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

[Haunted55]

One more, today I found one of the chicks from Control Group #1 not really wanting to walk much. Not sure if it's injury or not. It looks like it is. I had 2 boys in a ex. large dog crate in the same room as the rest of the group and one is always trying to be the head roo, so sometimes there's fighting. It looks to me as if he may have gotten it caught in the sides of the crate when they were jumping around. They are now out of the crate and being allowed to run free in the hallway of the back of the chicken house. He was walking and it seemed he was having a bit of pain and would stop and drop. Now this could go either way...I've seen the stop and drop a few too many times to ignore it, but I am going to give him some time to find out what is truly going on.

Control Group #2....another showing signs of limping. This little one, just over 6 weeks, had problems a while back with the bigger birds jumping on her when they were doing their flying thing. I have separated the larger ones from the smaller ones and am watching. About the only good thing that happened today is I now know for certain it isn't mites or lice affecting my Dr. Suess critters. I'm going to try giving them a gamebird feed, suggested by a BYC member, as well as some BOSS and see if the added protien and oils will help. It was also said by another BYC members that it could be feather picking. I saw nothing going on like that a short while ago, but I know who to watch. She's my egg eater and has always been a problem child.

Just an update. These 2 boys from Control #1 are doing fine now! I am not seeing any limping at all. The little one from Control #2 on the other hand has a broken toe. Poor little girl. I have separated more of this group out from her and left her with 3 very gentle girls and she seems a lot happier now.

 

[seminolewind]

My 2 control groups , are still well at 8 weeks. 2 live here with my flock in a separate pen with 3 adults, and the other 7 moved to a friend's that had 2 of my exposed chickens prior to her rehoming them.

 

[Haunted55]

Update on 1 group of the new chicks. They are now almost 5 weeks old, have been on medicated feed the whole time they have been here, are vaccinated with the MD-Vac. Today I noticed signs of coccidiosis and have started treating with liquid Corid and non-medicated feed. this is the group I have been brooding in a 6' quick set swimming pool. I have had to strengthen and raise the height of the walls with 2 rolls of hardware cloth as these little buggers are constantly getting out for walk-a-bout. Can we say Ma and Pa Kettle? Jeesh! Today I am adding deer fencing over the top so there will be no more AWOLs. I think this is how they got it. Husband can be a little lacking when it comes to changing his boots before coming into the house. With the wet and now the heat....it was prime. I am hoping this isn't something else showing up.

The other group of birds received a week later were vaccinated with all 3 Mareks vaccines and also have been on medicated feed from the beginning. Two of them have gotten out of their brooder and have been running with the others. No signs of cocci in this brooder...yet. I do have a problem or what I think is a problem with one of these chicks. Her breathing almost sounds like light snoring. No other signs of any illness. If I hadn't had to pick her up and heard her breathing, I never would have known. Before I give any antibiotic I am going to try some VetRX on her beak overnight. I know that right now my allergies are in overdrive. The pine pollen is thick this year and with this heat and humidity, it's really bad. It doesn't sound like lungs, it sounds like it's the beak area. [Listening to her chest, there's nothing.] I am hoping it's a sinus thing and not an infection or disease.

Update....I started both groups on Corid last evening. Figure some of both groups have been getting out together, seemed the smartest choice. This morning I found a Barred Rock, with the pool chicks, dead. The only symptoms this one showed was fluffing and hanging at the pool wall. Poop was normal, so thought it was just starting with this one. Wrong, unless this is the first signs of Marek's I am seeing. They are 5 weeks today, so not good.

The deck box chicks are not showing any signs of it all. All poop is normal green and white cap, no fluffing, nadda. Still, better safe than sorry. the one with the clicking in the beak is slightly better today. Only heard the noise once after checking on her 5-6 times today. If it's still there tomorrow I will start an antibiotic with these chicks as well. I hate to have to give both at the same time, but may not have a choice.

 

[FeatherMom]

I'm glad I found this thread. I, too, have Mareks and it is a heartbreaker. Thanks for all the valuable information you have all posted. I ordered eight vacinated chicks which should arrive next week. A friend had offered to raise for a few months. I have one gal who is wasting away now. I might have her put down this weekend since she's so thin and getting less peppy each day.

 

[pysankigirl]

I have had that pullet with possible mareks in my bathtub for over a week now. (It’s easy to clean/disinfect, is away from all the other chickens and not like we ever USE the bathtub (we have a separate shower)) I have tried vitamins in her water because it might be a vitamin deficiency, but she has not improved. So I am taking her in to get her killed and tested.

The kicker is that she was my absolute favorite dorking pullet ever. you cant tell from the photo, but She has a coloration that is unique for Dorkings…never seen before by any of the dorking people I know, actually. I think she is a splash/blue base color with a cream/gold diluter in her hackle coloring and her blue base feathers were edged with gold also…I was so interested in seeing what she developed into. Now I will never know. I looked into having her live-tested but they charge $100 for the test and they won’t take the blood…I have to find someone else local to do it. Which I have had no luck for with the MG so I know that’s a non-starter.

And it is probably mareks. So wouldn’t save her anyway. loving chickens can be so incredibly frustrating and heartbreaking sometimes...

 

[Haunted55]

I have had that pullet with possible mareks in my bathtub for over a week now. (It’s easy to clean/disinfect, is away from all the other chickens and not like we ever USE the bathtub (we have a separate shower)) I have tried vitamins in her water because it might be a vitamin deficiency, but she has not improved. So I am taking her in to get her killed and tested.

The kicker is that she was my absolute favorite dorking pullet ever. you cant tell from the photo, but She has a coloration that is unique for Dorkings…never seen before by any of the dorking people I know, actually. I think she is a splash/blue base color with a cream/gold diluter in her hackle coloring and her blue base feathers were edged with gold also…I was so interested in seeing what she developed into. Now I will never know. I looked into having her live-tested but they charge $100 for the test and they won’t take the blood…I have to find someone else local to do it. Which I have had no luck for with the MG so I know that’s a non-starter.

And it is probably mareks. So wouldn’t save her anyway. loving chickens can be so incredibly frustrating and heartbreaking sometimes...

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

Contact these people, find someone who will take a sample, purple top tube and overnight to this lab. The cost for me will be around $45. with the shipping. I think these guys also have the feather testing available.

 

[Haunted55]

I'm glad I found this thread. I, too, have Mareks and it is a heartbreaker. Thanks for all the valuable information you have all posted. I ordered eight vacinated chicks which should arrive next week. A friend had offered to raise for a few months. I have one gal who is wasting away now. I might have her put down this weekend since she's so thin and getting less peppy each day.

I'm sorry FeatherMom.

 

[Haunted55]

interesting.

I think I have an 11 week old chicken with Mareks. She fits the (nerve type) symptoms. I lost a cockerel last week that got caught in the rain. when I found him he was very weak and passed after I brought him into the house to warm him up. I honestly didn't understand why he wouldn't have gotten under cover, but now I suspect maybe he couldn't? this group of chicks got hit HARD with cocci when they were younger. I lost almost half of them despite medicating with Corrid. now I am wondering...

Only the one breed is getting hit. the others aren't so far. None of my chickens are vaccinated so I have ordered the vaccine because it cant hurt. This thread feels like a support group. I may need it.

I have not had a necropsy done yet to confirm. She is still alive and in my bathtub currently eating and drinking fine. Her right foot is curled up and she cant walk. I am watching the others in the coop she was in...I hatched out these birds. so did they get it from my adult flock? I have broodies with babies. wondering if they will live. I am crushed.

I have had that pullet with possible mareks in my bathtub for over a week now. (It’s easy to clean/disinfect, is away from all the other chickens and not like we ever USE the bathtub (we have a separate shower)) I have tried vitamins in her water because it might be a vitamin deficiency, but she has not improved. So I am taking her in to get her killed and tested.

The kicker is that she was my absolute favorite dorking pullet ever. you cant tell from the photo, but She has a coloration that is unique for Dorkings…never seen before by any of the dorking people I know, actually. I think she is a splash/blue base color with a cream/gold diluter in her hackle coloring and her blue base feathers were edged with gold also…I was so interested in seeing what she developed into. Now I will never know. I looked into having her live-tested but they charge $100 for the test and they won’t take the blood…I have to find someone else local to do it. Which I have had no luck for with the MG so I know that’s a non-starter.

And it is probably mareks. So wouldn’t save her anyway. loving chickens can be so incredibly frustrating and heartbreaking sometimes...

It may already be too late if you are taking her to be euthanized, you may have already done so, but on the off chance she's still with you....Have you tried the vitamin E? I'm not sure you're really looking at Marek's. I really think this is deficieny causing her troubles. In the pics you posted her comb looks pale to me and even though the feet are turned....I think you're looking at something else. Dawg53 and a few others have recommended Avian Super Pack and Rooster Booster as good high potency vitamins. A lot cheaper than euthanasia and may do the trick. Has she been wormed at all? Probably asked this before, but the answer is important. When I look at your bird, I don't see Marek's. I see a bird with possible internal parasites. This could cause a vitamin deficiency and the curled feet. It could also be something genetic as well.

With they way you feel about this girl, I would be trying everything before calling it quits. Even if it is Marek's, it's not necessarily a death sentence. I have Marek's survivors over a year old now and they are going strong. Laying every day, running, yes running, with the rest of the flock when they are free ranging. They are never going to be show quality birds....they're better than that. They have proved themselves to be survivors, against all the knocks against them. If this were me, I'd take this further, but that's me. I don't know your 'life' and all it's commitments, you do and would need to be the one making these choices. I wish you luck and peace, no matter your decisions.

 

[pysankigirl]

It may already be too late if you are taking her to be euthanized, you may have already done so, but on the off chance she's still with you....Have you tried the vitamin E? I'm not sure you're really looking at Marek's. I really think this is deficieny causing her troubles. In the pics you posted her comb looks pale to me and even though the feet are turned....I think you're looking at something else. Dawg53 and a few others have recommended Avian Super Pack and Rooster Booster as good high potency vitamins. A lot cheaper than euthanasia and may do the trick. Has she been wormed at all? Probably asked this before, but the answer is important. When I look at your bird, I don't see Marek's. I see a bird with possible internal parasites. This could cause a vitamin deficiency and the curled feet. It could also be something genetic as well.

With they way you feel about this girl, I would be trying everything before calling it quits. Even if it is Marek's, it's not necessarily a death sentence. I have Marek's survivors over a year old now and they are going strong. Laying every day, running, yes running, with the rest of the flock when they are free ranging. They are never going to be show quality birds....they're better than that. They have proved themselves to be survivors, against all the knocks against them. If this were me, I'd take this further, but that's me. I don't know your 'life' and all it's commitments, you do and would need to be the one making these choices. I wish you luck and peace, no matter your decisions.

I coulnd't do it. you are right...I want to try. I am going to send a blood sample to Texas a&M.

 

[pysankigirl]

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

Contact these people, find someone who will take a sample, purple top tube and overnight to this lab. The cost for me will be around $45. with the shipping. I think these guys also have the feather testing available.

anyone know where to buy ice packs already frozen? I got a sample taken and need to send it next-day air with an ice pack. should I just put a bunch of ice in a freezer-bag?