Minnesota!

[ejb3810]

Ralphie, the Guinea behavior which you have described is common place with my flock. The dynamics of those critters is really quite amusing. For some time this spring and summer one of the males was an outcast and though with the flock was forced to keep a safe distance.
They are definitely fool hens and spend time in the bush which leads to reduction in their numbers. At this point I have three males left and the outcast is now an accepted member of the entourage. They have always gone into the coop at night for the two years I have had them until this last week. They now are roosting in some large Pine trees which are right next to the coop. Guineas are predictably unpredictable.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Hey all
How goes it? Well ya'll no I'm a chicken newbie so halp! I posted on another thread on the board but wanted to bring it to the homefolks for some sage advice please.

4-5 week old Americauna/Wyandotte cross. Saturday she was fine, yesterday the other chicks were running over her in the brooder - paralyzed and couldn't stand. Yesterday she was waddle walking - this morning she appeared to be drawing to one side. I had to leave to get vitamins, etc. Just dosed her with oral B12 and Nutri-drench.

Tonight she cannot stand at all however when picked up she has grip in her claws. She is laying on her side and will try to raise up when we check on her.

I have her separated from the remaining chicks (did that yesterday). So far none of them show any other symptoms. I did mix the B12 and electrolytes in water and that was given to the other chicks and sickly chick as well.

Do I need to dose her several times tonight with the B12 or one dose for the night? I will say she took the oral meds like a little trooper. Eyes are bright and she's alert. Scooted herself for water after we put her in a new set up (rubbermaid with paper towels so she has a rigid bottom to stand on should she recover from this.) Fixing some boiled eggs to mash up for her later tonight.

First time I've had this happen so I'm totally freaking out. Was gonna make a drink and had nothing to mix with the JD so opted for a beer. My nerves are shot.

I am sorry to say it but it sounds like your bird is showing signs of Mareks and the best approach is to cull and quick. They can go on like that for days, but they waste away even if they are eating. That is my experience. And to those who think Mareks is a rare thing, it is not. It is everywhere just not bad enough to wipe out flocks, so cull accordingly and don't pass it on to other birds. Also, this is a topic of much discussion in breeder forums. You can opt to try the Marek's vaccine, but it is just like the vaccine for humans for chicken pox (both herpes type viruses), and just because you get the vaccine (or give it in this case), doesn't meant you can't contract the virus later. It is also expensive to use if you have a small flock, so most smaller/ish breeders don't use it. Additionally, for some reason, the vaccine they make available to people outside the commercial industry is not the same as the one provided to the commercial flock is what I have been informed.
Of course, authorities may tell you a different story.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Minnie: I'm glad you said it. It was sounding Mareksy to me too. But I don't like saying Mareks on chicken threads.

And being without experience with it... I shouldn't shout it out anyways.

When it comes to debilitating issues. Usually the kindest cure is culling. Hard as it is sometimes.

 

[Mistahbue]

Quote: Thank you - I know for a fact the people we got these chicks from did not vaccinate because she didn't want to put drugs into the meat should they decide to harvest any bird. I may give her another 24 hours then if not visible improvement will do what has to be done. Of course someone else in the house will have to do that. I just can't bring myself to do it.

Interestingly I read another thread that indicated birds like this might need to be wormed - and people claim they've seen improvement.

So frustrating because from my reading it seems that many bird diseases/conditions can cause these same symptoms so it's a crap shoot as to how to know what is the best for them. I just know if they are suffering that's not an option.

Checked the remaining chicks before changing water and giving feed - they were all mobile and doing fine.

 

[Mistahbue]

Minnie: I'm glad you said it. It was sounding Mareksy to me too. But I don't like saying Mareks on chicken threads.

And being without experience with it... I shouldn't shout it out anyways.

When it comes to debilitating issues. Usually the kindest cure is culling. Hard as it is sometimes.

That was the first thing I looked for. Well wait technically the second thing. First was avian flu.

Just aggravating - she's such a sweet little bird. She was one of the first who showed trust and would come up for a head scratch or petting. Nature sucks some days

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Minnie, you are so right about brine. Went to a friends turkey day gathering and the hostess served a turkey that sat in a brine and then she lightly smoked it in her big green egg. It was the best turkey I have ever had.

 

[scandiafowl]

If my boss comes looking for me here, you never saw me, ok?
I'm hanging our in my chicken coop..

 

[duluthralphie]

If my boss comes looking for me here, you never saw me, ok?
I'm hanging our in my chicken coop..

Ok No idea where you are........

If my boss comes looking for me here, you never saw me, ok?
I'm hanging our in my chicken coop..

No Idea where she is boss......

If my boss comes looking for me here, you never saw me, ok?
I'm hanging our in my chicken coop..

NO really no idea at all...

 

[scandiafowl]

Minnie, you are so right about brine. Went to a friends turkey day gathering and the hostess served a turkey that sat in a brine and then she lightly smoked it in her big green egg. It was the best turkey I have ever had.

I've read the same thing. But I haven't eaten a commercial turkey in years. Hopefully one of my Jerseys will ready to go by then.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have no idea about Mareks, and prefer to never have any idea or experience with it....


Is Ole ok? Did he come in contact with the chick? (I do not mean to seem callous about the chick and am not, it is just that Ole had a special place in my heart, he just did not fit in with the rest of the flock, they seemed to not want a registered sex offender in their midst.


When I get a sick bird, unless it is a special bird like Bert was, I do not try overly hard to cure it if it is an unknown disease. I would rather sent it to ICU and if it lives fine, but if not, oh well. the idea of keeping a typhoid Mary type birds scares me, but I will most likely have one someday..

I know what you meant Mistablue by the second thing you thought of, everytime I have a bird with any problems I think Avian flu,,,ecccckkk!