Marek’s…..?

[Ktarter15]

Hey all. My head is spinning with all of the conflicting information I’ve been reading. Please help.
Is it possible for a chicken recover from Marek’s? I know they’ll have it for life but can the virus become dormant again after being active and the chicken recover? (At least until it becomes active again). If that’s so, could a chicken with the paralytic form of Marek’s regain its legs and walk again?
I have a little chicken who’s about 13/14 weeks old. She suddenly started walking on her hocks. I separated her from the others and as the days went on she lost use of her legs BUT she could move them…..? She could move her legs and curl her toes… she just couldn’t stand. Her legs started going out to the sides and for a couple of days she had one leg forward and one leg back. (The signature sign of Marek’s.) But then both legs went forward and one is turning out to the side more than the other. The foot is turned sideways and toes are curled.
For about 3 weeks I’ve been putting her up in a harness to get her off the floor of her cage and so she can eat more comfortably. I’ve been putting her in a hobble to try to correct her legs, and giving her vitamins in her water and starter/grower feed for the added protein. Oh yea and praying, lots and lots of praying. She loves to eat, and she’s drinking and pooping fine. I’ve seen no other decline in this bird other than her legs. I’ve been researching what it could be and watching so many videos for comparison. Is it Marek’s, spraddle leg, slipped tendon, twisted tibia, vitamin deficiency……? I’ve been stretching and massaging her legs and feet and her tendons feel fine to me.
Then yesterday I found her standing on her hocks and walking around, and today she’s on her feet! What is happening?! I was expecting her to decline and pass, but because she’s improving can I rule out Marek’s? It would be amazing if she got stronger and could go back out with the flock. I apologize for this being long winded. Any info anyone can share is very appreciated. My brain is very tired lol. TIA.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hey all. My head is spinning with all of the conflicting information I’ve been reading. Please help.
Is it possible for a chicken recover from Marek’s? I know they’ll have it for life but can the virus become dormant again after being active and the chicken recover? (At least until it becomes active again). If that’s so, could a chicken with the paralytic form of Marek’s regain its legs and walk again?
I have a little chicken who’s about 13/14 weeks old. She suddenly started walking on her hocks. I separated her from the others and as the days went on she lost use of her legs BUT she could move them…..? She could move her legs and curl her toes… she just couldn’t stand. Her legs started going out to the sides and for a couple of days she had one leg forward and one leg back. (The signature sign of Marek’s.) But then both legs went forward and one is turning out to the side more than the other. The foot is turned sideways and toes are curled.
For about 3 weeks I’ve been putting her up in a harness to get her off the floor of her cage and so she can eat more comfortably. I’ve been putting her in a hobble to try to correct her legs, and giving her vitamins in her water and starter/grower feed for the added protein. Oh yea and praying, lots and lots of praying. She loves to eat, and she’s drinking and pooping fine. I’ve seen no other decline in this bird other than her legs. I’ve been researching what it could be and watching so many videos for comparison. Is it Marek’s, spraddle leg, slipped tendon, twisted tibia, vitamin deficiency……? I’ve been stretching and massaging her legs and feet and her tendons feel fine to me.
Then yesterday I found her standing on her hocks and walking around, and today she’s on her feet! What is happening?! I was expecting her to decline and pass, but because she’s improving can I rule out Marek’s? It would be amazing if she got stronger and could go back out with the flock. I apologize for this being long winded. Any info anyone can share is very appreciated. My brain is very tired lol. TIA.

Riboflavin Deficiency AKA: Curled Toe Paralysis is probably what you encountered. I've treated it twice.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. In a few cases chickens have recovered from the neural symptoms of Mareks, according to my copy of Textbook of Poultry. But they may later develop the visceral form where they develop tumors in the organs. I usually recommend trying vitamin E and B complex for a few weeks, just in case of a vitamin deficiency. Here are a couple of good links to read about Mareks:
https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/vdl/colorado-avian-health-program/mareks-disease/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is it possible for a chicken recover from Marek’s? I know they’ll have it for life but can the virus become dormant again after being active and the chicken recover? (At least until it becomes active again). If that’s so, could a chicken with the paralytic form of Marek’s regain its legs and walk again?

Welcome To BYC!
Do you have photos of your pullet?

Yes, it's possible for a chicken to "recover", improve or become asymptomatic if you are dealing with Marek's disease. Yes, they can regain use of their legs as well, this may be a short period of time or can last a good while. Possible they may decline after a period of ''recovery".

I have a little chicken who’s about 13/14 weeks old. She suddenly started walking on her hocks. I separated her from the others and as the days went on she lost use of her legs BUT she could move them…..? She could move her legs and curl her toes… she just couldn’t stand. Her legs started going out to the sides and for a couple of days she had one leg forward and one leg back. (The signature sign of Marek’s.) But then both legs went forward and one is turning out to the side more than the other. The foot is turned sideways and toes are curled.

A lot of times "paralysis" may not mean that the limbs/legs are "frozen", they can still move.

One leg turning out to the side more than the other, foot turned sideways. Can you please get photos?
If she's standing now, can you get photos of her stance and of her joints?

For about 3 weeks I’ve been putting her up in a harness to get her off the floor of her cage and so she can eat more comfortably. I’ve been putting her in a hobble to try to correct her legs, and giving her vitamins in her water and starter/grower feed for the added protein.

s it Marek’s, spraddle leg, slipped tendon, twisted tibia, vitamin deficiency……? I’ve been stretching and massaging her legs and feet and her tendons feel fine to me.
Then yesterday I found her standing on her hocks and walking around, and today she’s on her feet! What is happening?! I was expecting her to decline and pass, but because she’s improving can I rule out Marek’s?

Trying to correct the legs. So, is it Marek's or a leg bone deformity?

No, I don't think you can rule out Marek's at this time.

What do you feed, including treats?

I'd focus on vitamin therapy giving 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily along with her normal chick starter.

Photos are welcome, load us up.

 

[TillyPeeps]

Riboflavin Deficiency AKA: Curled Toe Paralysis is probably what you encountered. I've treated it twice.

I would say it's more likely some kind of deficiency or injury. 14 week old is a bit too young to develop Marek's paralysis. It's possible, but extremely rare. All my pullets started to show symptoms around 18~22w, with a vaccinated hen started at 2y old. It also took several weeks from they losing appetite to paralyzed.
Yes, although it's rare, it's possible for a chicken to recover from Marek's. The only chicken in my flock recovered is the vaccinated hen getting sick at 2y old. She was sick for a year and I tube fed her for a half year. She was never paralyzed though, she has obvious ocular Marek's symptoms and can only walk slowly and spends most time sitting on ground. She cannot roost so she stays on coop floor at night time, but she's eating and laying well this year until she started molting and then stopped laying recently.

 

[Ktarter15]

Welcome To BYC!
Do you have photos of your pullet?

Yes, it's possible for a chicken to "recover", improve or become asymptomatic if you are dealing with Marek's disease. Yes, they can regain use of their legs as well, this may be a short period of time or can last a good while. Possible they may decline after a period of ''recovery".

A lot of times "paralysis" may not mean that the limbs/legs are "frozen", they can still move.

One leg turning out to the side more than the other, foot turned sideways. Can you please get photos?
If she's standing now, can you get photos of her stance and of her joints?



Trying to correct the legs. So, is it Marek's or a leg bone deformity?

No, I don't think you can rule out Marek's at this time.

What do you feed, including treats?

I'd focus on vitamin therapy giving 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily along with her normal chick starter.

Photos are welcome, load us up.

Thank you so much for all the info. This first picture I’m attaching is from 9/25. This was one of two days that she spent with one leg forward and the other back. Splits.

 

[Ktarter15]

These are from today. 10/16. She’s on her feet but she keeps her hocks close together with her feet further apart. She’s standing with one leg forward and one back, but I’m not sure if that’s just because she’s trying to keep her balance or not. I’ve splinted her foot to a piece of sponge to try and straighten out her toes. I realize that’s not helping her balance at the moment but I’ll be taking it off tomorrow evening. Hopefully it makes a difference and she’ll be able to balance herself better. I wrapped her hocks in gauze because of her resting on them and trying to get around caused sores. Also when she went to lay down, both legs were in the proper position underneath her and pointing forward. (Last picture).

 

[Wyorp Rock]

With her legs turned like that she may have a leg bone deformity, Valgus Varus, with the Valgus deviation.

Unfortunately, if this is the case, then the legs would not be correctable and often as a bird gets older and heavier, they are unable to support their weight.

Placing her in a sling for periods of time to help lessen sores is a good idea. Continue to offer supportive care through vitamin therapy as you have been doing.

 

[Ktarter15]

With her legs turned like that she may have a leg bone deformity, Valgus Varus, with the Valgus deviation.

Unfortunately, if this is the case, then the legs would not be correctable and often as a bird gets older and heavier, they are unable to support their weight.

Placing her in a sling for periods of time to help lessen sores is a good idea. Continue to offer supportive care through vitamin therapy as you have been doing.

She’s doing amazing. Her balance is getting better every day.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She’s doing amazing. Her balance is getting better every day.

I'm glad to hear she's improving!
Thank you for the update