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

[seminolewind]

I have 2 more limpers. One is vaccinated. One is from resistant parents. One is limping bad, one mild. There's a 3rd bird in there that looks healthy and is plump. Should I take her out?

Well, slightly limpy is not limping. Limpy is the same, no worse. Thing is he's not wasted. He has some good meat on him. I separated them today, but he cried and I had to put him back. Yes, he cried.

I had to shift around some birds because I'm leaving for a few days, and hubby works nights for one or two nights and Everyone needs to be locked up because we can't catch them before he leaves for work.

I must have worked 4 hours outside cleaning and disinfecting. It's hard to go away and set up for someone to take care of the chickens.

 

[schnebbles]

I haven't gone away yet with chickens but I won't like it! Especially knowing they could get sick.

Poor guy crying! kinda odd

I'm still concerned about my wry neck, that it could be mareks. I bought some coconut oil today.

Is nutri-drench safe to give daily?

I hope your babies get better.

 

[seminolewind]

Well, I just find out that hubby did not replace the coconut oil and what do you know? His last 2 seizures were close, like a few weeks apart. One last night. They had been about 2 months apart with the oil.

Schnebbles, I've had a JG cry when I got mad one day and took him out of the flock and put him in a pen alone . Now this little guy cried and I put him back with the girls. If you ever hear it, it's really a pitiful sad noise they make . He's not wasting. So I put him back.

They are on that multi B vitamin in nutritional yeast. Now that hubby is convinced to buy more oil, they will be getting that too.

This morning I need to refill all the waterers, mix up some food , clean the canary cage and then I will be on my way to my 5 day hoof trimming course. 3 days in the motor home, and 2 days with the car. Both with Wi-Fi. My first trip in a motor home. And by myself. I have my professional cards printed up and I will be giving it a go as a trimmer.

I can't believe that my GF keeps telling me she can't support me in my new endeavor. I don't know if she's jealous or really thinks that I won't make it. I am tending to believe she's jealous because I'm doing something she would want to do. I have told her I have no expectations but in this crappy farrier area, I feel strongly that there's a niche to fill. I've been hoof obsessed for 7 years, trimmed my own for 3 years, gone thru 4 farriers in 4 years that I had to correct what they left. All the while a member of a farrier forum and getting advice and critique from them.

So, tomorrow is the first class.

 

[schnebbles]

Good luck on the farrier endeavor! I think it's good to try what you want to.

so, your husband has seizures? and he takes coconut oil for them? how much does he take? I know people who have children with seizures.

I put some in Priscilla's food mix just a bit ago. She's not eating at all Have to make sure I get a lot more in her via tube. I keep hoping wry neck improves, since I read it can. Can't have her wasting away in the mean time tho.

I love this board, people who can relate to the bad things that happen. My husband doesn't quite understand, he knows it upsets me but he's one who would say it's a chicken...well, I love them all because they are chickens!

how do you give them coconut oil? if you put in the water will they even get any?

 

[casportpony]

Too bad you aren't closer, I'd gladly pay you to trim mine!

-Kathy

 

[Nambroth]

Good luck on the farrier endeavor! I think it's good to try what you want to.

so, your husband has seizures? and he takes coconut oil for them? how much does he take? I know people who have children with seizures.

I put some in Priscilla's food mix just a bit ago. She's not eating at all Have to make sure I get a lot more in her via tube. I keep hoping wry neck improves, since I read it can. Can't have her wasting away in the mean time tho.

I love this board, people who can relate to the bad things that happen. My husband doesn't quite understand, he knows it upsets me but he's one who would say it's a chicken...well, I love them all because they are chickens!

how do you give them coconut oil? if you put in the water will they even get any?

I don't know how other people give coconut oil, but when I make weekly oatmeal for the chickens I mix it in while it's still warm. I make the oatmeal as a 'carrier' that they like to eat... and it works well to mix the powdery dust left over from their feed that they don't eat on its own.
We cook and use coconut oil in our house as a substitute for pretty much all cooking oils/fats, so we always have it on hand.

 

[schnebbles]

that would be great, I'll have to try oatmeal again. They are finicky eaters. I put water in their feed (a separate bowl) every day but they don't always eat it and now that' it's cold, it freezes. I got 2 jars, kroger had a good price yesterday when I went in to look for it.

 

[AraFran]

Hey everyone,

New to the forum but really looking forward to getting amongst

Finding this discussion really interesting as we seem to be having a few problems with one of our hatches this year! Only our Black Araucana's seem to be affected (I'm in the UK so the British version) We had Lavenders and RIR Large and bantam all growing up together. Some of the blacks seem to have a few problems, we've had one with a head tilt, two that sit back on their haunches and we sold a pullet which then dropped dead as soon as it went to it's new home!.. I know stress can be a trigger.

Does this sound like Maraks to anyone? Is it possible that it would only affect one colour of one breed?

Any suggestions please peeps? x

 

[schnebbles]

I don't think it sounds like mareks. I've lost 3 and not any of those symptoms.

 

[Nambroth]

Hey everyone,

New to the forum but really looking forward to getting amongst

Finding this discussion really interesting as we seem to be having a few problems with one of our hatches this year! Only our Black Araucana's seem to be affected (I'm in the UK so the British version) We had Lavenders and RIR Large and bantam all growing up together. Some of the blacks seem to have a few problems, we've had one with a head tilt, two that sit back on their haunches and we sold a pullet which then dropped dead as soon as it went to it's new home!.. I know stress can be a trigger.

Does this sound like Maraks to anyone? Is it possible that it would only affect one colour of one breed?

Any suggestions please peeps? x

I'm not saying it's not Marek's, but based on the info you gave here, I would be looking at other things first. It does not sound overly typical of Marek's (though of course Marek's is not always 'typical').

You said it seems to only be one breed? There could be genetic problems in the line of birds you are working with, and some of these problems can be passed through to the offspring. Also, some hens can have vitamin deficiencies and not show it, but her eggs/chicks could suffer from it. How old are the chicks showing signs and problems? You can also consider other diseases-- while it's true that most other communicable diseases would show in your other birds too, perhaps just the black araucanas are more susceptible to issues.

You might try taking careful note of all symptoms and even post photos in a new thread, maybe someone will see something that rings a bell.