Marak's???

[Reamuskitty1]

whats maraks?

 

[Brigabart]

A rather nasty virus - there are some links earlier in the discussion.

 

[GitaBooks]

whats maraks?

Yeah, Marek's is a virus that causes tumors and paralysis in chickens. There are vaccinations against it, but no cure once the chickens do have it. Some flocks become immune to it, though are still carriers. Others have to be culled because of it. For a while I thought my flock at marek's because I lost a pullet to paralysis, but none of the others have shown any symptoms.

Brigabart, I really hope your chickens get better and it doesn't spread.

 

[Brigabart]

Their chicken run flooded at one point and the dirt never really dried well. Can chickens get mold poisoning from wet dirt?

 

[GitaBooks]

Their chicken run flooded at one point and the dirt never really dried well. Can chickens get mold poisoning from wet dirt?

My chickens have had their dirt floor flooded before and never have gotten ill from it.

 

[Brigabart]

Well, it's probably Marak's. A bit depressing - we've been so careful, only wearing chicken shoes and clothing down to the barn, washing our shoes and taking showers after trips to the feed store. Just in case the wet floor was causing problems, we've pulled away dirt, confined everyone to a super clean coop (100sq feet), and have fans and heat lamps on the wet run. Ah well, such is life. Here's the updates on everyone. I added a fourth:

Pullet #1 (Columbian Wyandotte) three weeks ago lying down fluffed out, also limping on one foot. Put her in a cage for 2 weeks, out this week, now doing better - walking slowly, resting a lot, but no limp and can go up and down ramp. Today she is still very tired - but still seems better than before. No limping, happy, eating, drinking, pooping fine, just lies down a lot. She seems to be on the upswing of this thing after 3 weeks.
Pullet # 2 (Golden laced Wyandotte) four days ago began falling down, drunkenly lurching around. Very sassy and full of herself, but can't walk straight and sometimes falls backwards with feet out front. No improvement yet, but eating, drinking, preening, pooping fine. Still no change for this girl. She and Pullet #3 are isolated in a dog crate, as they don't walk very well. Still sassy and eating, just having walking trouble.
Pullet # 3 (Delaware) Lying down all day on side, usually with a leg hanging out. Wings sagging a bit, seems a bit disoriented, walks carefully. This is actually the most worrisome girl, because her whole personality seems a bit depressed. Her wings hang when she stands, though she can flap them fine. She is stumbling a bit when she walks. Eating, drinking, pooping, preening fine.
Pullet # 4 New girl as of yesterday. Not sure if she fits into the sick category (yet). She started having what appeared to be neck tremors/spasms. These stopped immediately upon hypericum doseage. No additional attacks so we are just keeping an eye on her now.
All vaccinated for Marek's at birth by McMurray. All now have vitamins in water, probiotics in food, fresh oregano, basil, and thyme twice a day, hypericum twice a day.

 

[Eggcessive]

What dosage of hypericum (St. John's Wort) do you give your chickens? Someone last week asked for a dosage, and I couldn't find an answer for them. There are many threads but the dosage is buried in them. Many of the BYC people who have had Mareks have used hypericum without any success, but some claim it has helped. Thank you for continuing your updates on the chickens. These kinds of threads are helpful to others going through the illness.

 

[Brigabart]

I'm dropping 1 tablet (30x) in a tablespoon of distilled water (I use a plastic medicine cup). I use a glass dropper (no metal should touch the medicine). Then I give them each a dropperful, which is about 15 drops. I have no idea if it's helping, but it makes me feel better - and that one chicken that I treated immediately did not seem to go any further.

 

[mom98312]

had the same thing.. learned that Hypericum.. or St John's Wort will help cure .... I have used it for three weeks straight.. on the WHOLE flock and the "Limp Chick" also.. she was double dosed.. in her water and food.. everyone else had it in their treats. I upped the vitamins/electrolytes started on a medicated food and lo and behold.. she looks like the dickens.. molt and feathers... cuz she couldn't preen properly but she is today OUT with her sisters, is holding her own.. even RAN when the dominate Hen was making a statement and she is doing very well. I'm amazed.. everyone said.. KILL her.. I couldn't.. I said.. HEAL her.. and she is recovering.. I know the odds were against it.. I don't know if I caught it early? I don't know if God was merciful.. I just know she's alive, thriving, and is the same size as her siblings. They will continue to get Hypericum on their treats.. I bought it as the Health food store and there is a Homepathic pill that is water soluable. I can't say if it will work for everyone but my research says from other's testmonies, that it's worth a try. Good luck!

 

[Brigabart]

How do you put it on their treats? And what kind of medicated food? So glad your girl is doing better!