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

[salt and pepper]

salt & pepper - do you think you have mareks too?

Most likely. I don't have any solid " proof" But I've had plenty birds die with seemingly no cause ( just depressed, lame, not eating etc ) And only a few ever get better. What I find interesting is that so far, all the birds that I have lost have been EEs, or ameraucanas. No other birds have gotten ill. The last bird to die, dies with a fever, so that wasn't mareks, what it was. I don't know...

 

[seminolewind]

Hi. The vaccine Has to be at least 2 weeks prior to exposure to the virus. However, some people do their whole flock, which I can't say works. I've had 2 so far that were incubated and vaccinated and got symptomatic, paralysis or an eye problem, and had recovered . They were both kept in my bedroom at the time (not the same time). I wonder if the vaccine at birth helped fight it.

Try Twincitiespoultrysupply.com for vaccine. I've gotten it for $20.00, and they charged the least amount of money for the ice packs and shipping, I think it was $8.00. I believe that even if they made vaccine for less that 50 chickens, the price would be close to the current dose.

I have 2 roos right now that were raised and brooded by an exposed unvaccinated hen. And possibly 3 others from 5 years ago, and definitely 7 others from 4 years ago that were fine. I don't recall any of them treated for cocci. I believe all my cocci sufferers were from incubated eggs, vaccinated or not, and not my eggs.

The coccidiosis that killed some chicks in the past year or so happened so fast, it was like overnight. So I will be vaccinating chicks for coccidiosis as well and not medicated feed. 3 cocci deaths in the past year were on medicated feed.

Have I confused anyone yet?

 

[salt and pepper]

she's dead..... It happened within 24hrs..... They are on sulmet ( what I had on hand )

 

[ranchokelly]

Geez, so sorry to hear about lost chicken. AT least it was fast?
My hen with one parylized leg has gotten worse today. She's lost coordination to eat - head wobbles and she pecks randomly unable to hit a target. ANd the other young unvaccinated hen seems off and sitting down most of the time. I have the two of them in my fenced yard now, at least getting a break from the other peckers.

Thanks for the info - good to know about Twincitiespoultrysupply.com!

As a side note, on the subject of Easter Eggers getting sick - when I first got the rooster that brought in Marek's, my vaccinated easter egger got very sick. There was never limping, but she did have something like my hen now has - she would peck at food but was unable to connect and eat properly. SHe's my favorite, so I had her inside for about a month, force-feeding her with vitamins. She wasn't herself, and had her feathers puffed up all the time. Now she's doing great, about a year later.

 

[seminolewind]

Wow Rancho, I'm happy to hear it when some make it.
Most of mine with paralysis or wasting had the unsuccessful aim thing.
Casportpony had some nick names for the symptoms, maybe she can remember them and put them up.

 

[salt and pepper]

It's ok, I'm also glad she didn't waste away. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get meds for another week =( hopefully the sulmet will keep both problems a bay until I can....

 

[casportpony]

Wow Rancho, I'm happy to hear it when some make it.
Most of mine with paralysis or wasting had the unsuccessful aim thing.
Casportpony had some nick names for the symptoms, maybe she can remember them and put them up.

Drunk Marek's, Curly Toe Marek's, "Classic" Marek's", Blue Eyed Marek's, Betty Davis Eyes Marek's, Keyhole Eyeball Marek's, Running Backwards Marek's, Beady Eye Marek's, Hock Sitter... I'm sure I'll think of more of them, lol.

-Kathy

 

[schnebbles]

Sorry S&P

Rancho - I posted the other day from a chicken doctor to try cucurmin with bioperine (tumeric extract/blk pepper) and give around 1000mg 3x a day. That's a high dose but that's what he suggested.

I ordered mine and it will probably be here Wednesday. I couldn't find it local but if you have vitamin health stores you might check.

He also said a baby aspirin 3x a day. My post is probably just a few pages back.

It's going to be HARD to give this to her because it's going to be 2 capsules 3x a day. Doc said coat in veg oil and put them down her throat. She's only about a pound so I don't think this is going to be easy. Any suggestions from anyone? He said I can't choke her.

And now, my bantam cochin is sick. Not the mareks but something respiratory, her breathing is strained and mouth open sometimes. I've had them on duramycin and took off about a week ago. She's very thin I noticed today when I picked her up. Very thin. Worried about her now too. She is inside now too. I feel like this cold weather just sucks for them! I'm watching her and I can see her breathing is very heavy- moving up and down a lot.

This is making me very upset and I don't know what to do. Now I have to figure what to give the cochin.

 

[casportpony]

He's right, you can't choke her, just think about the big bugs they would normally eat.

-Kathy

 

[ten chicks]

Most likely. I don't have any solid " proof" But I've had plenty birds die with seemingly no cause ( just depressed, lame, not eating etc ) And only a few ever get better. What I find interesting is that so far, all the birds that I have lost have been EEs, or ameraucanas. No other birds have gotten ill. The last bird to die, dies with a fever, so that wasn't mareks, what it was. I don't know...

Curious as to how you knew bird had a fever? Their normal body temp is around 107 degrees Fahrenheit. I have found that we may think the bird has no issues,but it is in their nature to hide any and all illness,meaning they may act fine when in reality they are very ill. Birds will die if they are not eating/drinking,their body requires food for energy in order to maintain their fast acting metabolism,no food no energy,body temp drops(they cannot regulate body temp when ill)and death is usually within a few days. The most important issues to remember when dealing with ill birds are extra source of heat and tube feeding to meet the requirements their body demands to function. All the medications in the world will not help if these basic requirements are not met.