Meraks-PLEASE help!

[rbispice]

Please help me. I am desperate. My 16 month old chicken, chiclin, has been very ill. I've taken her to the vet and this is what I have found out.

My chicken has meraks. She is showing signs of neuro meraks. Has anyone tried hypericum tablets? Does it actually work?

Anyone know where to find how to syringe feed without drowning a chicken?


I sent these questions to my vet but she has not responded. If anyone can offer ANY help at all I would be GREATLY appreciated. I would give anything to have my girl back to normal.
2) if the other two chickens are carriers of meraks they will be forever, even if I did give them a 30 day quarantine? Would it be best to find them a new home?
3) where I can find information on how to correctly syringe feed without accidentally drowning?
4) if she survives, she will be a carrier the rest of her life. Would it be best to keep her separated completely from other chickens? Or would it be okay for her to be with other carriers of meraks? Or could they be carriers of a different strain, vice versa so it wouldn't be a good idea?
5) is chiclins loss of balance due to the disease? Is there any way to help this?
6) would it be okay to give antibiotics? I read that meraks weakens the immune system. Is this permanent or only while the disease is not in remission?

 

[lightchick]

Welcome! I found this really good link that might help. The link says that hypericum tablets work so there's no hurt in trying.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/135247/st-johns-wort

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I am not an expert on Mareks, but some other members of BYC such as Nambroth and Seminolewind have Mareks in their flocks and are pretty knowledgeable. Don't give up that your chicken may have something else wrong such as a vitamin deficiency, or something else. Put poultry vitamins in your chicken's water daily just in case it is a vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency. If any of your chickens has Mareks, then all will be carriers, so no need to isolate, but you can't re-home them. Please describe your chicken's symptoms, and how long she has had them. Hypericum (St. Johns Wort) is something worth trying, although it hasn't been a cure, but your chicken could possible have some good results. Nambroth has a very good article about Mareks, and here are some other links about the disease and vitamin deficiencies that may cause leg issues.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/502
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency

 

[laurengeeves]

Syringe feeding will be fine, mareks will stay with them forever now, if you add a new one then they will get it too.. Quarantine won't help, but you need to take precautions not to spread it around like use yard boots, wash your hands, wear certain clothes

 

[mightymax]

Ditto on the responses about Marek's! Practicing good husbandry techniques will definitely be of value to your entire flock and trying out the St. John's Wort could be of added value, I honestly don't know. Providing palliative care is always an option, IMO. I'm certain it at least made the short life of my Marek's baby more tolerable, even if it couldn't cure her! Sending you good thoughts and best wishes for you and your chicks.