Marek’s or something else????

[Dart-frog]

I know very, very little so please take this with a grain... errr.... mountain of salt. But I've read of people having success with colloidal silver to treat Marecks. It may be worth a Google search to see what you think. It's like $15 and can be purchased at Wal-Mart or Amazon, so maybe worth a shot... good luck, I have a sick baby right now too and am hoping for suggestions on her case. I hope both of our kids pull through. ❤

Apologies- I just realized there were so many pages of comments and updates in between your original post. Still though, what I read about the colloidal silver is that it can also be used preventatively- could perhaps help with the rest of the flock. Perhaps someone who knows more about it than I could offer feedback if you decide to look into it.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Apologies- I just realized there were so many pages of comments and updates in between your original post. Still though, what I read about the colloidal silver is that it can also be used preventatively- could perhaps help with the rest of the flock. Perhaps someone who knows more about it than I could offer feedback if you decide to look into it.

It’s okay!! The thread got pretty long haha I will definitely look into it for the others!! Thank you!!!

 

[Dart-frog]

The only way to know if its mareks is to have the bird necropsied. It looks like mareks. Sadly, I have it in my birds. Usually in the later stages they do get a weird green poo that has a stronger smell. In the beginning I did a lot of research and tried a lot of things. I could keep them going a while sometimes but the ending was always the same. I also found it unnecessarily put the other birds at risk because it is so contagious. Now, I just put them down ASAP, not only for the sake of the others, but also because its emotionally easier than putting so much into a bird then have to put it down.

Hi @abraga
I am afraid to ask because I hate the bleak outcome, but would you be willing to take a look at my post and let me know what you think? I'm a relatively new chicken mom and I've been very lucky with a healthy flock, but my girl Dumplings isn't doing well right now. She doesn't seem to have most of the telltale signs of Mareks (wings okay, legs seem ok, pupils seem ok) but this poo is really weird and she's generally listless with poor appetite. Do you think it is an early sign, based on what you've seen in your experience?
Thanks so much for any insights you can share... I appreciate it so much.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-not-eating-labored-breathing-help.1367201/

 

[casportpony]

Thank you but I actually already had to put him down shortly after this post. He got worse and couldn’t walk anymore so I didn’t want to drag his suffering on. But I’ll keep this in mind if anyone else gets it and good luck with your baby!!

Did you send him off for necropsy?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yeah and he had it as suspected but thankfully no other issues which is a relief haha I’m gonna order the vircon stuff later to sanitize the coop and also gonna change all the bedding today in the meantime. I haven’t yet because I’ve been focusing on the garden plus it’s been raining a lot but I just finally got more shavings yesterday so gonna do that.

 

[igorsMistress]

Yeah and he had it as suspected but thankfully no other issues which is a relief haha I’m gonna order the vircon stuff later to sanitize the coop and also gonna change all the bedding today in the meantime. I haven’t yet because I’ve been focusing on the garden plus it’s been raining a lot but I just finally got more shavings yesterday so gonna do that.

Awe, I'm sorry but it's good you got confirmation!

Pick a warm day to scrub down that coop. I usually scrub one day, sanitize the next to make sure everything is fully dry.

Good luck with the rest of your flock

 

[ShrekDawg]

Awe, I'm sorry but it's good you got confirmation!

Pick a warm day to scrub down that coop. I usually scrub one day, sanitize the next to make sure everything is fully dry.

Good luck with the rest of your flock

Thank you!! I figured he had it so not too much of a shock but definitely good to get the confirmation!!!

And will do!!! It’s pretty warm today but it’s supposed to rain tomorrow or at least in the morning. Maybe I should wait? I could at least add more shavings now and do a full clean when I get the stuff.

Although, do you think I need it/should definitely get it if the others probably already have it anyway? They would recontaminate the coop anyway, right? Since it lives on feathers or whatever?

But I’ll probably order it anyway just in case.

Safe to assume if one has it they all do now right???

It sucks but I usually don’t sell birds anyway so it’s not really much different. I guess I’ll just have to order only vaccinated chicks from now on and not hatch. Or else order the vaccine.

Don’t have to worry about hatching anyway though atm since Jack is still scared of the girls.

He finally seems to be starting to integrate a little bit more today though or else be picked on less.

And thank you!!! So far Jack and Wilma are fine and I really hope it stays that way.

They would have already shown symptoms if by now if they were going to, right???? Or could it be a while???

I hope they don’t get it because Jack is my new favorite.

So far though they’re fine as are the chicks. The chicks are growing like weeds hahah

I like the more natural method of the heat plate or heating pad cave (have used both for two batches each haha) over the lights but at the same time, I don’t because they grow so fast and my babies already have full wings and some back/tail feathers.

Thankfully though the bantam Cochins grow soooo slow and are still cute little fluff balls.

Thank you to you and @casportpony and everyone else for all your help!! I really appreciate it!!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Whoops, that turned into a huge novel hahaha sorry

Anyway, thank you @igorsMistress and @casportpony and everyone else!!

Gotta get back outside and back to work now.

 

[igorsMistress]

Thank you!! I figured he had it so not too much of a shock but definitely good to get the confirmation!!!

And will do!!! It’s pretty warm today but it’s supposed to rain tomorrow or at least in the morning. Maybe I should wait? I could at least add more shavings now and do a full clean when I get the stuff.

Although, do you think I need it/should definitely get it if the others probably already have it anyway? They would recontaminate the coop anyway, right? Since it lives on feathers or whatever?

But I’ll probably order it anyway just in case.

Safe to assume if one has it they all do now right???

It sucks but I usually don’t sell birds anyway so it’s not really much different. I guess I’ll just have to order only vaccinated chicks from now on and not hatch. Or else order the vaccine.

Don’t have to worry about hatching anyway though atm since Jack is still scared of the girls.

He finally seems to be starting to integrate a little bit more today though or else be picked on less.

And thank you!!! So far Jack and Wilma are fine and I really hope it stays that way.

They would have already shown symptoms if by now if they were going to, right???? Or could it be a while???

I hope they don’t get it because Jack is my new favorite.

So far though they’re fine as are the chicks. The chicks are growing like weeds hahah

I like the more natural method of the heat plate or heating pad cave (have used both for two batches each haha) over the lights but at the same time, I don’t because they grow so fast and my babies already have full wings and some back/tail feathers.

Thankfully though the bantam Cochins grow soooo slow and are still cute little fluff balls.

Thank you to you and @casportpony and everyone else for all your help!! I really appreciate it!!!

Did you hatch Red? Yes you should clean. All of the coops. Marek's is shed in the dander of the sick bird so any dust, bedding etc could be tainted. The dry conditions of the coop are a perfect place for it to live.

I do it once a year in Spring now to both coops and use a shop vac to dust the flat surfaces inside once a month. I'll be honest, I've still had to put down sick birds, but maybe it's not as bad as it could be if I didn't clean.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Did you hatch Red? Yes you should clean. All of the coops. Marek's is shed in the dander of the sick bird so any dust, bedding etc could be tainted. The dry conditions of the coop are a perfect place for it to live.

I do it once a year in Spring now to both coops and use a shop vac to dust the flat surfaces inside once a month. I'll be honest, I've still had to put down sick birds, but maybe it's not as bad as it could be if I didn't clean.

Yes I did. I hatched Jack and Wilma too. They’re all from my November hatch.

And okay will do!!! Thank you!!!

So how would it work??? I’d just spray every nook and cranny and keep them out for the day or???

Thankfully they haven’t gone in the new coop yet and I’ve shut the gate to Red’s pen so they haven’t been able to get in it at all but I’ll spray all the coops anyway just in case.