New Emergency

[PeepersMama]

Oh shoot. That's very very very bad.
Are there any signs of a respiratory disease in the rest of you flock? ANY disease at all? He sounds exactly like my BO boy Arrow - when the flock had mareks. It was really bad. One time he did a somersault cuz he couldn't keep his balance. I'm really sorry, but I would cull him asap. That is just me, and it may or may not be mareks, but in my experience once the disease is gone, the flock gets healthier almost overnight. I so hope it isn't

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ok new symptom to go with everything. He's now rocking back on his heels and almost going over backwards. He rights himself before he does, but he still acts like he's about to fall over. Also he pulls his beak and head to his right side when he rocks back. I've been adding Poultry Cell vitamins and minerals to his feed but haven't seen any improvement. I've been letting him oit in the bathroom 2 or 3 times a day to let him walk around but when he stands he starts the rocking.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PeepersMama

Oh shoot. That's very very very bad.
Are there any signs of a respiratory disease in the rest of you flock? ANY disease at all? He sounds exactly like my BO boy Arrow - when the flock had mareks. It was really bad. One time he did a somersault cuz he couldn't keep his balance. I'm really sorry, but I would cull him asap. That is just me, and it may or may not be mareks, but in my experience once the disease is gone, the flock gets healthier almost overnight. I so hope it isn't

I do agree with @PeepersMama it is starting to sound like Marek's.

The only way to know for sure would be through necropsy. Unfortunately there is no cure.

Here's more information:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[DesertBrahma]

He's still in quarantine in the house. None of the others are showing any signs of being sick. He's the only one. He doesn't have any respiratory problems. Just the balance issue. He was being grown out to be put in the freezer for us.

 

[DesertBrahma]

Tomorrow morning I'll check each one before they leave the coop and go into the yard.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

He's still in quarantine in the house. None of the others are showing any signs of being sick. He's the only one. He doesn't have any respiratory problems. Just the balance issue. He was being grown out to be put in the freezer for us.
Marek's can present a few different ways. Neurological (paralysis of wings/legs, loss of balance, etc.) is IMHO the most common presentation. Marek's usually does not have respiratory issues associated with it.

 

[DesertBrahma]

I read that article on Marek's. It said there are other illnesses that can have the same symptoms. I'm praying it's one of them instead. He's been a little trooper about everything until I touch the part of his right wing next to the body.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I read that article on Marek's. It said there are other illnesses that can have the same symptoms. I'm praying it's one of them instead. He's been a little trooper about everything until I touch the part of his right wing next to the body.

Yes, there is always a possibility that is could be another illness. This is the reason for suggesting Poultry vitamins and not using a layer or feather fixer feed for him (no extra calcium), to see if he improves. Vitamin B2(riboflavin) is important, so look for that in your vitamin. If you don't find it, then you can use human B-Complex vitamins(no iron) - just crush it up and add to feed.

I do hope that he improves. Marek's is not always fatal, some birds can recover with extra care. If he recovers he is considered a carrier, symptoms may come and go especially when there is a stressor (molting, new rival, changes in flock dynamics, etc.) There are a lot of backyard keepers that have closed flocks with Marek's and have learned to manage. The best thing to do is a lot of reading/research.

 

[DesertBrahma]

I was planning to process him and 2 others in April. Let's hope he makes it to then. That's why I have Brahmas because they're dual purpose, and very hardy. If he does have it and dies then I'll be watching the rest of the flock very closely.

 

[PeepersMama]

He's still in quarantine in the house. None of the others are showing any signs of being sick. He's the only one. He doesn't have any respiratory problems. Just the balance issue. He was being grown out to be put in the freezer for us.

Arrow was in almost perfect condition besides the balance, too, but as long as none of your other birds are showing signs of sickness, then hopefully that's not what he has.

 

[DesertBrahma]

None. I went out and checked each one before they got out of the coop run into the yard. Yes i have wild birds that will go back there if i don't keep the bird feeders in the front filled, and i have at least 2 neighbors that have chickens. I don't know if any of them have marek's in their flocks. He was in great health until my husband saw him the day before I put him in quarantine in the house. He was up playing with his siblings, eating drinking and being a normal chicken. Then my husband saw him flopped over on his side. I quarantined him the next day. I'm giving him lots of fresh water, I'm putting Poultry Cell in his feed, let him out to walk a bit in the bathroom a couple times a day, and washing my hands and changing clothes before I go out to the flock area. I also don't wear the same shoes. I wear slippers in the house, and boots outside. I've never cross contaminated either areas. Even when i had chicks in the house.