Losing a Pullet Each Month

[BigECarter]

One of mine went deaf, and several showed some respiratory distress, ranging from open mouth breathing to gasping.

I talked to the woman who performed the necropsy on my hen. Other than a tumorous ovary, there wasn't anything obvious to indicate Marek's. It was the microscopic evidence that resulted in that diagnosis.

 

[casportpony]

Oh no...! That'd be bad for the rest of the bunch, wouldn't it?

It could be, but I have it here and haven't lost too many.

-Kathy

 

[bbkaren]

This video shows behavior that's so familiar, it gives me panic attacks to watch it. If this is what marek's looks like, I fear we may be suffering from it...

With the exception of this last pullet, who behaved a little bit differently, they all had at one time or another, this wobbly, hesitant behavior.

 

[casportpony]

Seen some like that, too. Even if you suspect Marek's, there is no reason not to try treating with vitamins and supportive care.

-Kathy

 

[bbkaren]

The Valbazen just came in - think I should worm regardless? (1/2 ml per chicken, then again in 10 days, right?)

I think my dead gal was free of worms but...would it hurt them to do it preventively?

I "Sevin'ed" them and the coop floor and put down fresh hay yesterday as well.

I really don't want this to happen again; and I've got another pale chicken that I figure would be next if it's taking the weak ones - she's at the bottom of the pecking order and hasn't developed the red comb/wattles yet like the others. Just seems to fit into this pattern...

 

[BigECarter]

Yup. That's what mine looked like. Especially the leg out to the side with the curled up foot.

I hear 10-20% loss in vaccinated birds. 60% in unvaccinated. I've lost 5 of 9, so am hoping the remaining 4 are resistant. My lavender roo is suspect. He's not crowing, is number two on the pecking order, and sits on the ground a lot. That, and he is the only survivor of four lavenders.

Mine are young - 4-5 months.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741957/not-an-emergency-mareks-in-the-flock

 

[casportpony]

Most of mine are not vaccinated and in the last 6 months I've two young birds, but neither were necropsied, so I don't know what killed them. If I had to guess, I'd say that I've lost less than 10% to Marek's in three years, but that's just a guess. FWIW, my oldest was 2 and Marek's was confirmed by necropsy.

You can read about her here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...lethargic-hen-w-swollen-legs-feet-and-wattles

-Kathy

 

[bbkaren]

Do I understand correctly that if it's Marek's, there's really nothing that can be done...and once symptoms appear it's just as well to cull the bird?

I've been reading up on it a bit and it looks like either they get sick with it or they don't, there's nothing that can really be done aside from giving them good care...nothing can prevent it if it's going to happen?

So I guess if I worm and dust for mites, and give them good nutrition, hopefully the losses will end once the vulnerable chickens are gone. Anything else I can do to keep them healthy?

Man, it sure makes you feel helpless...

 

[casportpony]

I have a bunch with the ocular form that are doing well.

-Kathy

 

[BigECarter]

Mine was, "A major finding that was not appreciated in the preliminary examination is the presence of extensive and sometimes markedly pleomorphic lymphocytic infiltration of the ovary, brain and various peripheral nerves." Tonight I see a sixth bird lethargic and breathing hard. So not through yet. Will probably take her to the vet in a couple of days if she keeps going downhill and let them put her down if DH doesn't want to cull her. I haven't had any luck keeping them alive, and in some cases I think they suffered more than they should have.

E