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

[casportpony]

Amazing sometimes when they seem to go into remission

She stood and ate for the first time in weeks last night. Actually hopped out of her box, too.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Quote: IMO, yes! That other one really rubs me the wrong way, lol. Wish that thread would disappear.

-Kathy

 

[tridentk9]

This involves a lot of supposition and guesses. But it is something to think about and gives another thing to research.

Multiple Sclerosis is a horrible Disease with varied signs and symptoms. It can wax and wane or just keep getting worse or a combination of waxing and waning and continually getting worse. It does have several possible causes including a reaction to a virus. The body destroys it's own myelin sheath leading to neurological problems especially with walking, vision, swallowing, etc.

Why am I talking about a horrid human disease? MS in humans has been compared to Marek's Disease in chickens. And strange as it sounds, Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs has been compared to MS. Yes, leaps. But now it's getting into something I know how to find information on.

This discussion is on Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs. I'm posting it because it discusses not how to "cure" DM but how to slow the progression of signs because that's really all you can do. It explains WHY to use those vitamins. IMO the bit about vitamins, etc is something worth discussing with your veterinarian. http://dog2doc.com/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm Of course since it's discussing German Shepherd size dogs the dosages could be waaaaaay off!

Yes, it is a big leap but working on the signs once they're seen seems to be the best we can do for an individual bird.

 

[casportpony]

She's preening today.

-Kathy

 

[tridentk9]

I use a digital food scale. -Kathy

Perfect examples of a task that will work with clicker training! http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/click_and_cluck_lessons_on_animal_training_from_chickens First, the article on clicker training. Once you've read that, follow the links at the end for a few examples and further discussions.

 

[seminolewind]

This involves a lot of supposition and guesses. But it is something to think about and gives another thing to research.

Multiple Sclerosis is a horrible Disease with varied signs and symptoms. It can wax and wane or just keep getting worse or a combination of waxing and waning and continually getting worse. It does have several possible causes including a reaction to a virus. The body destroys it's own myelin sheath leading to neurological problems especially with walking, vision, swallowing, etc.

Why am I talking about a horrid human disease? MS in humans has been compared to Marek's Disease in chickens. And strange as it sounds, Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs has been compared to MS. Yes, leaps. But now it's getting into something I know how to find information on.

This discussion is on Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs. I'm posting it because it discusses not how to "cure" DM but how to slow the progression of signs because that's really all you can do. It explains WHY to use those vitamins. IMO the bit about vitamins, etc is something worth discussing with your veterinarian. http://dog2doc.com/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm Of course since it's discussing German Shepherd size dogs the dosages could be waaaaaay off!

Yes, it is a big leap but working on the signs once they're seen seems to be the best we can do for an individual bird.

AIDS as well. I'm sure there are quite a few things out there that can slow Marek's down. I think it's well worth looking into. But what are we trying to slow down? The tumors? Paralysis? Usually by paralysis it's already too late because the tumors are there. Then, what improves the immunosuppression?

 

[Haunted55]

just got the necropsy back on our 13 week old pullet who died last week following six days of paralysis. as expected, marek's. sigh. now, i'm just holding my breath. her sister still looks good. but she's only 15 weeks old, we are two weeks after the first one first got ill. so i'm nowhere near out of the woods. not exactly sure when i can stop holding my breath on her. ughhhhh, she's my favorite in my entire flock. our four one and a half year old girls all still look good, but i'm hoping for/expecting a little bit more resistance in them because age. fingers crossed...

I haven't posted in a while, but let me pass something on that I have learned the hard way. I started this thread a long time ago it seems, but I will tell you something, it's a good thing. I have lost a lot of my babies to this miserable disease and have fought and sought to find a way to stop it. Know what I found? Put Turkeys in with your Chickens. Yes it really is that simple. No more deaths here...not a one. I had birds natural hatch this year and they are all alive and not showing any signs at all. None, zip, nadda. Over the years, I noticed that when the Turkeys and the Chickens were free ranging together,during the good months of the year, the out-breaks of Marek's was almost nil. During the Winter months, it would start showing it's ugly face again and usually around the end of Feb. and March, the deaths would start again. Symptoms would start as early as the second week of November, pretty much 3 weeks after the last contact with the Turkeys. Not this year or last either. The Turkeys have moved in with the chickens and given up their home with the Peas. No deaths, no symptoms. Yes, it really is that simple. Now you can believe or not, we can argue untill the cows come home.....doesn't change what I am seeing. All I can do is report what I am finding with my own flock. Will it work for everyone? No clue, but I will say this...the strain or strains I have had here are horrendous. Darned near 95% mortality. Didn't matter if they were vaccinated or not, symptoms and death still happened. Put some Turkeys with your flock. You probably won't be able to save all showing late stage symptoms, although, I have had one who did a complete about face last Summer, but you may save the rest. Oh and for the nay sayers with their Blackhead questions.....Blackhead is easily cured. I had one Turkey show symptoms and I used cayenne pepper. Yep, the old wives tale actually works if caught early enough. Use of your eyes is very important, as well as your gut. If you think there maybe a Blackhead problem? Treat with the cayenne. I did 2 tbls. sprinkled on their feed for 2 weeks. No more symptoms and no return, either. I am not saying this is a magic bullet, no such thing, but the constant exposure to the Turkeys and the probable infection of the Turkey Marek's they have, is something that seems to be helping. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jgoldy2]

I haven't posted in a while, but let me pass something on that I have learned the hard way.  I started this thread a long time ago it seems, but I will tell you something, it's a good thing.  I have lost a lot of my babies to this miserable disease and have fought and sought to find a way to stop it.  Know what I found?  Put Turkeys in with your Chickens.  Yes it really is that simple.  No more deaths here...not a one.  I had birds natural hatch this year and they are all alive and not showing any signs at all.  None, zip, nadda.  Over the years, I noticed that when the Turkeys and the Chickens were free ranging together,during the good months of the year, the out-breaks of Marek's was almost nil.  During the Winter months, it would start showing it's ugly face again and usually around the end of Feb. and March, the deaths would start again.  Symptoms would start as early as the second week of November, pretty much 3 weeks after the last contact with the Turkeys.  Not this year or last either.  The Turkeys have moved in with the chickens and given up their home with the Peas.  No deaths, no symptoms.  Yes, it really is that simple.  Now you can believe or not, we can argue untill the cows come home.....doesn't change what I am seeing.  All I can do is report what I am finding with my own flock.  Will it work for everyone?  No clue, but I will say this...the strain or strains I have had here are horrendous.  Darned near 95% mortality.  Didn't matter if they were vaccinated or not, symptoms and death still happened.  Put some Turkeys with your flock.  You probably won't be able to save all showing late stage symptoms, although, I have had one who did a complete about face last Summer, but you may save the rest.  Oh and for the nay sayers with their Blackhead questions.....Blackhead is easily cured.  I had one Turkey show symptoms and I used cayenne pepper.  Yep, the old wives tale actually works if caught early enough.  Use of your eyes is very important, as well as your gut.  If you think there maybe a Blackhead problem?  Treat with the cayenne.  I did 2 tbls. sprinkled on their feed for 2 weeks.  No more symptoms and no return, either.  I am not saying this is a magic bullet, no such thing, but the constant exposure to the Turkeys and the probable infection of the Turkey Marek's they have, is something that seems to be helping.  Just my 2 cents. 

okay, I know that is a subject that is fought over often, the disease is awful, and will Turkey's be nicer if they are mixed with chickens?

 

[casportpony]

Welcome back! regarding blackhead... if they aren't eating, how can one give them the cayenne pepper? FWIW, I do have turkeys in my chicken flock and I still do see new cases of Marek's.

-Kathy

 

[Haunted55]

Welcome back! regarding blackhead... if they aren't eating, how can one give them the cayenne pepper? FWIW, I do have turkeys in my chicken flock and I still do see new cases of Marek's.

-Kathy

Put it in their water and give in a syringe. I would do 1/8 tsp. per shot. Maybe 3 times a day. Kathy, have your Turkeys been exposed to wild Turkeys? Mine have been. I know they have Turkey Marek's. Remember the thread from last year with the pictures i posted of the lumps and stuff showing up in the wild flocks on the East Coast? Sad but a lot of the Turkeys have been wiped out by this crap from Europe that i believe is just a super form of Turkey Marek's.