Marek's?

[Cellomama2]

I absolutely hate this. This is Dandelion (Isa Brown born May 22) #4 that has gotten sick now and the third one with similar issues. So if we are most likely looking at Marek's what do I do now? She was limping so I brought her in. Over The next few days her limp was getting worse to the point that her right leg started angling back and it was getting harder for her to walk. Last night she was still able to somewhat stand but was mostly on her hocks. This morning she looks like this. Other than stretching her neck forward every once and a while and the leg issues progressing she is eating, drinking and alert (maybe a little more sleepy). Extremely frustrating doesn't even come close to what I'm feeling right now. Idea's?

 

[Poultrybonkers]

What does the stool look like? If its bloody its cocci if not then mereks id cull them all before they die from it anyways

 

[Cellomama2]

No bloody stool. I thought some can make it through even if it is Marek's.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Have you bought any new birds lately?

 

[Cellomama2]

No.

 

[Cellomama2]

No and don't plan on it. I can't bring any new birds into this not knowing exactly what's killing them in the first place.

 

[DebiC215]

Can Mereks kill one then another after a month. Rest seem fine?

 

[Eggcessive]

It does sound like symptoms of Mareks disease, but I would start poultry vitamins including thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin E which are in most vitamins in feed stores. There are vitamin deficiencies that can cause lameness or muscular dystrophy in chickens, so this would be one thing to try. Contact your state vet or poultry college to get a necropsy done in the event they die or if you choose to sacrifice one or two to test for Mareks. Mareks remains in the environment for months to as much as seven years according to some experts, and all poultry exposed to Mareks whether they get it or not, should be considered carriers. Mareks is a tough disease to have in your flock, but many people breed their survivor chickens with good results. There are quite a few Mareks threads with experienced people posting, if you Google Mareks or do a search here on BYC.

 

[Cellomama2]

DebiC215 this is actually the 4th chicken I am about to loose since June 10th. Eggcessive I'll give those a try.

 

[Cellomama2]

We are now at the point that her left leg is forward with the toes curled and the right leg is back and she can't bring them together. It is also very uncomfortable for her if I try to move that right leg forward too much. She is still very much so alert, eating and drinking. Is this sounding like anything other than Marek's?