Mareks? I'm sorry, I've read and read and I just can't tell...

[anniemary]

I have 4.5 week old Freedom Rangers that were moved from the old coop house into their chicken tractor.

All did fine except one. It was only 15 minutes and we found her by herself and didn't seem right so we immediately pulled her from the flock. I'm sure she was stressed which I read can bring on Mareks.

It's been 3 days now. She doesn't eat. She'll take a little water with a dropper. A couple times she perked up and actually dipped her beak in the bowl herself to drink. Then she declines again. She can't stand. She still squwaks. Her eyes look fine. She just sits there. Now, though she is leaning over to one side. And, her breathing has become labored.

These are the reasons why I think it's Mareks.

Reasons why I don't think its Mareks is because she is only 4 weeks old. No one else is showing symptoms. Her eyes look fine.

I have so many questions:

If this is Mareks, I read that it can linger in the dust and litter. I started this batch in a crate in my old chicken house. Then, moved them to litter on the floor of the house, then to the tractor. There is still litter on the floor, but now I have a new batch of baby chicks in the crate. I had washed out the crate and put in fresh litter for the babies. They are in the chicken house, though. It's well ventilated

Should I be worried about them? Should I move them out of the chicken house?

No other birds are showing signs. Maybe it coccidiosis? I'm treating the flock with medicine for that now.

Any other thoughts?

I don't see any poop from her at all so I can't tell if there's blood or not. No other signs of bloody poop from the others.

I'm about ready to cull her. I live in WI, does anyone know where a necropsy can be done here?

Thank you for helping and answering the 1563rd question about Marek's.

 

[Columbus]

Hi,
I am treating one for Marek's at the moment. I read most of the large post on St John's Wort and have started giving that last night. She is still alive, about 6 months old Wellsomer, and I'm going to keep trying, as I really dislike putting anything down. I have my sick chicken in the house in a box of straw. She has all of the symptoms you describe and no grey eye, swaps bw wing out and one leg forward and one back to all in normal position. She moves from facing one way in the box to the other, but that's about it, can't walk. She was eating until I gave her the st johns wort last night. I have given her again this morning and wondering if I am doing the right thing, as she has stopped eating and sleeping most of the time now. Whereas, for the few days previously, she was eating, chirping alot and on meloxicam. I stopped that last night. I am in a dilemma too, as sure if I should be giving the St Johns now. If you are going to cull, I would recommend you keep her separate from the others and try something. If it is the coccidiosis, then I have personally treated with some droppers of collodial silver -which won't hurt. good luck.

 

[anniemary]

I'm thinking it's Marek's now.

When I went to her this morning, she had one leg back and the other tucked under her.

I'm really worried about the others. Is it possible that they wouldn't get it?

Can humans get sick from this?

Is it safe to eat my meat birds if they've been exposed?

This is my second go 'round with chickens and i never had trouble with my other flock.

 

[Spikes Chooks]

I'm no expert, but I wouldn't give up on her just yet. It still sounds like it could be cocci to me, so keep the meds up for that. I had one tucking her leg up and after 2 days on cocci meds she was just fine. At that young age, they are very susceptible to it and often there is no blood in their poop. It's good you have isolated her. You can maybe keep her warm and comfortable and avoid any issues of being picked on.

I don't think humans can get Mareks, but someone more knowledgeable may answer that.

I've never had to direct dose with medicine or fluids, but maybe you need to try that to get some cocci meds down her? Gotta be worth a try, if you think you may need to cull anyway.

Good luck

 

[Columbus]

I'm sorry to say that my chicken with what I think is Marek's disease has gone downhill fast since starting her on the St John's Wort last night. She hasn't eaten at all today. She has had some water that I have given her in a syringe and I'm given her Meloxicam tonight instead, as I felt that was working better. There is a long post -up to 27 pages on here about Mareks, that perhaps you can read. It does suggest that st johns wort works, but you need to do straight away and i may have been too late as i thought the leg was sprained. It wouldn't hurt to treat for cocci -and you should be able to get that at a farm supplies or the vet. Last time I had that, it was in some ex battery hens I got and most of them survived and were better in a couple of days I also favour using collodial silver, but your choice. I don't eat chicken but would imagine it's not best to eat a chicken that has died of an illness. Definitely keep separated, my other chickens are all running around and showing no signs. I did totally clean out and disinfect the chicken house, but mine are free range as well so couldnt' do the whole yard. I did sprinkle diatomaceous earth around and clove oil and put fresh garlic bulbs and new straw.
I haven't ever had a disease like this before and am very disappointed that I bought these chickens and the breeder didn't vaccinate. She said it was too expensive, but I will be making sure from now on. It's interesting that the ex battery hens have never had a serious disease and the oldest I've had here about 4 years, she doesn't lay, but as they vaccinate at chicken farms, this tells me it is best to vaccinate, as the ex battery weren't in very good health when I got them , but have survived better than the new young but unvaccinated chickens. Lesson learnt to always ask for me and not assume.
good luck to you, I'm not sure mine is going to last overnight.
Leanne

 

[spikennipper]

Humans cannot get Mareks from chickens so you are safe in that respect. I had two go down with it rather rapidly once they reached 4 months, they were silkie crosses though and this breed is much more susceptible to it, I tried to treat with st johns wort for a few weeks but they did not progress just stayed the same so I put them down on humane grounds as they were thin and unable to move. Your chick sounds a little young and the fact it is not eating seems strange, mostly with mareks they will eat like little pigs but lose weight rapidly, though there are different strains so difficult to say, your other birds may or may not get it so you will have to wait and see, just keep them as stress free as possible and it still should be safe to eat your meat birds no problem, personally I would cull this bird as she sounds as if she is suffering, whether or not it is mareks, but for piece of mind if you can afford it I would get a necropsy done too.

 

[anniemary]

Thank you for all the wonderful words everyone!

Even though it may or may not have been Mareks, we put her down this morning. We both work off farm and were not able to help her drink/eat during the day. She seemed to be suffering more than getting better. And, not knowing what she had, I don't think I'd feel comfortable adding her to our freezer with the others.

We took the babies out of the crate and put them in another location out of the coop house.

It would really put my mind at ease to know I didn't have mareks on the property.

But, money is super tight right now and we can't afford a Necroposy (sp?). I'm treating the others for cocci.

So, I guess Ill just watch and see if anyone else comes down ill.

I would imagine if it is Mareks it would show up pretty rapidly throughout the flock. Am I assuming correctly?