Not an Emergency...Marek's in the Flock

[casportpony]

I have learned a lot about the dieing process, not something I look forward too.

 

[Haunted55]

I have learned a lot about the dieing process, not something I look forward too.

Oh! X2. I don't like playing God at all.

 

[casportpony]

Oh! X2. I don't like playing God at all.

I meant my own demise, lol!

 

[Haunted55]

I meant my own demise, lol!

Well, I look at it this way....none of us are going to get out of here alive anyways, lol. I hope to do the big 'slide into home plate' with the thought of 'What a Ride!!!!" What else can we do? If you "Live until you die" what more could anyone ask?

 

[seminolewind]

It's a good thing we can talk about our experiences , and those eye pictures are really educational. My first demise had a cloudy eye and my last one , I went out one day, and happened to see that his pupil was not round. He actually started out as an egg laid in my car, put in the fridge for the day, then put in the incubator. He was one of those who would not touch any scrap until the girls were done.

I'm taking a long break from axe-ing any one. At least I have enough Polish that I can hatch my own eggs for now. And I actually have 8 hens that are over 5 years old and still laying!

Someone had sent me a Tolbunt roo a year ago that we both knew was a Marek's survivor, and he's in good health.

Haunted, you said something about the secondary illnesses. Last year I lost 3 to Coccidiosis, acting normal, dead the next morning. When I picked up the bodies alot of blood came out. Then I lost 2 more , they got this eye infection and died. I also have a pullet who had paralysis for almost 2 months. She lived in my bedroom. She was just too sweet to euthanize. She ended up walking again, and we practiced walking with her for another month, and that was last year, now she's an egg layer. Maybe being vaccinated saved her. Well now with any exposed youngster, the minute they look a bit sick, I start them on Corrid and Tylan or LS50 right away for 7 days. I've had that happen twice. And prior to that, one, that was vaccinated, and I thought it was Marek's but it was probably cocci, so he didn't get treated. And they were all on medicated feed at the time.

I don't worry about the strains anymore. There is only one vaccine that does not come in dry ice. And it protects from the most common strain. The only ones who get the 3 different vaccines are the ones from hatcheries. I had emailed and asked them last year.

You can get blood testing at Texas A&M (?).

 

[seminolewind]

Here's the link for the testing

http://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests_service...sease-(PCR)&unit_id=1187&unit_effdt=02-JUN-10

I would say you'd have to call them because I can't find an email.

 

[Haunted55]

It's a good thing we can talk about our experiences , and those eye pictures are really educational. My first demise had a cloudy eye and my last one , I went out one day, and happened to see that his pupil was not round. He actually started out as an egg laid in my car, put in the fridge for the day, then put in the incubator. He was one of those who would not touch any scrap until the girls were done.

I'm taking a long break from axe-ing any one. At least I have enough Polish that I can hatch my own eggs for now. And I actually have 8 hens that are over 5 years old and still laying!

Someone had sent me a Tolbunt roo a year ago that we both knew was a Marek's survivor, and he's in good health.

Haunted, you said something about the secondary illnesses. Last year I lost 3 to Coccidiosis, acting normal, dead the next morning. When I picked up the bodies alot of blood came out. Then I lost 2 more , they got this eye infection and died. I also have a pullet who had paralysis for almost 2 months. She lived in my bedroom. She was just too sweet to euthanize. She ended up walking again, and we practiced walking with her for another month, and that was last year, now she's an egg layer. Maybe being vaccinated saved her. Well now with any exposed youngster, the minute they look a bit sick, I start them on Corrid and Tylan or LS50 right away for 7 days. I've had that happen twice. And prior to that, one, that was vaccinated, and I thought it was Marek's but it was probably cocci, so he didn't get treated. And they were all on medicated feed at the time.

I don't worry about the strains anymore. There is only one vaccine that does not come in dry ice. And it protects from the most common strain. The only ones who get the 3 different vaccines are the ones from hatcheries. I had emailed and asked them last year.

You can get blood testing at Texas A&M (?).

As you know Seminolewind, they stuff I went through last year was so out there, that it seemed there would never be an answer. After swearing I would never bother with another necropsy, I finally did and it came back positive for Marek's. Nothing else, just Marek's. Vindication was not sweet in this instance, believe me.

The secondary or third or fourth....I sometimes wonder if it even matters any more. With Marek's you and I both know that it's going to leave these poor buggers open to anything that comes down the pike. All we can do is treat as needed and cull when necessary. We had another bird dead this morning and one we had to cull yesterday. No symptoms to really speak of. The girl we took, one of my original hens almost 2 yrs., went down on Sunday night, wouldn't get up on Monday and was even less responsive on Tuesday. She had that 'look' that lets you know she's not coming back this time. Nothing helped with her. The one this morning was a shock. No symptoms at all, alive and running around looking for treats the night before. Eyes bright and shiny and totally full of herself. Today, not so much. Flat out and quite cold and stiff. All I can think is it happened soon after they were closed up for the night around 6:00. I've never had the blood like you. That almost sound as if something ruptured inside, like an aneursym or something like that. Don't know, not a doctor but sure wish I were about now.

The blood testing is an awesome thing! I had found it last year but haven't had a chance to get anything sent out for testing as we don't have a Vet handy to do the blood work and I don't know how yet. There's also the time frame for me to think about. I'm not sure I could get it there in time for it to be viable still. Really do need to look into this more.

 

[Haunted55]

Here's the link for the testing

http://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests_service...sease-(PCR)&unit_id=1187&unit_effdt=02-JUN-10

I would say you'd have to call them because I can't find an email.

Thanks, this what I found last year. I really do need to call and find out the time limits. Somehow I don't think learning how to take blood from a chicken will be that hard to learn. Not after what we've both been through, lol. Having some medical training is a blessing sometimes. Now if I can just get over my fear of needles.....

 

[seminolewind]

You're right, Haunted. I guess you can always look at anatomy books that shows the arteries and veins. I think vets go for under the wings. We would still have to know how to send the specimen. And if it has to be in a heparinized tube, we'd need a vet.

 

[Haunted55]

You're right, Haunted. I guess you can always look at anatomy books that shows the arteries and veins. I think vets go for under the wings. We would still have to know how to send the specimen. And if it has to be in a heparinized tube, we'd need a vet.

Or a friend who's a lab tech or pharmacist. I asked a local Vet if they would draw blood for me last year and was told no. Crossing fingers we don't need specialized equipment for this. It would figure though right? So close, but so far.....lol, story of my life.