Marek’s or something else????

[electrycmonk]

gawd it was hard putting my first one to sleep. I know I'm not ready to have to do any other method yet. I'm glad you were able to seperate and push through it for the ending of the pain for the Roo.

 

[ShrekDawg]

gawd it was hard putting my first one to sleep. I know I'm not ready to have to do any other method yet. I'm glad you were able to seperate and push through it for the ending of the pain for the Roo.

Thank you.

Was definitely hard but I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore.

 

[Lamontelle4]

Ma

My poor Red, my 5 month old Welsummer cockerel, is really in a bad way right now.

A week ago today I moved him into his own pen because he had been limping for a few days and wasn’t getting better, started limping worse/holding a leg up, etc. and so I thought being in a smaller coop with no roost would help so he wouldn’t injure himself further jumping off the roost.

I really thought that it was just an injury. A sprain or broken leg even because he’s a bit over enthusiastic with his mating and the girls hate him and come to each other’s defense. So my first thought was that he just had a bad beatdown with the girls and should recover.

He was limping and holding it up but trying to put weight on it. Still crowing, eating, drinking, etc.

Soooo..... should get better, right? After a few days or a week of rest, I’m sure he will improve.

Except..... he’s not.

He’s worse.

It has now spread to both legs and he can barely stand up or move. Toes occasionally curling when he’s laying down. He doesn’t seem to be able to spread his legs out fully and kind of falls when he tries to walk. Holding his wings out to steady him. His comb is darkening. I saw a green poop (and some other normal looking ones.

I am now very concerned about Marek’s.

I was hoping that it was a vitamin deficiency or something showing similar symptoms since I’ve read toe curling and lameness can be from that but I’m really starting to doubt it with his other symptoms and especially considering he is not vaccinated.

My dad and brother read a few articles and are now convinced he has it and that we should just cull him ASAP like tonight or tomorrow but I want to know for sure this is what it is before we do anything. Especially since it’s likely already spread to the rest of the flock. But at the same time, I do not want him to suffer which I’m afraid he is given he can barely walk.

But he is still crowing and devoured his food for 20 minutes straight earlier when I put it in front of him. So he still has an appetite and little spark. But he also barely moves and mostly stays where you place him and seems a little depressed.

And I am worried he will contaminate my other two non vaccinated birds.

Anyways, is this for sure Marek’s??? And if so, is culling him the only option??? Does he have any chance of recovery? If so, I’d like to give him a chance since he is a strong boy. But if there’s no chance or that is a stupid idea, I am willing to cull him even though it’s hard and I’ve never done it before. I don’t want him to suffer but also don’t want to rush to conclusions. Does he have to be dead to test him????

Thank you in advance.

So I haven’t had to deal with marek‘s disease before. I do Know that there is a vaccine for it. I think you can go watch YouTube videos on how to give vaccines and what to get. Usually if it is a disease like marek’s then other chickens might show symptom, unless you had a few that came vaccinated for it at the hatchery or before you got them. I wouldn’t cull him quite yet just because it might not be marek’s, and something else. I had a hen that was doing what your rooster was doing and turned out to be a type bacterial infection that we treated with antibiotic and she was fine.

 

[Lamontelle4]

Ma

So I haven’t had to deal with marek‘s disease before. I do Know that there is a vaccine for it. I think you can go watch YouTube videos on how to give vaccines and what to get. Usually if it is a disease like marek’s then other chickens might show symptom, unless you had a few that came vaccinated for it at the hatchery or before you got them. I wouldn’t cull him quite yet just because it might not be marek’s, and something else. I had a hen that was doing what your rooster was doing and turned out to be a type bacterial infection that we treated with antibiotic and she was fine.

Oh just saw that you already put him down. Sorry. At least he will no longer be suffering.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Ma

So I haven’t had to deal with marek‘s disease before. I do Know that there is a vaccine for it. I think you can go watch YouTube videos on how to give vaccines and what to get. Usually if it is a disease like marek’s then other chickens might show symptom, unless you had a few that came vaccinated for it at the hatchery or before you got them. I wouldn’t cull him quite yet just because it might not be marek’s, and something else. I had a hen that was doing what your rooster was doing and turned out to be a type bacterial infection that we treated with antibiotic and she was fine.

Oh just saw that you already put him down. Sorry. At least he will no longer be suffering.

Thank you. Yeah, he was really declining rapidly and pretty bad so I just decided to put him down. Probably should have waited though I guess. now I feel bad and wonder if he actually had something else.

And I thought the vaccine was for baby chicks?? Is there one for older birds??

And from what I understand, they won’t necessarily all show symptoms?? Plus my other are all vaccinated except for these 3 (now two). The other two are both fine so far. It was just him and I hope it stays that way.

 

[Lamontelle4]

Thank you. Yeah, he was really declining rapidly and pretty bad so I just decided to put him down. Probably should have waited though I guess. now I feel bad and wonder if he actually had something else.

And I thought the vaccine was for baby chicks?? Is there one for older birds??

And from what I understand, they won’t necessarily all show symptoms?? Plus my other are all vaccinated except for these 3 (now two). The other two are both fine so far. It was just him and I hope it stays that way.

I‘m sure there is a vaccine for adult bird. I know that I had to get my birds vaccinated for it so that I could go to poultry shows in other states. Yes you are correct. not all of them will show symptoms. But if they do.... then it is probably some sort of contagious disease that is affecting them. I would definitely look into a necropsy for your rooster. It’s better to know than not know. But if that isn’t available during these times then the best you can do is continue monitoring your flock.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I‘m sure there is a vaccine for adult bird. I know that I had to get my birds vaccinated for it so that I could go to poultry shows in other states. Yes you are correct. not all of them will show symptoms. But if they do.... then it is probably some sort of contagious disease that is affecting them. I would definitely look into a necropsy for your rooster. It’s better to know than not know. But if that isn’t available during these times then the best you can do is continue monitoring your flock.

Thank you!!! That’s good to know!! I was thinking of sending him in for necropsy but I haven’t heard back from the lab yet so idk. I was thinking of just treating them as if they’re positive. Or maybe finding another lab.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Finally heard back from the lady. Apparently the message didn’t come through until now and she did try to call yesterday but the office gave her the wrong number so she left a message on the wrong number I guess.

I haven’t called back yet but going to after I check the body. Haven’t checked it or added ice since I did it so I’m super worried the body is too old now and was going to just treat him as positive or try to do it myself.

But hopefully the body is not too old.

Anyway, I finally listened to the voicemail (yes I hadn’t listened to it yet ) and she said that they don’t do necropsies for what they suspect might be Mareks disease but she said I could contact either the University of New Hampshire or the University of Connecticut, she said they both have diagnostic labs, and that I could also still call her back. She also said it’d be about $100 So I hope to God the body is still okay because if it’s not, I’ll be throwing $100 away.

 

[ValerieJ]

Finally heard back from the lady. Apparently the message didn’t come through until now and she did try to call yesterday but the office gave her the wrong number so she left a message on the wrong number I guess.

I haven’t called back yet but going to after I check the body. Haven’t checked it or added ice since I did it so I’m super worried the body is too old now and was going to just treat him as positive or try to do it myself.

But hopefully the body is not too old.

Anyway, I finally listened to the voicemail (yes I hadn’t listened to it yet ) and she said that they don’t do necropsies for what they suspect might be Mareks disease but she said I could contact either the University of New Hampshire or the University of Connecticut, she said they both have diagnostic labs, and that I could also still call her back. She also said it’d be about $100 So I hope to God the body is still okay because if it’s not, I’ll be throwing $100 away.

Didn't @casportpony say it was pretty straight forward to do it yourself? If that doesn't make you queasy, I would suggest that.

 

[casportpony]

The body is not to old to do it yourself, and unless it's warm, probably not too old for a lab either. I suggest you call the other labs the lady suggested and figure out what it takes to get it done. Do not delay, do it now and get him shipped off today.