Please help! Anemic chick dying

[Sqhomestead]

Yes! @rebrascora I'm very interested in fermented feed! Are fresh grass clippings ok to give them? If so, should I chop them up so they don't get an impacted crop? You may hate me by the time I ask all the questions that keep coming to my head. I can Google these questions but I swear there is so much misinformation out here it's hard to know which way to go sometimes. I already very much trust your experience and judgement and can't thank you enough for taking time out of your days to write these and help me. Here is one.of my Marans that I'm watching super close for any signs . He is in the danger.zone age, 3 months old. He hatches April 21st , along with the blue copper marans that I had to take in.

 

[Sqhomestead]

I must have a very aggressive strain of this in my flock.. this is #5 since the first one got sick on May 28th this year. 3 of the previous 4 died and 1 is better for now. This morning she had a slight limp and I prayed it was only a minor injury. I separated her anyway to be on the safe side if there is a safe side in this nightmare. Now one wing keeps dropping, she won't stand at all and she leans over laying almost all the way to one side when I put her down. This is one of the hardest things I think I've ever had happen as far as the animals I've always taken care of.

 

[Sqhomestead]

Is there anything I can do to help the paralysis?

 

[Sqhomestead]

@rebrascora
Do they still get sick and die from this after 5.months old? I ask because the very 1st chicken we had that showed any signs was well over a year.old, maybe 2.. and the one that passed away last weekend was also an older hen. 3 or 4 yrs old.

 

[rebrascora]

Oh gosh! I'm so sorry you have another one! Have you given her a direct dose of Nutri Drench carefully into her break. I am rushing out just at the moment, but will try to find time to reply a bit later or tomorrow regarding fermented feed.Personally I feel that grass needs to be pecked fresh whilst it is growing to get all the benefits from it along with fresh air and some sunshine (but not baking sun). With grass cuttings you run the risk of impaction unless they are very short, so better to let the sick bird pick their own.

 

[Sqhomestead]

I'm out of nutri drench but will go pick that up immediately . I do have poly vi sol without iron, I can give her that in the mean time. Thank you so much for replying, and I totally understand about being busy and finding time to be on here, no worries at all! I just can't believe this is happening.

 

[rebrascora]

Yes, it can affect older birds. I had a 5 year old suffer her first attack 6 months ago. It predominantly affects adolescents because there are so many stressors in that age range to trigger outbreaks, like flock integration, hormone surges at point of lay, mating stress etc but it can lie dormant for years.

 

[Sqhomestead]

This disease might be the most vicious thing I have ever encountered. Definitely the most virulent and sadly the most common strain is also the most fatal.

 

[rebrascora]

Yes, go with the poly vi sol until you get the Nutri Drench

 

[Sqhomestead]

I am so sorry to keep bombarding with questions, but at the rate I'm losing my flock I don't know what else to do. So the past 2 days I've noticed black places on several of my birds on their beaks and combs. I noticed this about a week ago on a particular hen that was also broody, and I thought she may have been pecked by another girl trying to reclaim the favorite nest box. The thing is, this is happening to birds we have in separate runs and coops, so I don't think it's pecking on this many. I guess what I'm asking is can fowl pox be mistaken for Mareks? Since there hasn't been and I don't think there will be a PCR done to confirm the suspected Mareks in the necropsy I had done. Another vet told me that lymphoproliferative disease is kind of a catch all diagnosis. At the time I didn't know about the multiple birds having the black spots. Is there another illness or disease that causes these marks and the neurological symptoms like paralysis? Thanks again for any and all advice!