PLEASE HELP!! Merek's disease breakout!!!!

[ChickenCanoe]

Also vaccinating now won't help. It's suppose to be done when they are a day old. Still sounds like wry neck to me as I have had it happen to older birds. Sorry your having to go thru this.

X2
It is a waste of time, money and effort to vaccinate now. It can only be effective if given well in advance of exposure to the wild strains. That usually means in-ovo or by day3 for chicks.
The vaccination is basically in a race with the Mareks in the environment.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm so sorry to hear you are having lossess and illnesses.

Don't bother with the Marek's vaccination now for your older birds; it is too late to help them. The vaccine is only partially effective (considered "leaky") preventing the tumor growth of the most common strains but not the transmission of the virus. It also must be given to chicks within the first few days of hatch or in ova. Any older bird is presumed already exposed and either resistant or infected.

I agree, Vitamin E and selenium must be given to help with wry neck. You may have a nutritional deficiency that is taking hold in the flock.

Two and three year old hens are a bit old for a Marek's outbreak, though possible. Marek's usually hits with younger pullets at point of lay. If it comes to fruition in older birds, usually it is the slow wasting from internal tumors. However, the virus varies a lot as to its effects.

If there is any way to get a necropsy of Blue Bell, it would be very wise to do so (though she may have been dead too long, I lost the time frame). If you lose this next bird, have a necropsy done for her as that can help you track down what is going on.

There are actually several possibilities. Vitamin deficiency, Marek's, and also the possibility of Avian Leukosis (which often hits about 2 to 3 years of age), and even Mycoplasma Synovia. This BYC thread is a great resource for marek's and the imitators: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Even if it is Marek's, it is not the end of your flock, though it is sad to lose valued flock members. The industry recognizes the best response to Marek's is to breed from naturally resistant stock, so those who survive show a natural immunity to it. It is believed to be so prevalent that every flock owner must consider their birds exposed.

LofMc

 

[georgieboy11]

It still sounds like wry neck. The treatment with vitamin E has to include selenium as well.
Here's a good rundown on the treatment (near the bottom of the page)
https://tikktok.wordpress.com/tag/treat-chicken-with-wry-neck/

If it is Mareks, understand that there is no cure.
For more on Mareks.
https://www.thecuckoopoultrystudofaustralia.com/mareks-disease.html
Your state poultry lab can do a necropsy and lab work to determine for sure what you're dealing with.

Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Purdue University


406 South University St

West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2065

Phone: 765-494-7440

Using the state lab, the humane euthanasia is part of the process and will save you money over going to a vet. If Lafayette is very far from you, call them and they'll likely send you a FedEx label for shipping.

Thank you so much for that info if she passes I will definitely do that. I also forgot to mention I can see white raised bumps around Marshmallows feather follicles and when Blue Bell lost the use of her legs it was like both of her legs went paralyzed, Is that a symptom of wry neck? Also, I don't think it would be a vitamin deficiency because I put vital in their water. And when I gave bluebell vitamin E she didn't get any better.

 

[georgieboy11]

X2
It is a waste of time, money and effort to vaccinate now. It can only be effective if given well in advance of exposure to the wild strains. That usually means in-ovo or by day3 for chicks.
The vaccination is basically in a race with the Mareks in the environment.

My chicks are just hatching today, do you think it will be okay to give them it on Monday when I can get the vaccines? Or would it be too late

 

[georgieboy11]

Also vaccinating now won't help. It's suppose to be done when they are a day old. Still sounds like wry neck to me as I have had it happen to older birds. Sorry your having to go thru this.

When your chickens had wry neck did their legs go limp? I have searched all over the internet and I cant find anything about wry neck affecting their legs.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Vaccinate the hatching chicks when the vaccine arrives. Keep those chicks away from your flock until 2 weeks after vaccination for it to take effect. That also requires biosecurity efforts to avoid cross contamination to the chicks from the main flock.

I personally am not thinking vitamin deficiency as it is unlikely if they have been on a good layer feed. Leg problems can present with calcium or vitamin b deficiency, but if they have had good, balanced feed, that is unlikely.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Can't. hurt to try this thread's suggestions https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/st-johns-wort.135247/

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thank you so much for that info if she passes I will definitely do that. I also forgot to mention I can see white raised bumps around Marshmallows feather follicles and when Blue Bell lost the use of her legs it was like both of her legs went paralyzed, Is that a symptom of wry neck? Also, I don't think it would be a vitamin deficiency because I put vital in their water. And when I gave bluebell vitamin E she didn't get any better.

I don't think legs are usually affected. At least I've never experienced it. As I said, the vitamin E needs to be administered with the selenium which aids in E's absorption.
Are the birds that are/were affected full sisters or related? Wry neck can be genetic.

My chicks are just hatching today, do you think it will be okay to give them it on Monday when I can get the vaccines? Or would it be too late

As long as everything has been disinfected in the room, you should be fine vaccinating them on Monday.
I hope you have another person that can hold the chicks while you inject.

 

[FishMtFarm]

Problem is not a lot of commercial feeds are well balanced. Latin hens need more than 16% protein to keep up and most are just that. Plus the vitamins added aren't always enough. Vitamin E with t work without selenium so just giving her vitamin E isn't going to work unfortunately. Not saying it is vitamin deficiency, but it's not out of the question at all.

 

[georgieboy11]

I don't think legs are usually affected. At least I've never experienced it. As I said, the vitamin E needs to be administered with the selenium which aids in E's absorption.
Are the birds that are/were affected full sisters or related? Wry neck can be genetic.


As long as everything has been disinfected in the room, you should be fine vaccinating them on Monday.
I hope you have another person that can hold the chicks while you inject.

They were not related in any way, I am going to get selenium today to add to the vitamin E and hope it helps. The leg paralysis is the main reason I was thinking it was mereks. I will for sure have someone hold the chicks when I vaccinate them. It will be my first time vaccinating anything, do you have any tips? I am planning to watch a youtube video on how to do it.