hunthaven
Songster
About a month ago, I lost two 20-week olds to Marek's--at least the vet and I were pretty sure that's what it was. I knew that the virus was in my flock, but ALL of my hens had been vaccinated, so I was hoping for the best. I now have two older hens who have just reached the POL, and they are exhibiting signs of Marek's, too. I know I ought to euthanize them before they begin to suffer, but I just want to be sure . . . . I guess I'm looking for reassurance.
Symptoms? These two came into my flock together as six-week olds. they are a welsummer and a wynadotte. The Wynadotte, Dottie, has been laying for about two weeks, and the Welsummer, Summer, has just begun the submissive squat.
Yesterday I first noticed Summer--she was walking as though the sand in the run was slippery ice--she'd put a foot out, then withdraw it as if she was afraid of losing her balance. When I saw her trip over a wire frame she should have been able to leap over, I knew. I put her in my isolation coop, then I began to wonder about Dottie. She's a huge, PUFFY, chicken, and when I watched I realized I could barely see her feet. She wasn't moving much at all, and when she did move, it was more like she was walking in a squat. So even if it wasn't Marek's, I thought I'd isolate her, too--and Summer could use the company.
My isolate coop is a small, "two-story" affair, and I thought they'd spend the night on the bottom floor. But this morning I found them in the safe, sheltered top floor, so I knew they were at least a little agile. But I waited and waited this morning, and they didn't come down, so I thought they might be afraid to come down to their food and water. I manually moved them down to the bottom, where they ate and drank as usual.
But as I watched them in the small run (right before it began to rain, so I moved them inside again), they were still moving like they did yesterday--Summer with mincing, unsure steps, Dottie in her odd "squat-waddle."
Sound familiar to anyone? I have baby chicks in my office I have vaccinated twice--once, and then seven days later for a booster--and pullets that were vaccinated at the hatchery (as all of mine were). Of my four hens I think are Marek's, all the symptoms have been associated with walking. No weird visible tumors or eye problems.
Sound familiar to anyone?
Symptoms? These two came into my flock together as six-week olds. they are a welsummer and a wynadotte. The Wynadotte, Dottie, has been laying for about two weeks, and the Welsummer, Summer, has just begun the submissive squat.
Yesterday I first noticed Summer--she was walking as though the sand in the run was slippery ice--she'd put a foot out, then withdraw it as if she was afraid of losing her balance. When I saw her trip over a wire frame she should have been able to leap over, I knew. I put her in my isolation coop, then I began to wonder about Dottie. She's a huge, PUFFY, chicken, and when I watched I realized I could barely see her feet. She wasn't moving much at all, and when she did move, it was more like she was walking in a squat. So even if it wasn't Marek's, I thought I'd isolate her, too--and Summer could use the company.
My isolate coop is a small, "two-story" affair, and I thought they'd spend the night on the bottom floor. But this morning I found them in the safe, sheltered top floor, so I knew they were at least a little agile. But I waited and waited this morning, and they didn't come down, so I thought they might be afraid to come down to their food and water. I manually moved them down to the bottom, where they ate and drank as usual.
But as I watched them in the small run (right before it began to rain, so I moved them inside again), they were still moving like they did yesterday--Summer with mincing, unsure steps, Dottie in her odd "squat-waddle."
Sound familiar to anyone? I have baby chicks in my office I have vaccinated twice--once, and then seven days later for a booster--and pullets that were vaccinated at the hatchery (as all of mine were). Of my four hens I think are Marek's, all the symptoms have been associated with walking. No weird visible tumors or eye problems.
Sound familiar to anyone?
