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

[hogster160]

Deb (hogster) - but you still don't know if you actually have mareks?  Hopefully not!  Did you have to cull the one you were talking about before?

No we have not culled her. Every time we talk about it, she does better.

We finished taking the old shed down today. Took us long enough. I found 4 bottles of pesticide in there and all the bottles had fluid in them. She first stopped walking when we opened up the shed, next morning she was paralyzed. So we are wondering if she got into something in the shed.

 

[genilou]

Hi there,
I'm just hoping someone can help me. My chook has got either rickets, marek's or leukosis, the vet doesn't know. I started a thread & put a oicture of her up - I'm hopin it's not Mareks as she's not doing the pose I've seen in all the other photos. I wonder if any of you who've experienced Marek's have had their hens sit like this? I'm hoping, possibly against hope, that the answer is no. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/822932/rickets
Thanks so much for your time

 

[julie0477]

I've kept chickens here for about four years now. Every year I get a few from the feed store and every year everything is fine... Til this year. I bought ten feed store chicks in April/may and about nine weeks ago I brought three home from a friends house. One vaccinated pullet and two chicks not vaccinated but hatched at her house under a broody. Anyway, yesterday my 17 week old silkie (from the feed store) who had been acting perfectly normal prior was sitting way out under the trees where they normally dust bathe when it was time to come in to the coop. I went over to get him and he didn't move. Actually some flies had started bugging him. He couldn't stand or walk. I brought him into the ac and gave him some water - had to hold it up to his beak, and some chick starter. Today he has the use of his legs but they are very weak. When he tries to stand he has to balance on a wing. Both feet are forward when he sits. His poo is normal, no diahrrea, and I see no ocular changes. I don't get it it happened so fast! My first thought was mareks but some one Also mentioned mold as its been very hot and humid here. Any thoughts?

 

[Haunted55]

I've kept chickens here for about four years now. Every year I get a few from the feed store and every year everything is fine... Til this year. I bought ten feed store chicks in April/may and about nine weeks ago I brought three home from a friends house. One vaccinated pullet and two chicks not vaccinated but hatched at her house under a broody. Anyway, yesterday my 17 week old silkie (from the feed store) who had been acting perfectly normal prior was sitting way out under the trees where they normally dust bathe when it was time to come in to the coop. I went over to get him and he didn't move. Actually some flies had started bugging him. He couldn't stand or walk. I brought him into the ac and gave him some water - had to hold it up to his beak, and some chick starter. Today he has the use of his legs but they are very weak. When he tries to stand he has to balance on a wing. Both feet are forward when he sits. His poo is normal, no diahrrea, and I see no ocular changes. I don't get it it happened so fast! My first thought was mareks but some one Also mentioned mold as its been very hot and humid here. Any thoughts?

Doesn't sound like Marek's. For it to come on that quickly, I would say either a feed issue or a botulism from something he ate. You don't mention any other symptoms or type of feed, etc. so just guessing about what it could be. This quick...Marek's it most probably is not.

 

[Haunted55]

Hi there,
I'm just hoping someone can help me. My chook has got either rickets, marek's or leukosis, the vet doesn't know. I started a thread & put a oicture of her up - I'm hopin it's not Mareks as she's not doing the pose I've seen in all the other photos. I wonder if any of you who've experienced Marek's have had their hens sit like this? I'm hoping, possibly against hope, that the answer is no. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/822932/rickets
Thanks so much for your time

What are you feeding her? Does she get any vitamins supplements? How long has this been going on and are any of your other birds showing any signs or symptoms of the same?

 

[Haunted55]

No we have not culled her. Every time we talk about it, she does better.

We finished taking the old shed down today. Took us long enough. I found 4 bottles of pesticide in there and all the bottles had fluid in them. She first stopped walking when we opened up the shed, next morning she was paralyzed. So we are wondering if she got into something in the shed.

Hogster, Marek's doesn't just come on over night.....I would say that this is something she was exposed to somehow. Did you give activated charcoal?

 

[julie0477]

Doesn't sound like Marek's.  For it to come on that quickly, I would say either a feed issue or a botulism from something he ate.  You don't mention any other symptoms or type of feed, etc. so just guessing about what it could be.  This quick...Marek's it most probably is not.

they are all on nutrena all flock as I keep all different ages, Roos and hens, plus ducks. They free range so he could've gotten in to something I suppose. I store my feed in the basement which is very cool and dry but maybe I need to recheck all the feeders.

 

[julie0477]

Where would I get activated charcoal??

 

[genilou]

What are you feeding her?  Does she get any vitamins supplements?  How long has this been going on and are any of your other birds showing any signs or symptoms of the same?

Hi Haunted,
She gets organic layers mash (made up with hot water in the morning and evening, it's been cold here) she also has it available to her all day, a small amount of scratch (handful or so between the two of them) sometimes a scrambled egg, greens and grated veggies and she free ranges all day in the garden) she woke up Sunday morning and was lurching around like a drunken sailor. She had a vitamin d shot at the vet on Monday and has gone downhill from there. I've been posting about her on the 'rickets' post. I only have one other, and she's in rude good health although a little put out that she's not getting anywhere near the same attention. Also, I just wanted to say thanks for replying. Sounds like you're going through hell and I feel for you.

 

[schnebbles]

it still occurs to me that maybe my Penny got a bit of weed killer on the poison ivy.