My sweet baby is staggering around acting drunk. HELP!

[MKingsolver]

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Thanks

How is Patricia doing? Hopefully she is on the mend???

Yesterday she was with the other girls, pecking and scratching right along with them. she still highsteps but not enough to catch under her wing. And the best part is when I try to catch her she runs from me and though its unbalanced at times...its NOTHING like how she was and I actually cant get a hold of her. She still is usually the first to bed and the last to leave and once all the girls have evacuated the coop and gone to free range, she calls after them saying "HEY!where is everyone? Wait Up!" So, hopefully (fingers crossed) shes on the mend!

Aww that's great to hear! I'm so happy for you

 

[The Red Rooster]

Hmmm.. I think heat stroke.

 

[MKingsolver]

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Thanks. I honestly don't know if it will help, probably not since they have been shedding the virus since only God knows when. But, my thought is that if I can catch it early on since I know what to look for, at least I can spare them the suffering. There is nothing more that I hate then seeing an animal in pain and knowing there isn't a thing I can do about it but allow them peace at rest.

Today I scrubbed everything down and disinfected everything. Will it help? Probably not but at least I feel like I can do something instead of sitting here absolutely helpless. It has made me feel a bit better to do something and well, I completely clean and disinfect everything once a month anyway so it was time.

I know culling is positively awful. With Gracie we took her to WSU and had her euthanized and tested, unfortunately we were on our own yesterday with Blondie and it was heartbreaking. My poor husband is kinda traumatized by the whole thing and said he won't do it again. Being so new at owning chickens we're not really "up" on the best/safest/most humane way to cull a chicken. Just makes me gag even thinking about having to do it again...

I'm so so sorry. I certainly understand how your husband feels. I have been inwardly freaking out the last 2 months because I was told my young pullet probably had Mareks. She was only about 4 months old at the time, but had gray eyes and small pupils. I asked a couple other folks who also agreed it was probably Mareks.

I just didn't have the heart to cull her. I have never killed anything on purpose and just couldn't bear the thought. So I just knew the others that were in with her were also infected. I did have 2 of the roosters die, one that came in my original shipment, and one that was given to me with a "summer" cold, from which he never recovered.

Anyway, I went out today and caught up the young pullet in question, and guess what??? Her eyes are PERFECTLY normal!!!! Nice large pupil, and orangish iris. I am SO happy that I didn't cull her and that it is NOT Mareks.

My heart goes out to you. I don't know how I'll ever make it raising chickens if I can't develop the kajunas to do the job when it's necessary.

Interesting! If she was loosely diagnosed 2 months ago with having Marek's, wouldn't she have shown other signs or passed by now? I've learned WAY more then I wanted to know about this awful disease but there are still a lot of things making me go, HUH?? I have a lavender orpington roo who is about 11 weeks who has grayish green eyes and when I saw your post about the iris color I kinda freaked until I realized his pupils are normal. Whew....
I'm glad your little girl is normal and she can go about her life being the happy, spoiled chicken that I'm sure she is

I don't know how I will make it either. Fortunately for me I don't live but about 2 miles from WSU's aviary lab so I can have them euthanized there but it's gonna cost me. I can't seem to develop the kajunas either, guess I'd better man-up LOL.

 

[seminolewind]

Kingsolver, the most humane way for the Both of you would be to have the lab euthanize her and pay for it. The best fastest way for the chicken is the axe. I was doing it with their head covered, helped me and it's calming for the chicken. But I need time off from that.

Anyway, I disinfected a small coop and moved my 2 unsymptomic pullets in there. I figured virgin ground can't hurt. Maybe they can build resistance that way. The roo is alone, I'll disinfect his pen and add the symptomatic silkie hen

For those who want to compare prices, "White Lightning" is the same ingredient as oxine, might be cheaper. Oxine works better than bleach because it's stablized. Bleach has a shorter time before it distinigrates. I've heard of using Ammonia.

I just keep praying that all our chickens live thru this thing.

 

[MKingsolver]

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Thank you, I think that would be the easiest way, too. I can only imagine you needed time off from that but you are a much better person then I for being able to do it. I just don't think I can, but for their sake I imagine I might need to learn how.

White Lightning huh? Might have to see if I can't find that. In the meantime the Oxine is on it's way and thankfully none of my babies are showing any symptoms. I'm trying to remain optimistic that it will stay that way but I don't want to set myself up for disappointment if they do.

Keeping my fingers crossed for your kids, seminolewind. I sure hope that everyone turns out just fine and will be praying for yours as well. I never thought I would get so attached to these guys and never realized how each of them would have their own endearing personalities and warm their way into my heart.

 

[seminolewind]

Kingsolver, no, I am not a better person than you. I know I needed a break. But this morning, one of my silkies was laying there paralyzed up to her neck, I picked her up and she closed her eyes. She was done. So I helped her along. If I hadn't , she would just be laying on the ground waiting to die. The other eight-I pray that they are okay. They were there when my first roo died with paralysis 2 years ago.

I moved my last 2 silkie pullets into a virus free environment to give them a chance. The roo is still in the pen, and tomorrow I'll lime it and clean it good.

On the bright side, I have a pip!!!!! I have 3 Polish eggs, one pipped thru. These 3 will be the first vaccinated ones. I also am giving my girls in the main flock a break from their roo, they all have bare backs.

I hope this dying ends for all of us. It's just too sad. That's why I'm hatching a few chicks. Something to keep my mind busy and maybe a bit happy.

 

[pooh731]

how is she doing, better i hope. glad to hear that she is with the other girls and running from you.

 

[Oobhakeb]

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better and better every day! I still am not sure what it is. Seems like its likely she was heat stressed or perhaps a little cocci.....still not sure but she's doing better. "White Lightning" huh? Like the mountain dew, hooch, moonshine type of white lightning? Or is this something you can buy over the counter? lol

 

[pooh731]

not sure let me know when you find out lol

 

[MKingsolver]

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Oh no, I am so sorry. I was really hoping this was the end of it for you.

I hope it brings you comfort to know that she is in a pain-free place now.

A Pip?!?! That is wonderful news! Please share some pics when you can, I think we all need a little uplifting right now. There is a place not too far from me that is going to have chicks available this weekend and while I'm almost tempted to go check them out, I definitely won't bring any home that aren't vaccinated. I wish my existing flock was of breeding age already. I have a beautiful mated pair of Lavender Orps who are both dolls and I can't wait to see their babies.