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

[Haunted55]

That's great!

 

[seminolewind]

Hey , I read something interesting the other night. It's about something looking like coccidiosis, but it's Necrotic Enteritis. That's what I thought my 3 pullets last year died from. There were no symptoms the night before, and when I picked up the bodies, the blood ran out. Coccidiosis can cause necrotic enteritis, but so can other bacteria. The poultry book I have says NE can be without symptoms until right before they die.

I'd like to find out if there's something like sulfadimethoxine that would kill the cocci and/or the bacteria.

 

[kkowa]

Hear is some info I found


Despite what you may have heard, there IS a cure for Marek's Disease. It is a homeopathic remedy called "Hypericum." Hypericum is a small creeping herb that, when used hollistically, numbs nerves and dulls pain. When given to a bird suffering from the symptoms of Marek's Disease, it will cure the bird by working on the theory that "like cures like," in other words, by giving the bird the symptoms it will take the symptoms away. I've used this herb with great success to fully cure birds of Marek's Disease. You can fnd Hypericum at health food stores, $8 for 100 tablets. Hypericum must be diluted before it can be used:

- 1 tablespoon of DISTILLED water per tablet Hypericum (must be distilled water, tap water is ionized and will deactivate the Hypericum)
- MUST be mixed in a GLASS or PLASTIC bowl (metal with react with the water and herb)
- drip 5-10 drops (bantam) or 10-15 drops (large fowl) on the afflicted bird's tongue. Be sure the bird rubs its beak together because the Hypericum MUST touch the sinuses (located on the roof of the mouth) in order to work
- treat every 12 hours (morning and night) with a fresh batch
- recovery may be as quick as 1 day or as slow as several months

The treatment works best if you begin treating early. If you delay treatment, the Hypericum may not work or it may be a very slow recovery. IF YOU OVERDOSE YOUR BIRDS ON HYPERICUM, don't worry. The bird will exhibit extreme symptoms, and make a drastic improvment within a 24 hours. Hypericum is also helpful for pain. Only treat birds that are showing symptoms.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY BIRD HAS MAREK'S DISEASE?

Check your flock history. Marek's Disease affects birds as early as 6 months of age. Symtoms occur most commonly between 6-8 months of age; however, any age bird can become sick, it just becomes less common with age. The incubation period is 2 weeks.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: sudden death (fairly common), depression (common), gradual weight loss (fairly common), neck paralysis (not common), paleness (in conjunction with other symtoms), wing paralysis (common), leg paralysis (most common), star-gazing (fairly common), extreme sudden emaciation (rare), mishapen pupil (not common), gray iris (not common), crazy behavior (rare), unresponsive (common), internal tumor growth (not common), tumors on feather follicles (not common), fearful (not common)

 

[Haunted55]

We've all read this and most of us have tried it. Hypericum, or St John's Wort, didn't work for me, neither anyone else I've spoken with. Wish it had.

 

[Haunted55]

Hey , I read something interesting the other night. It's about something looking like coccidiosis, but it's Necrotic Enteritis. That's what I thought my 3 pullets last year died from. There were no symptoms the night before, and when I picked up the bodies, the blood ran out. Coccidiosis can cause necrotic enteritis, but so can other bacteria. The poultry book I have says NE can be without symptoms until right before they die.

I'd like to find out if there's something like sulfadimethoxine that would kill the cocci and/or the bacteria.

Are you talking a feed additive as a preventive Seminole?

 

[pysankigirl]

not a cure. sorry. would be nice but even the post says:
"numbs nerves and dulls pain." At best it might make the bird more comfortable for a while if they have the inflamation that makes them lame.
but the tumors are what eventually kills them.

I wish. would be nice.

 

[salt and pepper]

I think it's a tumor.... She is getting weaker, and her comb is really pale, the mass hasn't changed size for over three weeks, no matter what I do, the weird part is that it's soft and pliable, not hard like I thought it would be. I'm going to cut her open for crop surgery just in case, but if her crop is fine, I'm going to put her down. Can you eat Mareks birds? Thankfully she was my least favorite bird in my whole flock

 

[casportpony]

I think it's a tumor.... She is getting weaker, and her comb is really pale, the mass hasn't changed size for over three weeks, no matter what I do, the weird part is that it's soft and pliable, not hard like I thought it would be. I'm going to cut her open for crop surgery just in case, but if her crop is fine, I'm going to put her down. Can you eat Mareks birds? Thankfully she was my least favorite bird in my whole flock

Commercial farms dispose of them.

-Kathy

 

[salt and pepper]

Commercial farms dispose of them.

-Kathy

So, that's a no? If so, I'll use her for learning purposes.

 

[Haunted55]

You can eat them. We can't get Marek's from their meat or any other way. If there is anything to her, you could use her for food either human or animal.