Paralysis (Possible Marek's Disease), Treatment, Cure?

[EggSighted4Life]

Know EXACTLY what you're mean/saying. I also ferment my feed; Flock Raiser ($24/50#). Layer cost way less but I prefer the extra protein, haven't found any layer with more than 16%.
Here those raising to sell fresh eggs ($5/doz) are having to deal with higher feed cost (spreading the word about fermenting) & availability. "Mainland treated" eggs are sometime sold for 2doz/$5. So raising for eggs here is a "hobby" like fishing, cheaper to purchase at the market but more fun fresh I raise as a hobby, 4 - 6, Pets with Benefits. It's just Hubby & I so the overload goes to our elderly relatives on a budget.

OUCH! You ARE paying a lot. My LFS sells it for $20/50#. But by buying when we do our Costco trip out of town, I pay $16.65 for the same feed. Right now I have 30 hens, 1 rooster, 41 grow out/juveniles, and 9 ducks. Yep, some people go a LITTLE overboard with their hobbies. But I can count the gym membership I don't have to pay for as well as the $ I don't spend going to therapy. Like you say, pets with benefits! Oh, I see you are in HI.... that explains a little. Still, ouch.

I have seen/heard of ONE layer feed that had 20% protein and 4% calcium. Seems like it was called Breeder pellets. But if the only difference is OS, I can provide that. I would suspect it might have a slightly different vitamin/mineral analysis, but basically the same. Going organic isn't even on my financial radar. But my birds still live the good life!

Oh, And I MIGHT have a 5.5 week old broody raised Silkie chick presenting with Marek's. It was holding one foot up and limping yesterday and I couldn't detect any injury. I will see how it's doing today. I might just be a little jumpy due to a recent Marek's case. But IF I determine that to be the cause, I plan to cull right away. The last one I saved for more than 2 weeks with both legs paralyzed before culling. Really didn't think it could live normal even if it did recover. But I really don't have that kind of time to devote to a bird that will become dog feed in a couple of months anyways. And on top of that seems like it would mean more exposure to the virus for the rest of my flock. It's a hard decision! But sadly I have goals and breeding sick birds is not part of it.

 

[kittychix]

Thank you so much for this! My poor Macie has had a relapse of her Mareks and I’m desperate to make her comfortable- the body sling is genius. I made one for her right away and she seems to like it.