Newcastle Disease

[Hay-Hay]

My chickens have Newcastle disease or I think they do. I have not had them tested. I don't know what to do with them. It has knocked out quite a few of them. They have been paralyzed in the legs, had a loss of appetite, had purple or blue combs. Some had coughing or gasping and watery eyes. But it could very well be another disease. I really don't want to loss anymore but I don't what to do to help it. If anyone here can help me I would greatly appreciate that. It would mean so much to me.

 

[Hay-Hay]

I know that it is not Marek's Disease because not all of them have been affected. Only a few.

 

[Hay-Hay]

If any knows anything about this it would help me so much.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock might be able to help. good luck!

 

[sillyduckz]

i'm so sorry to hear your going through this with your flock. i'm not very familiar with newcastle disease so i apologize if i leave any information out but what you can do right now is isolate your symptomatic birds and provide supportive care through electrolytes, food, and rest. it would be best if you could find a poultry vet or state lab to identify exactly what you're dealing with here and to determine a better treatment plan. i'll provide links to an index of poultry vets and state labs by state/city below. good luck, please keep us updated!

PoultryDVM Chicken Vet Directory
Metzer Poultry Diagnostic Lab Directory

 

[CoopBoots]

I am so sorry. I have no experience in this and I'm not a health expert in general, but it sounds like it could be Newcastle. I don't think we could know for sure without testing/necroscopy, though. Mareks can be dormant but present in healthier birds, only to pop out later when they molt or undergo other stress. I wouldn't rule it out based on only some of your birds being sick.

If you are correct in your diagnosis, it doesn't seem the poulty industry has anything to recommend outside of a course of antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and to practice good biosecurity: https://www.bivatec.com/blog/newcastle-disease-in-poultry

Important to note that Newcastle can spread to humans but is not normally a serious threat; just in case you hadn't already run into that piece of info.

How are your birds currently? Not knowing what else to do, I'd focus on supportive care, especially for those impacted by paralysis. Maybe a small isolation area somewhere where you can help them drink, offer scrambled or boiled eggs, keep them warm and away from potential aggressors in the flock while they try and fight it off. Around how many birds do you have who are actively sick?

 

[FrostRanger]

Merek's won't necessarily cause symptoms in all birds, if you lose any I would call your state's poultry extension to arrange for a necropsy

If it does turn out to be Newcastle there is a vaccine you can give to any future birds you get. Valley vet sells it

 

[Hay-Hay]

Thank you all so much. We just had one die but the rest are healthy. I don't know if they have been vaccinated, but I do not know. We got them from a family friend. I do know he has similar problem but he got it recently. But the good news is that it is bird flu. Also thank you for the links I will definitely check them out. It could also be what Coopboots said about Mareks because they are very healthy. But in the end thank you all so much for your apologizes and your help. I hope you all have a good.

 

[FrostRanger]

Thank you all so much. We just had one die but the rest are healthy. I don't know if they have been vaccinated, but I do not know. We got them from a family friend. I do know he has similar problem but he got it recently. But the good news is that it is bird flu. Also thank you for the links I will definitely check them out. It could also be what Coopboots said about Mareks because they are very healthy. But in the end thank you all so much for your apologizes and your help. I hope you all have a good.

If you decide to get testing, keep the bird refrigerated (but not frozen). Having a confirmed diagnosis is extremely useful so you can plan how to proceed

Hopefully the healthy ones stay healthy and the sick ones recover

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My chickens have Newcastle disease or I think they do. I have not had them tested. I don't know what to do with them. It has knocked out quite a few of them. They have been paralyzed in the legs, had a loss of appetite, had purple or blue combs. Some had coughing or gasping and watery eyes. But it could very well be another disease. I really don't want to loss anymore but I don't what to do to help it. If anyone here can help me I would greatly appreciate that. It would mean so much to me.

I know that it is not Marek's Disease because not all of them have been affected. Only a few.

Thank you all so much. We just had one die but the rest are healthy. I don't know if they have been vaccinated, but I do not know. We got them from a family friend. I do know he has similar problem but he got it recently. But the good news is that it is bird flu.

The good news is that it is bird flu?? Do you mean "is not"?
Bird Flu would not be good news, that's a reportable disease and all birds regardless of "healthy" or not would be culled.
Same with Newcastles, it's a reportable disease...

It's time to get testing to find out what you are dealing with.
There are so many diseases and conditions that have similar symptoms, it can be hard to know unless you get a report of findings.

Marek's is a possibility of course regardless of Vaccination Status. The Vaccine does not prevent infection from the Virus, it only helps slow or sometimes prevent formation of tumors. Vaccinated birds get sick just like non vaccinated.
Any birds that are sick now, move them to their own space/pen so you can observe them and treat symptoms.
Photos would be helpful.

You can look up your lab here:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...M5FpWU0GF_hK4tlXgPnpEMVGRZnE3068F8FKcVc1e7fDY