mcmurry sick chicks please post here

[Poultergeist]

Chicks delivered by McMurray on March 3rd to Upstate, NY : 26 Buff Orps / 26 Light Brahmas All vaccinated for Mareks & Cocc... Each batch placed in separate brooders.

I Buff Orp died within first 24 hours of my receipt of them (appeared weak from travel stress)

I Buff Orp died on eighth day (very small chick, possible genetic weakness)

Day 15: I Buff Orp severely sick from apparent mystery illness. 4 other Buff Orps appear stricken with mystery illness, but in early stage. All five in quarantine brooder awaiting their journey to chicken afterlife, if it exists.

No light brahmas appear to show signs of sickness.

 

[pacountrygirl]

I noticed that my sick chicks all have lumps on their necks. Are they not digesting their food? I do mix grit with it. I know someone posted about treating one of their chickens for this with olive oil and massaging... can someone tell me exactly what I should do that might help these poor little things?

 

[coopist]

Quote:
If the Marek's vacc. is administered in the neck region, the lumps could be a sign of infection taking hold at the injection site. Not saying it is, again, just saying it's possible. If so, there'd be little you could do.

Sorry to hear you're having this problem too.

Again, I don't think everyone's got the same issue. But it sounds like some could be having problems with the Marek's vaccine.

 

[hart31]

Haven't gotten chicks from MM for about 10 years but never had any problems with them other than implying show quality and getting commercial quality.

I did order turkey poults back in December for mid March delivery. They called today and said the turkeys were not hatching well and they could not deliver until April 22nd.

Hmm! Something with cross species infection viability?
I doubt any of their turkey breeder flocks are in close proximity to their chicken flocks but it employees might spread it from site to site.

Most likely just poor weather affecting viability in the early turkey eggs. I know parts of the midwest have had unusually poor weather the last couple of months.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
If the Marek's vacc. is administered in the neck region, the lumps could be a sign of infection taking hold at the injection site. Not saying it is, again, just saying it's possible. If so, there'd be little you could do.

Sorry to hear you're having this problem too.

Again, I don't think everyone's got the same issue. But it sounds like some could be having problems with the Marek's vaccine.

Alot of times there can be swelling due to the vaccine not immediately absorbing into the system. Something to think about...

 

[coopist]

Quote:
Yeah, I'm like you hart31, haven't ordered from them in years. When I did, I had no trouble at all, but then I also didn't get vaccinated stock. I remember a poor quality batch of Silkies and a really fine quality batch of Royal Palm turkeys.

I've heard they drop ship. Heck, I've even heard Ideal drop ships for them from time to time, although I don't know if that's so. I do know that if folks are having a problem with a vacc. it could be hard to track down...

 

[jkcove08]

MM only hatches chicks in its Iowa site. I wanted to order poults also but those are hatched at a different site so I was not able to have those for pick up. I have ordered just chicks. There are very few hatcheries that will hatch everything that it offers at one site. Meyer is the only one that I know of that currently does that. Jenn

 

[coopist]

Quote:
If the Marek's vacc. is administered in the neck region, the lumps could be a sign of infection taking hold at the injection site. Not saying it is, again, just saying it's possible. If so, there'd be little you could do.

Sorry to hear you're having this problem too.

Again, I don't think everyone's got the same issue. But it sounds like some could be having problems with the Marek's vaccine.

Alot of times there can be swelling due to the vaccine not immediately absorbing into the system. Something to think about...

Agreed, Buster.

 

[PennySue]

Tumors are also a sign of Marek's. The lesions or growths are what causes the paralysis. The tumors are not always seen, they can be internal, thus the need for autopsy.
Live turkey virus is what is used in some Marek's vaccines. The virus is sterylized so it cannot reproduce. If the sterylization is not done correctly, you now have a viable virus given to an immature chick. This might be related to the turkeys.
Thanks for the update on MM's Vac., they haven't e-mailed me yet. At this point, I want everything from MM in writing.

 

[farm_mom]

I want to thank MNKris for her great post with photos. While I haven't lost anymore chicks, I do have three with the splayed legs that you show in your one photo. I thought perhaps it was spraddle leg and tried to hobble them, and while it seems to have helped one a little, it doesn't seem to be helping the others. They do eat and drink though. I also have two other who seem to prefer to haunch walk. The rest seem to be doing well at this point.