Meat birds ? mareks

[SD Chickens]

Hi looking for some help. I have just started with chickens, my first batch. We got 30 cornish x and 13 laying hens all as chicks, about 5 weeks ago. About a week ago I had one that would not get up and move when I went in the coop, or would shuffle using wings to help, she was about 4 weeks old, I seperated her and she would eat and drink if you put food and water in front of her. Poops were normal but just couldnt get up, her legs never splayed either. After about 3 days she died. Now I have 2 more of the CX with problems, one wouldn't get up and one when she walked had a leg that looked slow like she was walking with a stroke. I pulled them both out and put them in a seprate pen. When I checked on them about 4 hours later the one that could walk earlier now couldn't even get up when I checked them. could some tell me is this mareks and is there anything I can do? Will all of the chicks get it or only a few? None of them are vaccinated. I do feed medicated 18% protien chick starter. Thanks for your help.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

No need to vaccinate CX for Mareks. They are usually butchered before they can get it (at least that is what I was told). Some CX chicks just have bad legs. Do you add a boiler vitamin to your water. It has lots of niacin and good vitamins in it. They really need these vitamins to help with their legs. Are you feeding them free choice? If you are, I would think about putting them on a restricted diet 12 on 12 off. If they are eating 24/7 they are putting on weight faster than their legs can handle.

ETA: BTW...I'm assuming that your chicks going down with leg issues are the CX?

 

[EweSheep]

No need to vaccinate CX for Mareks. They are usually butchered before they can get it (at least that is what I was told). Some CX chicks just have bad legs. Do you add a boiler vitamin to your water. It has lots of niacin and good vitamins in it. They really need these vitamins to help with their legs. Are you feeding them free choice? If you are, I would think about putting them on a restricted diet 12 on 12 off. If they are eating 24/7 they are putting on weight faster than their legs can handle.

x2

 

[SD Chickens]

I will try and find some of the vitamins. I don't think it is a problem with getting too big for thier legs because it has been the smaller birds that are going down. It seems more like a neurological problem, the one was walking somewhat unsteady and few hours later could not get up and needed to use its wings to keep steady, when I tried to roust them up by rubbing the back and nudging them. Are the to young for mareks or could it be something else? I do feed them 12hrs or less on and take feed away in the evening.

 

[Beekissed]

I would return to the source of purchase and see if they are experiencing any similar symptoms. Since this is your first chickens, I can't imagine they caught anything from your place unless you have nearby flocks or have had flocks of chickens raised on that land previously.

Other than that, thiamine inhibitors like the amprollium in your medicated feed may have caused a thiamine deficiency which can exhibit as weakness in the legs, neurological problems such as ataxia(difficulty moving the legs properly for walking) and star-gazing(holding their heads in a protracted position as if they are looking up all the time.

 

[SD Chickens]

Thanks Beekissed, the people that lived here before us had some laying hens. So there is a history of birds. It was two years ago since there were any chickens in the coop or run, not sure if that makes any difference or not. Thanks