My babies are dropping weeks apart with the same symptoms, Help me identify the disease!!

[Sonya9]

Do you know what I should ask for? I have had 3 birds go down or show symptoms in the past 3 weeks.

I used valacyclovir (brand name Valtrex) whereas others have used acyclovir. I believe they are both generic and inexpensive. You have to guess on the dosage.

I have never had any problems with it, even when dosing tiny bantams, but I typically have only give the birds 1 or 2 doses (not long term). I believe kidney damage is a possible side effect. Of course there are NO studies of its use on chickens to my knowledge (there is no market for it in chickens so no one will spend the cash to study it).

Here is a thread that may interest you, a poster described how he used the drug to cure a fatal herpes virus in his birds: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/cure-for-herpes-virus-in-turkey’s.1405326/#post-23067015

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I looked it up and the white stuff on your grass where the chickens are is a fungus or mold. I specifically looked up Kentucky grass molds.
If they were my birds I'd find somewhere to put them temporally and treat the lawn for mold.

 

[Eggcessive]

There is a $20 mareks pcr test done on blood serum by labs at University of GA, and here in TX:
http://www.vetdna.com/application/forms/aviansubmittalform.pdf
You can contact them and see if you can collect the blood serum and how to go about testing. In KY, I seem to remember that necropsies are more expensive and you may have to go through a vet, but a necropsy could get you answers on what is killing your roosters and if it is Mareks. Or you could get the $20 test if they can tell you how to get the blood sample on a live bird and do the test yourself.

Here is the website to talk with a state poultry rep about necropsy and testing and prices:
http://vdl.uky.edu/LaboratoryServices/Sections/Necropsy.aspx

 

[mandymcg05]

Just called the lab at uofk. The cost is $80 for up to 3 birds. I’m going to send these two that are sick now. I’d love to NOT lose them but if it’s imminent then I need it to be fast so I can find out what’s wrong. She said it would take about 24 hours for preliminary results to come back. And they collect 7 days a week.

 

[mandymcg05]

Here’s my Jethro ... instead of free ranging he’s laying down. Poor boy he’s still walking ok. No stumbling yet.

 

[Sonya9]

Just called the lab at uofk. The cost is $80 for up to 3 birds. I’m going to send these two that are sick now. I’d love to NOT lose them but if it’s imminent then I need it to be fast so I can find out what’s wrong. She said it would take about 24 hours for preliminary results to come back. And they collect 7 days a week.

You are "sending" live birds? Or did you mean blood or feather samples from those two birds?

If it is mareks everyone in the flock has been exposed already.

 

[mandymcg05]

You are "sending" live birds? Or did you mean blood or feather samples from those two birds?

If it is mareks everyone in the flock has been exposed already.

I’m not sending them until they pass. I just know they will because of the bird that had the same symptoms that passed. And I wanted the testing to see what I can treat them with if at all possible. It’s just weird I’ve had a flock of established birds that are only about 1-2 months older and they’ve never shown these symptoms. But now the younger ones are falling ill and dying. It’s something I’m the whole flock but what. I don’t know what else to do. I have way too much invested to kill my whole flock of 32.

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know what you find out.

 

[spunky-chicken]

no idea, sorry to hear about that

 

[mandymcg05]

Well Maverick is the current one showing the worse symptoms. I’ve had him separated since Tuesday morning (I think) and this morning he will try and put weight on his legs at this point but still falls over hysterically. I can tell he gets pissed when I keep picking him up lol. Good sign? I may post a video today of what he’s doing. He’s holding his head high. Eating off the floor and drinking. Barely. But drinking. So I’m wondering if I should give some nutridrench Or save a chick in the water? Instead of the abx/corid?!