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

[Haunted55]

I wish I had a Chicken Vet in my area. The vet at the testing lab wants me to bring her in for a necropsy. I am going to do the blood test for MG and MS on my entire flock. MS is my next suspect, honestly. It causes "Lameness" (I wish they would be more specific as to what THAT means) It also could be a malabsorbtion problem where for some reason this one chicken isn't absorbing B vitamins correctly.

whatever it is, She is a friggin sweetheart. not sure why this sort of thing always happens to your favorite chicken. so I am trying not to sacrafice her to necropsy if I can help it.

The ironic thing is: the cheapest way for me to get the testing may be to go through the NPIP program so I might become NPIP certified by the end of this...LOL

Did you try the probiotics with her? I know it sounds stupid but believe me, it can work like magic. Sometimes it's a stupid balance thing in the gut that can be cured by the addition of probiotics and vitamins. Not always but a lot of the time. Did I give you the link to a thread I am in the process of making? 'So you think you have Marek's?' It's no where done but i did get some of the issues that can be laid at vitamin deficiencies door up there.

 

[Haunted55]

No, it IS, it IS!

I have to say I wish there was a support group for MG/MS that was as open, honest, genuinely supportive and informative as this one is for Mareks. I think that's why I am still here even though I know now that what I am dealing with isn't Mareks. You guys rock!

You are welcome here anytime girl. Dealing with any of the nasties, be it marek's MG, MS....any of them can be lonely business.

 

[Haunted55]

Well, she died, knew she would as thin as she was. Don't feel bad for me, I'm getting used to it and quite feeling quite numb to deaths in my flock.

It's not that I don't care, heck, I tube feed them until they start to shut down, I just don't cry anymore.

Anyway, had the occasional Marek's in my flock since about 2003, but 2012 was the first time I sent one off for necropsy and it was then I learned about all of the different forms. Before then, I always thought it was one foot forward, one back... Silly me!

-Kathy

Kathy, I am sorry. Doesn't matter if the tears are there or not..it's obvious the heart is. No I don't feel bad for you, I feel bad with you.

As for symptoms, yeah me too. Last year was when it hit here and I had 2 necropsies done. First showed nothing and the person who did the testing said they at first thought I was starving my birds until they checked the crop and found it full. Gee ya think??? They didn't know they had to do different tests to determine Marek's if the bird had been vaccinated with the 3 types of serum. Second one done was on a bird who only had the Turkey Marek's vaccine. They found that one quick enough. Since then as you, Seminole and I have said....the symptoms just go on and on. To be honest, I don't even bother with a necropsy anymore. I know what's here and unless I see something so out of the norm with the Marek's, why bother? the money I have to spend on a necropsy can be better spent on good feed and vitamins.

 

[Haunted55]

Update;

Tonight has been real interesting. When I was taking care of the new this year birds, who are still in my house, I ran into something quite odd. One of the WR girls was standing with her head almost tucked under to her vent and shaking. Crap and double crap again! I took her out of the brooder she was in with others and took 1/2 B Complex Vitamin, crushed it and added 1 400mg E cap to 4 tbls. of water and started getting it into her. After about 45 mins. of forcing her to drink it off her beak, she stood up normally and started drinking. I then offered some Multi Flock crumble and she just went to town on that. Got another tote ready for her and put her in with poultry vitamin laced water and feed. She is now standing up straight and not having the spasms she was showing when I found her earlier. NO clue and treatment was extreme. This is a one time thing and will not be repeated because of the toxicity from such a concentrated dosing. Regardless, it worked! She is now lying in the tote, normally. I will see what the morning brings.

 

[hogster160]

Hi

Hi. DOn't let this interfere with getting closer. This virus has been around for at least 100 years. Just accept and you'll have to make some small changes in getting more etc. Where did you get your chickens? You got 3 batches at different times? I got 2 batches the first 9 in jan from a hatchery, then 6 from rural king Just keep enjoying them. Don't let this rob you of enjoying them. DH is not too sure, but I'm hoping most will make it The bird's eye does look like Marek's. I've seen it gray over, or change to an oval shape, or just not look right, or bleeding into the iris. Keep posting here, we're a good support group.

. This page alone has helped me so much already. I've been afraid to leave the house for the fear of spreading it to someone else. Us I have a feeling I'm going to be here a lot!

,

 

[pysankigirl]

Did you try the probiotics with her? I know it sounds stupid but believe me, it can work like magic. Sometimes it's a stupid balance thing in the gut that can be cured by the addition of probiotics and vitamins. Not always but a lot of the time. Did I give you the link to a thread I am in the process of making? 'So you think you have Marek's?' It's no where done but i did get some of the issues that can be laid at vitamin deficiencies door up there.

I think I did the sav-a-chick probiotics. but I think I remember you recommending a different type? was it the human ones? I am willing to try anything...again if necessary.

 

[hogster160]

Good Morning. Yesterday I went to Wally World, I got the Vit B complex you spoke of, I also got the FloraGen 3 priobotic. I gave the first dose in water this morning. I had to go back and re read how to give the floragen because once I added it to the water, it didn't seem right. Yea, should have added it to the food! oh well, its in the water. I can always add another to her next meal. She attacked that water like there was no tomorrow. She gets fresh water a couple times a day, was very surprised to see her drink like that. She also ate some food this morning by herself again. She is outside in the grass atm, and she is singing the egg laying song. Shes not laid one yet so it will be interesting to see if she does.

I mixed one b tablet and one floragen in a gallon of water, filled one waterer for the inside ee, and the rest I filled for the girls outside. Will it hurt the other girls who are showing no symptons?

Thanks!

Deb

 

[Haunted55]

Good Morning. Yesterday I went to Wally World, I got the Vit B complex you spoke of, I also got the FloraGen 3 priobotic. I gave the first dose in water this morning. I had to go back and re read how to give the floragen because once I added it to the water, it didn't seem right. Yea, should have added it to the food! oh well, its in the water. I can always add another to her next meal. She attacked that water like there was no tomorrow. She gets fresh water a couple times a day, was very surprised to see her drink like that. She also ate some food this morning by herself again. She is outside in the grass atm, and she is singing the egg laying song. Shes not laid one yet so it will be interesting to see if she does.

I mixed one b tablet and one floragen in a gallon of water, filled one waterer for the inside ee, and the rest I filled for the girls outside. Will it hurt the other girls who are showing no symptons?

Thanks!

Deb

NO it won't and in fact could be good for them. The FloraGen3 in the water isn't a bad thing. It dillutes them a bit but they are still getting where they need to be. I am glad she is drinking.

 

[hogster160]

Ok, so my neighbor said some died and others were eaten lol from his old flock. Not really much help. BUT he did give me a pair of turkeys to raise with my chickens in the hopes that it helps with MD. They are dark brown with some white, He said they are giant somethings lol. So can I keep them in the coop with the chickens? They are about 4 months old. And what do I feed them?

Thanks!

Deb

 

[Haunted55]

Ok, so my neighbor said some died and others were eaten lol from his old flock. Not really much help. BUT he did give me a pair of turkeys to raise with my chickens in the hopes that it helps with MD. They are dark brown with some white, He said they are giant somethings lol. So can I keep them in the coop with the chickens? They are about 4 months old. And what do I feed them?

Thanks!

Deb

I have turkeys as well but house them separately as I have male and female pairs. Wouldn't be a good idea to have mating turkeys in the same space with chickens. They do run with the chickens in the yard though. Turkeys need a higher protien level than chickens. If you can get it, Purina Flock Raiser, or Blue Seal Multi Flock starter/grower is what I use. I've found through my own experience that it's not so much the constant togetherness with the chickens and turkeys as it is the exposure to the turkeys and the Marek's they have. Maybe this is why I've never had Black Head with my 'lurks'. This is a concern and Fish Zole should be in your medical kit as soon as possible. At the very least, get some cayenne pepper to sprinkle on their feed if you see signs of this disease, until you can get the meds for the Black Head. They don't need it now as a preventative, but may need it later. Just an FYI. Casportpony is the one to talk to about the BH. Unfortunately she got hit with it in her birds.