For years now I've been having trouble with paralysis and neurological symptoms in my flock, but it isn't following the same symptoms as Marek's because it only happened in young, white or black and white bantams. However, now the adult bantams are getting the disease and even one that was all black died from it. One of my old standard hens got sick and passed, but I have a feeling it was unrelated because there were no neurological signs until the very end.
Anyways, in the past the chicks almost never died and had to be put down when they became completely paralyzed, and one of my adult hens got symptoms but healed and got over it. But now I've lost a number of them and my latest happened quite suddenly, no warning symptoms, she just couldn't walk and was turning her head in a strange manner. She didn't react to me picking her up, carrying her or putting her down and seems to be pretty unresponsive. I'm afraid she won't make it through the night.
The catch is, the barn they live in is so old that the paint that peels off and falls in with their food, water and forage is most likely (I'm not positive) lead paint. These symptoms seem to be matching those caused by lead poisoning in birds, such as neurological signs and paralysis. Is there any way I can save StarDust, my latest hen? The barn is so large and is COVERED in paint and we have a second fairly large barn and a shed both with peeling paint as well. How do I prevent any further lead poisoning and is that really the cause or is it genetic? I'm trying to create a breed but have been very careful not to select for any poor genetics and I've avoid inbreeding. Right now they are just in very early stages and are a mix of all sorts of bantam breeds. So why do some get the disease and others not? And why have almost all of them been white or paint colored bantams except for that one black bantam I found dead in the rafters of unknown causes?
Thank you so much for the help, because I love my birds and it breaks my heart when they get sick, especially if I think its preventable. If it is genetic I will stop breeding these birds immediately, but I need to know what it is first!
Thanks!
Some example photos. On the right you can see who I believe to be StarDust. She is 1 or so years old, so not a senior. The bird in the middle I believe is only a month or two of age, but she is pretty large for a bantam.
Some of my bantam mixes. mos tof them have black spots in their paint pattern but others have lavender/blue
An all white mix. She is probably two or more years old and is doing fine, but I lost her sister to his mysterious illness. Her sister declined slowly and actually went blind. She was a paint with a single comb and was so beautiful. I miss her a lot.
The one on the top is a chick and the one at the bottom is 2-3 years old
Anyways, in the past the chicks almost never died and had to be put down when they became completely paralyzed, and one of my adult hens got symptoms but healed and got over it. But now I've lost a number of them and my latest happened quite suddenly, no warning symptoms, she just couldn't walk and was turning her head in a strange manner. She didn't react to me picking her up, carrying her or putting her down and seems to be pretty unresponsive. I'm afraid she won't make it through the night.
The catch is, the barn they live in is so old that the paint that peels off and falls in with their food, water and forage is most likely (I'm not positive) lead paint. These symptoms seem to be matching those caused by lead poisoning in birds, such as neurological signs and paralysis. Is there any way I can save StarDust, my latest hen? The barn is so large and is COVERED in paint and we have a second fairly large barn and a shed both with peeling paint as well. How do I prevent any further lead poisoning and is that really the cause or is it genetic? I'm trying to create a breed but have been very careful not to select for any poor genetics and I've avoid inbreeding. Right now they are just in very early stages and are a mix of all sorts of bantam breeds. So why do some get the disease and others not? And why have almost all of them been white or paint colored bantams except for that one black bantam I found dead in the rafters of unknown causes?
Thank you so much for the help, because I love my birds and it breaks my heart when they get sick, especially if I think its preventable. If it is genetic I will stop breeding these birds immediately, but I need to know what it is first!
Thanks!
Some example photos. On the right you can see who I believe to be StarDust. She is 1 or so years old, so not a senior. The bird in the middle I believe is only a month or two of age, but she is pretty large for a bantam.
Some of my bantam mixes. mos tof them have black spots in their paint pattern but others have lavender/blue
An all white mix. She is probably two or more years old and is doing fine, but I lost her sister to his mysterious illness. Her sister declined slowly and actually went blind. She was a paint with a single comb and was so beautiful. I miss her a lot.
The one on the top is a chick and the one at the bottom is 2-3 years old
