I'm sorry but with another girl down with those symptoms I could almost bet that it's Marek's. The crazy thing about Marek's is it loves to mimic other diseases...such as sour or impacted crop. I've had several start out that way and then, they would move on into the more common Marek's symptoms. My advice to you would be to have one of the girls euthanized and necropsied. You really need to know what you are dealing with and a necropsy is the only way to know for sure.
I'm so sorry...
Leadwolf, I think your advice is right on.
Daisy, you've said a couple of things that have me thinking Marek's. The first hen's death could be that she wasted away. They look like they're eating but they're not. She died 5 weeks after that chicken farm got rid of all the chickens. I would say if the conditions are right, such as a farm having many chickens with Marek's, that would release a very potent amount of dust, esp if they are sick at the time.
2-3 weeks later another hen is showing paralysis. But otherwise chirps. They can look like nothing's wrong right up to the end. I had a 2 year old roo that crowed and was paralized right up to his neck,, and was skin and bones.
Feel the crop at night. Anything in there? Feel her breast bone. Bend down and see if she's eating or just pretending with her crumbles.
I have one now that had paralysis, got better, starting eating well, and now, a few weeks later, is wasting. But looking real happy.
I would also think that it's possible, but unlikely that a 4 year old get Marek's. And it's more likely that an older bird would waste, and not get paralysis. I can't say it's not possible because my first victim was a 2 year old roo who got paralysis, wasting, a grey eye, wing walking, and lost control of his neck..
Like leadwolf said, Marek's has no rules. No cure, No test. It can have classic symptoms or none at all.
I hope your chickens don't have it, but it does sound like it.
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