost you have

She's actually sitting on it in the picture I posted. But you can't see it because the "roost bar" sits in a crate. She's actually sitting elevated on a rolled towel roost perpendicular to her body, while there are towel bumpers on either side of her body to stabilize her.