Paralysis & Death

[nes]

Okay this has been going on for a few weeks so I'll try to cover everything.

Late July bought some silkies at auction, QTed 2 weeks, seemed very healthy so placed them into the coop in our chick area (which is separated from other chickens by fencing) b/c I tried them with the main group & they got beat up. I'm not sure how old the silkies are, I'm assuming a few months.

Silkies were in poor condition weight wise, one was especially light. I dewormed w ~1cc imovec back of neck. A few days after putting them into the chick area that silkie died. The other two still seem very healthy and have put weight on them. Then the chicks started dieing.

First 12 hours (roughly)
-Trembling in legs

Second 12 hours (roughly)
- Ruffled feathers
- Depression

Last 12 hours (roughly)
- Unilateral extension & partial paralysis of legs (both, straight out)
- Ruffled feathers
- Inability to maintain balance
- Pressing of head into back (NOT stargazing)

We've lost quite a few chicks, in spurts of 2 or 3, including a turkey poult.

Chick are is bright, airy & clean, I've removed them all to an outdoor enclosure and sanitized chick area.

Chicks are around 2 months in age (as was the turkey poult).

I don't think it is Mareks, it does not present with the classic symptoms.
There is NO:
- sneezing
- weepy eyes
- discharge of any kind

We've also lost a meat bird, transmission to this bird would have been if it walked into the chicken coop & wen't up to the chick area, or possibly through an adult carrier in the flock (or something else entirely).

No adult or older chicks have shown any symptoms. The Silkies still appear very healthy, bright eyes, gaining weight, etc.

Any suggestions?

 

[FlyHigher]

Could it be Newcastle disease?
The symptoms of legs and neck do match ND. Is there any respiratory symptoms?

 

[nes]

No respiratory symptoms at all.

I have done quite a bit of research and it doesn't look like any common poultry disease. I'm not ruling it out as something common that has shown up in a different way, but it's very strange.

Which also has me very concerned it's not a "normal" poultry disease.

The head-pressing says to me that it's something neurological.

 

[nes]

Anyone on today who might have an idea?

It certainly be something common manifesting in a weird way. Once again this morning all the affected chickens look bright eyed & healthy.

 

[Suzierd]

It sounds like Mareks to me symptoms can really very and they don't always get them all. I would get a necropsy on the next one that dies that way you know for sure what's going on. I hope its not, best of luck.

 

[lamelde]

Where do you get necropsy done?

 

[leadwolf1]

All signs point to Marek's to me, also. I have been battling Marek's for over a year now and have lost 40+ birds.

Call your local government extension and find out where there is a state lab. Some have found their information online.

Good luck!

 

[nes]

Has anyone had mareks that doesn't present with the one leg forward, one leg back? because none of my chickens have shown that symptom at all. We have double-leg paralysis only in the very late stage.

They all seem really healthy again, which is part of the frustrations, they don't seem sick until they drop dead :\

 

[leadwolf1]

I have had birds with Marek's who died with no apparent symptoms at all. One day I had a silkie roo running around foraging with his buddies. That same night, I went to check on them and he looked a little funny. I picked him up and he was weak. I went to get a ChICU container and when I returned he had seized and died. That quick. I had a necropsy performed. He had shown no sign of Marek's at all. The necropsy came back that he died from liver lymphoma...from Marek's. It had hit the organs with tumors but, had no attacked the nerves at all. I've had chickens die from sour crop...nope, Marek's. Wry neck? nope, Marek's. Both legs out front, Marek's. Both legs to the rear? Marek's. Huge swollen leg...Marek's. I could continue if you would like. As you can see, Marek's presents in many different ways. The one leg forward, one leg back is just the one people recognize.

 

[nes]

Thanks! Very glad I have them Qted still.

I'll keep them in QT a few more weeks and see how things progress if it's Mareks, we're going to have to just cull :\