mcmurry sick chicks please post here

[PennySue]

I'm feeding Kent Chick-Go. The same feed my Ideal chicks are eating also. Not one Ideal chick has shown any signs only the MM chicks.
I talked to my vet who will do postmortems once I talk to the vet from UW. She believes it's not the feed or shipping. Instead it sounds like a bad or tainted batch of vaccine. I'm going to drop them off tomorrow. (the 1 that died and I saved, one that looks like it's getting better and 1 Ideal, to see if these are now carriers).
I called McMurray who said they would replace all the chicks that might be lost including the Ideal order ( Their quick response without an answer makes me think they are not being totally honest, but tome will tell). They said they would check their vaccine.
I called Ideal and found out they used HVT Vac. which is injected. MM couldn't tell me what they use but I have heard it is a topical or sprayed on.
I haven't lost any more for 2 days now and some are getting better, but, and this is a big but to me, if they live they will always carry the Marek's disease to infect other birds. Older birds that are exposed but not vaccinated can get this disease and show no signs. What happens if any of these chickens are at shows were many chickens that are not vaccinated? I really don't want to be responsible for spreading anything to other birds, including wild ones. My chicks are in a separate room of our house and not in the barn and I'm not letting them out until I get an answer as to what is going on.
The ones that are getting better are about 1/3 the size of the chicks that are healthy. A couple look like they are only a week old. Will they ever reach full growth?
I'll post anything I hear from the UW Vet and what the postmortems tell us.

 

[TheFunnyFarm]

Pennysue, I cant get a hold of anyone in the poultry dept. at UW would love to have your vets number my vet only works on large animal They referd me to a vet but they dont want to deal with it and they referd me to UW whom I cant get a hold of .

 

[TheFunnyFarm]

I,m not that far from Twin Lakes I live in Bristol

 

[carousel]

I'm still concerned about Avian Encephalomyelitis
it makes more sense than Mareks; as Mareks should have a 4 week + incubation period.
My 2 chicks are no worse, about the same, still eating and drinking on their own.
I'm hoping to get some results but right now the plan will be to euthanize our worst chick at the vet and do a necropsy.
the question I need to ask my friend is if we should do this on Tuesday or wait for some of the results of others that have sent their chicks out for a necropsy.
CS

 

[TheFunnyFarm]

The more I read, and ask ? The more it's starting to sound like a form of mareks.. ......could this be true
and if so could it be caused bye the vac? or was it in the hatchery? Time will only tell I guess.My family's first time with chicks has shur been a horrific one . MMH I shur hope you figure this poop out.
My 3yr old DS just cant understand what is happening to his flock and when I say his flock I mean it from the time they got here he has watched over them like the best of the best ,checking on them every morning,knowing and telling me when its time to water and feed and helping with ever aspect in there care...........................started to cry thinking of him and the chicks .....I'v had animals mainly dogs and horses all my life and have had to put down my fare share but this .......this is crazy these little peeps are breaking my hart!!!!!!!!!

 

[pepperluvsmee]

Every single person on this board that is have any kind of mortality with chicks bought from MMH need to contact them ASAP!!
I called to let them know I was concerned because I have chicks on order through my feed store that will be vaccinated. They cannot send them unvaccinated as the other 50 chicks that were ordered are being vaccinated. I let them know about possible vaccine contamination.
I have been following this topic from the very beginning and feel that there is a VERY good chance that it is the vaccines. Or a very bad year for hatch at MMH. Some of you said that the birds that were sick were smaller...weaker looking birds.
Unfortunately, they will never take responsibility if it is a tainted vaccine. That would close thier doors.
All of you should call and let them know of your concerns. Or wait and see if the next batch fares better. It may have been a bad run of vaccine that they have used already and are now using a new batch.
JMHO-Theresa

 

[PennySue]

UW vet is Ron Kane. His # is 1-608-262-8807. I called and left a message this morning but no call back as of yet. I also talked to Fox Valley in Waterford, they said they will do any testing or postmortem for me. I'm calling in the morning to bring them in.
The 3+ week incubation is based on external introduction or exposure. Even if this was a vac. that was administered by spraying, the chicks are then put under stress by shipping and handling. Both Vets I talked to said is the likely cause. MM would not deny it. The vac. has to be handled very carefully but I have not been able to find out what happens if it is not handled correctly. Still looking.
I'm going to keep looking into Marek's. Please, everyone else keep searching cause I really hope it isn't.

 

[amaliayosa]

Yes but there are people losing chicks to this mystery illness that did NOT vaccinate.

 

[PennySue]

If this Vac. was sprayed on instead of injection, it might have reached others while in packing?
I just sent off an email to MM to ask how they vaccinate and what type they use. So far they have been good on writing back, I hope they still are.

 

[crazychickens]

I DID NOT have my chicks vaccinated, and they have this illness.

I DROVE to Iowa from Madison Wisconsin, so my chicks would not get cold and then get sick, yet they are sick.

I feed them chick crumble made by the feed mill in my town.

If some chicks live through this will they be smaller or less hardy adults?