mcmurry sick chicks please post here

[brett]

I was informed that adult birds usually are exposed to AE at some time in their life and will not be affected by sick birds, I guess it is like childhood diseases that once you have had it and build antibodies to it you are good to go, that is what was explained to me so my fears are somewhat halted, I will have it checked out and respond asap.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Avian Encephalomyelitis

Synonyms: epidemic tremor, AE
Species affected: The disease is most prevalent in chickens less than 6 weeks of age. Pheasants, corturnix quail, and turkeys are natural hosts as well, but less susceptible than chickens. Ducklings, young pigeons, and guinea fowl can be experimentally infected.
Clinical signs: Signs commonly appear during the first week of life and between the second and third weeks. Affected chicks may first show a dull expression of the eyes, followed by progressive incoordination, sitting on hocks, tremors of the head and neck, and finally paralysis or prostration. Affected chicks are inactive. Some may refuse to walk or will walk on their hocks. In advanced cases, many chicks will lie with both feet out to one side (prostrate) and die. All stages (dullness, tremors, prostration) can usually be seen in an affected flock. Feed and water consumption decreases and the birds lose weight. In adult birds, a transitory drop (5-20 percent) in egg production may be the only clinical sign present. However, in breeding flocks, a corresponding decrease in hatchability is also noted as the virus is egg- transmitted until hens develop immunity. Chickens which survive the clinical disease may develop cataracts later in life.

Transmission: The virus can be transmitted through the egg from infected hen to chick, accounting for disease during the first week of life. The disease can also be spread through a flock by direct contact of susceptible hatchlings with infected birds, accounting for the disease at 2-3 weeks of age. Indirect spread can occur through fecal contamination of feed and water. Recovered birds are immune and do not spread the virus.

Treatment: There is no treatment for outbreaks. Infected birds should be removed, killed and incinerated. Recovered chicks are unthrifty.

Prevention: A vaccine is available.

I hope this is not the case (I had to look this one up), but it does look like it is best to keep them separate until you know for sure. Again, my heart goes out to all of you that have lost chicks, no matter what the cause. It is never easy.

 

[Stormhorse23]

i hope not...

 

[amaliayosa]

After the initial loss of 3 (one DOA) and other two within the first 48 hours all other chicks are doing great, full of energy, playful and appear to be healthy, They are now 6 days old.
I thought my SLW was getting sick yesterday (paranoia maybe) but she is active and eating and drinking today, must have played too hard that day

. In my case I really think the extra day in transit due to bad weather, and the cold affected the three I lost. But after hearing that this mystery sickness can start at 2 weeks I am keeping a close eye on the chickies. I have an order in for a duch assortment due to be delivered in May, I dont think I will cancel quite yet.

Amy

 

[max13077]

Oh God, that is laying and sticking legs out to the side exactly what my chicks are doing.

Here's what I don't get. I have 26 chicks. Five of which are obviously infected with this mystery illness. Why did they get it? They were all exposed to the same thing I assume. Why did they develop it and not all the rest?

 

[farm_mom]

My birds did the leg thing too, but I never noticed any tremors. I haven't lost anymore birds in 2 days. If it is AE will I have to destroy my birds? We're planning on using them for meat, eggs and breeding.

 

[Chickee's Mom]

I phoned Mcm and told them of the symptons my chicks have, wings drooping and no appetite. She said to put an anti-biotic in the water for four or five days.

 

[brett]

AE will not harm humans from my source of info, I dont think anti-biotics are going to do the trick either, this is said to be passed from hen to embryo and shows up in the young birds. My
Delewares and Partridge Rocks have been hit hard along with my Cuckoo Marans.

 

[MNKris]

Quote:
Brett, my Cuckoos and Buff Rocks are getting nailed too, both orders. I tried all the common meds on the first hatch of sick ones. Nothing works. I didn't med the healthy ones in the first batch or any of the second batch. It's a waiting game to see if they recover. The 2 that I put back in the brooder appear fine and I haven't had any new ones come up with the illness in the older group.

I definitely have the head tremors in some of ours, mostly buff rocks and EEs. None of the partridge cochins had it. They just quit drinking and eating and died more quickly than the Rocks, EEs and Marans that seem to hold on forever.. They all do lay out on their side though and after 3 weeks the tremors haven't quit. It's like bobble head/parkinson's disease looking. I would like just like to again say, we have NEVER had anything like this in our flock EVER, and our other chicks we hatched still seem to be doing fine.

 

[carousel]

Has ANYONE? had any of these sick chicks to see an Avian vet?
Mine will be 3 weeks on Saturday and in 2 households.
I learned this morning that a few have the same symptons as everyone has been talking about at my friends house. And I'm now watching one of mine. She sits on her haunches more, and walks more stiffly a bit less active, in the 1/2 hour I watched her this morning, she was not scratching and pecking around any more like everyone else. I'm trying to decide if what I saw this morning was a head tremmor...... shoot!
I'm going to call the avian vet.
mostly because I want to make sure I can contain whatever it is going on? or how to deal with what is going on.
Like an idiot I have composted their litter from the first week they were here.

CS

update - I have talked to the local avian vet's office. The vet herself was not in the office but the reached her by phone, she said what I told her sounded odd......
we are not doing anything other than seperating the chicks that are not doing as well.
But they are going to work with me and were VERY helpful, The vet is not in the office today but they will assist with necropsy of we loose chicks and they also said they would contact and work with the hatchery if we can figure out what is going on. She agreed that McMurray had an excellent reputation, but that MANY things could be going on. My chicks were vaccininated for mereks.
So I will call them again today if the status changes? and may take chicks in on Monday. As much as I don't want to loose chicks I even MORE want to know what I'm dealing with.