Needing advice re possible Mareks

[Katejc]

So this is my pullet Beyonce. She is an awesome chicken. American game mix. Super tame, super sweet but she could also be put out in the wild and probably live for years. She’s a bad a**. A couple weeks ago, this showed up on her eye. It hasn’t changed, gotten better, gotten worse. Its just there. She also stumbles now and then. Apart from that, she is great. She eats, she drinks, she lays in -10 degree weather. She barely sleeps in the cold, she is constantly up “foraging”. I have my suspicions about what is wrong with her. I have 2 other birds in with her that are healthy. I have 4 more birds to integrate into this flock of 3.
The only good news, is that if it is mareks, they aren’t in their permanent coop yet and it is nowhere near their current home. Though it is near the compost where I dump their bedding.
The 4 that have yet to be integrated are nearby. Probably near enough that they have been exposed.
Has anyone experienced these symptoms? If it seems like Mareks, what should I do? How long before I start seeing worse symptoms? Will the other 2 get it?

 

[Kathy Golla]

I have a story about doing exactly that with blueberries then letting the chicken walk down my hallway with carpet... the blueberry slurry was exploding out of her hind end...its a long story, but I wont derail your thread about it...

 

[Eggcessive]

I can’t seem to find your previous thread due to the recent changes in BYC, but didn’t we discuss the possibility of the 3rd eyelid being the problem with her eye? Mareks (the ocular form which only is seen in some Mareks cases,) usually causes a dulling of the colored iris and a pinpoint or irregular-shaped pupil.

 

[Eggcessive]

I really don’t think the film over eye looks like any Mareks pictures I have seen.

 

[Katejc]

Update: today I gave the chickens blueberries with their greens for supplements. She ate all of them. Terrible things are coming out her behind now. Helpful tip: if you want to give your chickens blueberries, please do so in MODERATION

 

[Katejc]

I have a story about doing exactly that with blueberries then letting the chicken walk down my hallway with carpet... the blueberry slurry was exploding out of her hind end...its a long story, but I wont derail your thread about it...

Ohhh noooooo! This one happened in my kitchen

 

[Eggcessive]

That is interesting. Keep us posted on how she is doing. Sometimes it takes time to figure out what is going on.

 

[Katejc]

Keeping this post updated for future chicken keepers seeking advice for similar symptoms. Supplementing Beyonce’s diet with meat and mixed greens with a lot of spinach. She loves rib bones. LOVES. She still seems healthy and fine apart from the unsteadiness. I feel like this has been going on for too long to be Mareks and not see symptoms in my other birds. Will keep updating!

 

[Katejc]

So I’ve been supplementing her for a few days and the compulsive foraging behaviour seems to have stopped. A few things could be causing this as I also started putting out a bowl of oyster shell the same time, the temp has come up in our area a LOT (we’re talking 40 degrees) and she seems more rested. Not lethargic, but just a bit more relaxed. As for the eye, I have read that too much exposure to light can cause cataracts in chickens and we have them housed in a sunroom! Hopefully putting the pieces of this puzzle together.

 

[Fairview01]

What is AI? As far as the flock goes, there isn't much I can do. I have 4 to be integrated but they are in such close proximity to each other that they have been exposed too. So far everyone is totally healthy.

Avian influenza.