ddboersma
Songster
- May 2, 2022
- 119
- 73
- 101
Hello! I have posted many questions on here trying to help/treat my flock since this past summer.
I thought for sure it boiled down to Marek’s disease. I have had 11 birds die since June. After the first 3 died within a few days of each other I got a fecal test confirming Coccidiosis and tape worm. I treated with Corid and Equimax. During that time a 4th bird died.
Shortly after treatment, a bird started limping and eventually became lame. Gave her Complex B vitamin tablet daily for 4 weeks with no improvement and culled. Between then and now, I have had 2 die unexpectedly, 1 die from what I believe was impacted crop (crop was squishy, vomited shortly after I picked her up and put her in isolated and she died), 1 with respiratory symptoms, and 2 more started limping and became lame and were culled. I also treated those 2 with B vitamins for a couple weeks, but they were just wasting away/getting really thin despite a good appetite. I will also mention that during this time I treated for Coccidiosis again at someone’s suggestion, even though the bird acting sick came back with a negative fecal result.
Right now I have another very sick bird. She started limping. Now can’t move legs or wings. I got in touch with someone who said members of her flock became lame after Coccidiosis every time, and only complex B injections worked for her birds, and they weren’t properly absorbing nutrients in pill form. After describing many things to this person, who is also medical and has had a flock for a long time, I decided to treat for Coccidiosis again, and also deworm my whole flock with Valbazen. Then the game plan was to start B injections on this same bird and see if she recovers. She has since developed labored breathing, so instead I am doing Tylan injections for now.
I honestly didn’t believe it could be anything but Marek’s, so I sent in blood and swab to RAL (Research Lab Associates) in TX to test for Marek’s specifically. It came back NEGATIVE today! I’m relieved, but also wondering what the heck is going on with my flock?!
Yesterday another gal started limping and today she can’t walk at all. Has been eating and drinking well and laying eggs. A big maran mix that looks and weighs healthy.
My older flock who is just over a year old now has not been impacted thus far. It has all been my pullets who are now 25 weeks old. No one is vaccinated for Marek’s. Everyone’s poop is GREEN despite being locked in run for months due to hawk attacks (no grass or greens to eat). Their poop is also primarily solid. I only feed Scratch and Peck pellets. Nothing else.
What do you all think this could be??? I’m going to send in another sample on the bird with labored breathing, and now the other that has stopped walking. What all should I test for?? I still have 13 birds with no symptoms.
I don’t want to submit necropsy unless I absolutely have to because it’s a 2 hour drive and $250.
Help! Please and thank you!
I thought for sure it boiled down to Marek’s disease. I have had 11 birds die since June. After the first 3 died within a few days of each other I got a fecal test confirming Coccidiosis and tape worm. I treated with Corid and Equimax. During that time a 4th bird died.
Shortly after treatment, a bird started limping and eventually became lame. Gave her Complex B vitamin tablet daily for 4 weeks with no improvement and culled. Between then and now, I have had 2 die unexpectedly, 1 die from what I believe was impacted crop (crop was squishy, vomited shortly after I picked her up and put her in isolated and she died), 1 with respiratory symptoms, and 2 more started limping and became lame and were culled. I also treated those 2 with B vitamins for a couple weeks, but they were just wasting away/getting really thin despite a good appetite. I will also mention that during this time I treated for Coccidiosis again at someone’s suggestion, even though the bird acting sick came back with a negative fecal result.
Right now I have another very sick bird. She started limping. Now can’t move legs or wings. I got in touch with someone who said members of her flock became lame after Coccidiosis every time, and only complex B injections worked for her birds, and they weren’t properly absorbing nutrients in pill form. After describing many things to this person, who is also medical and has had a flock for a long time, I decided to treat for Coccidiosis again, and also deworm my whole flock with Valbazen. Then the game plan was to start B injections on this same bird and see if she recovers. She has since developed labored breathing, so instead I am doing Tylan injections for now.
I honestly didn’t believe it could be anything but Marek’s, so I sent in blood and swab to RAL (Research Lab Associates) in TX to test for Marek’s specifically. It came back NEGATIVE today! I’m relieved, but also wondering what the heck is going on with my flock?!
Yesterday another gal started limping and today she can’t walk at all. Has been eating and drinking well and laying eggs. A big maran mix that looks and weighs healthy.
My older flock who is just over a year old now has not been impacted thus far. It has all been my pullets who are now 25 weeks old. No one is vaccinated for Marek’s. Everyone’s poop is GREEN despite being locked in run for months due to hawk attacks (no grass or greens to eat). Their poop is also primarily solid. I only feed Scratch and Peck pellets. Nothing else.
What do you all think this could be??? I’m going to send in another sample on the bird with labored breathing, and now the other that has stopped walking. What all should I test for?? I still have 13 birds with no symptoms.
I don’t want to submit necropsy unless I absolutely have to because it’s a 2 hour drive and $250.
Help! Please and thank you!
thanks for your encouragement! Did yours end up having Mareks or is it a mystery?
