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

[ochochicas]

Unfortunately I, too, have a hen that could possibly have Marek's. I have not read through this entire thread (yet) but will when there is more time. I did read through the related thread about the polish hen that passed last year. I keep hoping to come across a story about a bird being saved, but I have yet to hear that one.

My pullet is 22 weeks. She was a sticky chick and has always been behind the others developmentally. She has always been smaller, and at 7 weeks she was not feathered out well. I worried about her going into winter with no feathers, but finally by 12 weeks she was all feathered out. I believe she is a RIR crossed with a Wheaten Marans. She currently weighs 3.2 pounds, where her hatch-mates are in the 4 - 6 pound range.

About 3 weeks ago I noticed the pullet sleeping in a corner feeder rather than in the hen house. She would also lay in the yard and wait for scratch grains rather than going to free range with her friends. Our young cockerel ( who is over 6 pounds already) is a typical teenage boy and jumps on everything he can get close to. I noticed him jumping on her and afterwards she was limping on her right leg. We assumed she was injured during his romantic attempt. The problem is that he would not leave her alone so we had to bring her in the house. At that point, she was walking pretty well, but it was clear that the left leg was getting "tired" of doing more than its share of the work. She would sit on her hocks and only walk around to eat.

Two weeks ago one of our older pullets (40 weeks or so) started circling. We treated her for a vitamin deficiency, but she deteriorated rapidly. One morning we found her on her back and she couldn't get up. She had been struggling to right herself for some time. We culled her immediately. After we had disposed of the hen, someone mentioned that we should start thinking about some other cause for the illness. There are so many diseases/ailment out there, and unfortunately I didn't think of sending her in for necropsy at the time.

Back to my limping hen, she is not paralyzed, but no longer wants to walk much. When I take her outside she stands in one place and eats grass and after 30 minutes or so we bring her in the house (it is cold out). She curls her toes sometimes, but sometimes she stands normally. When I pick her up I can hear her joints popping (hip joints I think). The weirdest part is that it started out being her right leg that bothered her, but now it is her left leg that she favors and she stands supporting her weight on the right leg. I think they both bother her, which is why she doesn't want to walk.

After writing that whole novel, I am happy to say that she has a voracious appetite, has not lost any weight, and does not show any other signs of illness or respiratory problems. I'm also treating her for vitamin deficiency (just in case) with Vitamin B complex and Vitamin D. A few days ago I was certain she had MD, but now I'm not so sure. How long does it take a chicken from the time they start to exhibit symptoms until they are paralyzed? I'm also treating her with St John's Wort/hypericum although I'm not sure it will actually do any good. I also dewormed the flock this week, and the pullet did have round worms.

While all this was going on, I have two batches of chicks that have been exposed to this pullet and her dander. The whole time I'm thinking, " All my chicks are going to get MD and have to be culled." After reading the info, I was put as ease since my babies hatched here and are from my own hens. IF it is MD, they may have some resistance. They are 2 weeks old and 7 weeks. They are all very healthy. The two week olds are living outside with their broody mom.

I tried to get a video of her "walking" but she is pretty content just laying on her nest in the house. I will try again later.

Thank you to everyone who has posted here. While I would be devastated to lose my little pullet, I know if it is MD it isn't the end of the world. We live on 4 acres so there is no way I would be able to "disinfect" everything. The birds free range, it is in my house, etc. I'm going to be hopeful and treat symptoms as they appear. Hopefully my chicks continue to do well. The bigger they are the harder it is to cull them. Makes me so sad to think about.

 

[seminolewind]

How long have you had chickens before this one?

With mine, a few would limp for a day or two, then have paralysis. Those were 8 months old. My one time 6 week olds came down with paralysis like overnight, one by one. They also seemed like they were eating, but were not. It was like they couldn't aim.

I would treat your hen as tho she has a vitamin deficiency or an injury. Watch her weight. And actually see if she really is picking up food.

With your next demise, you may want to think about getting a pathologist necropsy.

I think I would expect more than one young pullet to have some symptoms, not just one, if it's Marek's.

 

[ochochicas]

Thank you for the reply. I have had chickens since March. There were no birds on the property for 5 years prior to these chickens. Of course there are wild birds that fly in and out. I also got new birds in June, September and October. I quarantined them, but if they were carrying something like MD you'd never know until it was too late. The batch of eggs that his pullet came from was purchased from a local family. Out of 9 chicks, she is the only one that has anything unusual about her. I kept 4 (3 pullets and 1 cockerel) and sold the rest to my neighbor.

Besides the one that died from neurological problems, none of my other pullets/hens are sick. She is the only one, and she has been acting strangely for about 4 weeks I think. Today I watched her scoot around on the floor with her leg stuck out behind her, and then she got up and walked across the room (about 5 feet) to eat. She is actually eating. I gave her a bowl of vegetables this morning that was enough for about 6 birds. She ate the whole thing. LOL She will also get up to walk off her bed to poop. She doesn't want to soil where she sleeps.

This fall when it started getting cold, around October, she was acting lethargic in the yard so we brought her in the house for a few nights and she was fine after that. She was about 12 weeks old then. It seemed like maybe she wasn't getting enough food or staying warm enough with all the other bigger birds competing with her.

My understanding of Marek's is that is has a quicker onset. I'm not really sure though. I will try to get a video. There are no chicken vets in my area.

I tried to make a sling for her since she's getting rug burns on her legs. She screamed bloody murder and didn't want anything to do with it. Today I moved her cage in front of the window so she can look outside during the day. She just got up and walked/hobbled over to the corner where her cage used to be. Silly girl.

 

[welasharon]

I have a hen that I have been feeding twice a day since June or so. She can now stand and somewhat walk although it is more circular in nature. She has regained a good bit of her weight to the point that her comb has filled back out and she has put some meat on but her poop is still very green. What would you suggest that I feed her? I've been feeding her eggs scrambled with different things: vegetables, wheat germ, bit of meat etc Her aim is still off really bad so I have to feed her things that I can hold so If I can put it in egg it would be easier.

 

[seminolewind]

I have a hen that I have been feeding twice a day since June or so. She can now stand and somewhat walk although it is more circular in nature. She has regained a good bit of her weight to the point that her comb has filled back out and she has put some meat on but her poop is still very green. What would you suggest that I feed her? I've been feeding her eggs scrambled with different things: vegetables, wheat germ, bit of meat etc Her aim is still off really bad so I have to feed her things that I can hold so If I can put it in egg it would be easier.

If any of my chickens needs to eat, I give them anything they want. I think the diet you have here looks yummy. I have done layer mush, French toast taking a piece of bread per egg soaked in, nice and mushy inside and browned on the outside.

 

[Nambroth]

Well, I think my sweet Coho (Faverolles) is experiencing ocular Marek's. Maybe. It's so hard to tell! My flock is exposed, and she was vaccinated as a chick, and is going to be going on four years old in 2015. She's always had intermittent problems with things like bouts with clostridium perfringens, lots of bumblefoot, and just general failure to thrive. She is a happy snuggly little bun of a hen, and eats well for me, and keeps her weight on so I have always just let her be other than monitoring her weight and occasionally treating her when things seem bad (foot soaks, whatever-- yep, I'm a nut).

Her vision seems good, as far as I can tell... and her irises still react to light changes, but both pupils are becoming badly deformed:


So, I am not sure. It could be a genetic defect, Mareks... something else?? Who knows.

 

[KayTee]

Poor Coho - life seems to be permanently against her! At least she has you to keep an eye on her and treat her whenever she needs it. Your girls and boys are so lucky to be part of the fud lady's flock

 

[KAT Bird]

Thank you for the reply.  I have had chickens since March.  There were no birds on the property for 5 years prior to these chickens.  Of course there are wild birds that fly in and out.  I also got new birds in June, September and October.  I quarantined them, but if they were carrying something like MD you'd never know until it was too late.  The batch of eggs that his pullet came from was purchased from a local family.  Out of 9 chicks, she is the only one that has anything unusual about her.  I kept 4 (3 pullets and 1 cockerel) and sold the rest to my neighbor.  

Besides the one that died from neurological problems, none of my other pullets/hens are sick.  She is the only one, and she has been acting strangely for about 4 weeks I think.  Today I watched her scoot around on the floor with her leg stuck out behind her, and then she got up and walked across the room (about 5 feet) to eat.  She is actually eating.  I gave her a bowl of vegetables this morning that was enough for about 6 birds.  She ate the whole thing.  LOL   She will also get up to walk off her bed to poop.  She doesn't want to soil where she sleeps.

This fall when it started getting cold, around October, she was acting lethargic in the yard so we brought her in the house for a few nights and she was fine after that.  She was about 12 weeks old then.  It seemed like maybe she wasn't getting enough food or staying warm enough with all the other bigger birds competing with her.  

My understanding of Marek's is that is has a quicker onset.  I'm not really sure though.  I will try to get a video.  There are no chicken vets in my area.

I tried to make a sling for her since she's getting rug burns on her legs.  She screamed bloody murder and didn't want anything to do with it.   Today I moved her cage in front of the window so she can look outside during the day.  She just got up and walked/hobbled over to the corner where her cage used to be.  Silly girl.  

Here is a photo of my Olivia. She has been limping for over three weeks now. I thought it was an injury and she seemed sensitive to pressure on her hip joint. After two weeks, I noticed a growth below her hip joint. The vet took a fluid sample via needle and felt it was a peripheral nerve tumor. Lymphoma like cells. Probably Marek's considering she is unvaccinated and we have confirmed Marek's in our flock. I am giving her with Metacam (anti inflammatory, pain medication) and Curcimin w/bioprene. I can't say if it is helping, But I figure it can't hurt to try anything at this point. She still has an appetite and is otherwise a happy chicken, so we are letting her enjoy life for as long as she can. So far it is only one leg and she can walk on it a little, but her toes stay curled.

 

[KAT Bird]

Unfortunately I, too, have a hen that could possibly have Marek's.  I have not read through this entire thread (yet) but will when there is more time.  I did read through the related thread about the polish hen that passed last year.  I keep hoping to come across a story about a bird being saved, but I have yet to hear that one.

My pullet is 22 weeks.  She was a sticky chick and has always been behind the others developmentally.  She has always been smaller, and at 7 weeks she was not feathered out well.  I worried about her going into winter with no feathers, but finally by 12 weeks she was all feathered out.  I believe she is a RIR crossed with a Wheaten Marans.  She currently weighs 3.2 pounds, where her hatch-mates are in the 4 - 6 pound range.

About 3 weeks ago I noticed the pullet sleeping in a corner feeder rather than in the hen house.  She would also lay in the yard and wait for scratch grains rather than going to free range with her friends.  Our young cockerel ( who is over 6 pounds already) is a typical teenage boy and jumps on everything he can get close to.  I noticed him jumping on her and afterwards she was limping on her right leg.  We assumed she was injured during his romantic attempt.  The problem is that he would not leave her alone so we had to bring her in the house.  At that point, she was walking pretty well, but it was clear that the left leg was getting "tired" of doing more than its share of the work.  She would sit on her hocks and only walk around to eat.

Two weeks ago one of our older pullets (40 weeks or so) started circling.  We treated her for a vitamin deficiency, but she deteriorated rapidly.  One morning we found her on her back and she couldn't get up.   She had been struggling to right herself for some time.  We culled her immediately.  After we had disposed of the hen, someone mentioned that we should start thinking about some other cause for the illness.  There are so many diseases/ailment out there, and unfortunately I didn't think of sending her in for necropsy at the time.

Back to my limping hen, she is not paralyzed, but no longer wants to walk much.  When I take her outside she stands in one place and eats grass and after 30 minutes or so we bring her in the house (it is cold out).  She curls her toes sometimes, but sometimes she stands normally.  When I pick her up I can hear her joints popping (hip joints I think).  The weirdest part is that it started out being her right leg that bothered her, but now it is her left leg that she favors and she stands supporting her weight on the right leg.  I think they both bother her, which is why she doesn't want to walk.

After writing that whole novel, I am happy to say that she has a voracious appetite, has not lost any weight, and does not show any other signs of illness or respiratory problems.  I'm also treating her for vitamin deficiency (just in case) with Vitamin B complex and Vitamin D.   A few days ago I was certain she had MD, but now I'm not so sure.  How long does it take a chicken from the time they start to exhibit symptoms until they are paralyzed?  I'm also treating her with St John's Wort/hypericum although I'm not sure it will actually do any good.  I also dewormed the flock this week, and the pullet did have round worms.  

While all this was going on, I have two batches of chicks that have been exposed to this pullet and her dander.  The whole time I'm thinking, " All my chicks are going to get MD and have to be culled."  After reading the info, I was put as ease since my babies hatched here and are from my own hens.  IF it is MD, they may have some resistance.  They are 2 weeks old and 7 weeks.  They are all very healthy.  The two week olds are living outside with their broody mom.

I tried to get a video of her "walking" but she is pretty content just laying on her nest in the house.  I will try again later.

Thank you to everyone who has posted here.  While I would be devastated to lose my little pullet, I know if it is MD it isn't the end of the world.  We live on 4 acres so there is no way I would be able to "disinfect" everything.  The birds free range, it is in my house, etc.  I'm going to be hopeful and treat symptoms as they appear.  Hopefully my chicks continue to do well.  The bigger they are the harder it is to cull them.  Makes me so sad to think about.

w

I did post a video of Olivia, if you want to compare it to your girl.

 

[KAT Bird]

Well, I think my sweet Coho (Faverolles) is experiencing ocular Marek's. Maybe. It's so hard to tell! My flock is exposed, and she was vaccinated as a chick, and is going to be going on four years old in 2015. She's always had intermittent problems with things like bouts with clostridium perfringens, lots of bumblefoot, and just general failure to thrive. She is a happy snuggly little bun of a hen, and eats well for me, and keeps her weight on so I have always just let her be other than monitoring her weight and occasionally treating her when things seem bad (foot soaks, whatever-- yep, I'm a nut). Her vision seems good, as far as I can tell... and her irises still react to light changes, but both pupils are becoming badly deformed: So, I am not sure. It could be a genetic defect, Mareks... something else?? Who knows.

Oh..I love Faverolles. Sorry to hear your sweet Coho is having issues. I hope it isn't Marek's, especially since she is vaccinated and almost five years old.