Marek’s or something else????

[diamondsilkies]

I do think euthanizing him once you have made contact with the lab and are ready to deal with his body is a good idea, as he will likely get sick again later if he recovers. For now, though, here is what I did to nurse my girl back to health (so you can keep him as comfortable as possible):

Make sure to keep his food, water, and bedding clean. Offer regular water in addition to water with electrolytes or NutriDrench. If he is eating his regular food, keep providing that, but you may also want to give him scrambled eggs and yogurt for protein/strength. If he keeps falling over and seems distressed, you can try giving him something to lean against (I just used a rolled-up towel). Once my girl perked up, I began doing some physical therapy with her to build up strength. It worked, but seeing as you are planning on euthanizing him, I don't think it's for the better.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I do think euthanizing him once you have made contact with the lab and are ready to deal with his body is a good idea, as he will likely get sick again later if he recovers. For now, though, here is what I did to nurse my girl back to health (so you can keep him as comfortable as possible):

Make sure to keep his food, water, and bedding clean. Offer regular water in addition to water with electrolytes or NutriDrench. If he is eating his regular food, keep providing that, but you may also want to give him scrambled eggs and yogurt for protein/strength. If he keeps falling over and seems distressed, you can try giving him something to lean against (I just used a rolled-up towel). Once my girl perked up, I began doing some physical therapy with her to build up strength. It worked, but seeing as you are planning on euthanizing him, I don't think it's for the better.

Thank you so much!! This is really helpful!! I’m going to try some of this stuff. I was thinking of bringing him in but I’ll just make him as comfortable as possible where he is. He’s eating tons but doesn’t really seem to be very interested in drinking.

 

[ValerieJ]

Thank you so much!! This is really helpful!! I’m going to try some of this stuff. I was thinking of bringing him in but I’ll just make him as comfortable as possible where he is. He’s eating tons but doesn’t really seem to be very interested in drinking.

Do you have a dropper? You can give him water that way, by just putting it next to his beak and allowing one drop out at a time. Let him swallow that and then another drop.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Do you have a dropper? You can give him water that way, by just putting it next to his beak and allowing one drop out at a time. Let him swallow that and then another drop.

I think I do. I might try that. I’ve been picking him up and dipping his beak in the water

 

[ShrekDawg]

I don’t know whether I should go kill him right now or whether I should wait till I hear back from the lab because I want to make sure I’m doing it right and don’t mess up the test but then I keep hearing he’s suffering or that I’m letting him suffer or whatever by not doing it and should do it ASAP/not put it off so now idk

 

[Shadrach]

Yeah, I’m sure they probably could have it but I’m not sure. I think the problem here is all the hatcheries and commercial farms vaccinate like crazy and make worse strains of the virus (since the hosts don’t die) but I’m not sure. Do you guys vaccinate much over there?

I've been told that the vaccine is available but nobody I know has vaccinated chickens. The whole chicken keeping model is different here. There are a few hatcheries apparently that serve the egg production industry but I've yet to hear of anyone buying chicks from them for what you would call back yard flocks.
We do have breeders here, but if a breeder here in the area that I live sold a diseased bird they wouldn't be living here for much longer.

 

[ValerieJ]

I think you are doing a great job, Kelsey. You are listening to everyone, taking it all in, and trying to get in touch with the lab. These are the best things you can do. But, different folks have different opinions and experiences, so it's no wonder you are unsure. I, for one, am not very experienced with chicken diseases, so everything I say is in a supportive role, and not the hard and fast advice you need.

I personally think the recommendation you got about waiting until you talk to the lab, to either know how they prefer it done, or see if they will do it there (preferable for me).

This is a hard decision for anyone, particularly the first time having an issue. No one else did a better job with their first experience with illness in a chicken, but experience has taught some that, for their flock, culling sooner is better. This only comes with experience, and unfortunately the experience is not easy nor pleasant.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I've been told that the vaccine is available but nobody I know has vaccinated chickens. The whole chicken keeping model is different here. There are a few hatcheries apparently that serve the egg production industry but I've yet to hear of anyone buying chicks from them for what you would call back yard flocks.
We do have breeders here, but if a breeder here in the area that I live sold a diseased bird they wouldn't be living here for much longer.

That makes sense!!! It sounds like a pretty good system there.

I really think the problem here is the over vaccination. It started as a good idea or good intentions I think but they probably didn’t realize it would make the issue worse. I think they probably were losing a lot of chickens and money and came up with the vaccine.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think you are doing a great job, Kelsey. You are listening to everyone, taking it all in, and trying to get in touch with the lab. These are the best things you can do. But, different folks have different opinions and experiences, so it's no wonder you are unsure. I, for one, am not very experienced with chicken diseases, so everything I say is in a supportive role, and not the hard and fast advice you need.

I personally think the recommendation you got about waiting until you talk to the lab, to either know how they prefer it done, or see if they will do it there (preferable for me).

This is a hard decision for anyone, particularly the first time having an issue. No one else did a better job with their first experience with illness in a chicken, but experience has taught some that, for their flock, culling sooner is better. This only comes with experience, and unfortunately the experience is not easy nor pleasant.

Thank you very much. This is helpful and also makes me feel better. I feel like so should wait too so that I don’t mess up the test but then now I have it in my head that I’m being cruel or something by waiting and I don’t want that

 

[igorsMistress]

@KDOGG331 if it's Marek's he is shedding the virus in his dander and your other birds can get sick from him. You can cull or try to rehab, I've read about people keeping them in slings and all sorts of things, but as long as he is alive he's shedding it if that's what it is. If you cull be sure you scrub down all coops with soap and water, then sanitize them, I used Virkon S. You'll have to get rid of the litter and everything. I'm sorry!