Possible Marek's Like Signs in Free-range 12-week Old Pullet

[thepick4uchicks]

Well, if you have problems, then it would be good if you started your own thread so you're not hijacking Centra's.

Centra,
Please accept my apology for presumably hijacking your post. That was never my intention and I didn’t realize that I had made that error. However, I have noted my error and will be sure not to ask any questions anymore and ever make that particular mistake again. I am very sorry.

 

[centrarchid]

Will you be giving any type of supplements (extra vitamins/E, A, B1, B2) or extra protein to see if that's makes any difference?

If it is what I think it is, the bird will be culled shortly. Several times with intervention (nutrient supplementation) the birds have come out of it for short term. None survived more than a year and a couple pullets that did manage to lay and go broody performed very poorly. Whatever it is does not appear to spread easily between the chickens.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If it is what I think it is, the bird will be culled shortly. Several times with intervention (nutrient supplementation) the birds have come out of it for short term. None survived more than a year and a couple pullets that did manage to lay and go broody performed very poorly. Whatever it is does not appear to spread easily between the chickens.

Have you ever done a home necropsy on the ones you let grow out?

 

[centrarchid]

Have you ever done a home necropsy on the ones you let grow out?

Not recently. First few checked did have tumors. At this point there is no economic sense to even confirming it is actual Marek's. Occurrence comparatively rare. Outcome same regardless. Cull impacted birds and move on.

I do see where this stuff would be a reservoir for pathogen that periodically impacts commercial flocks. If I am correct, then backyard flocks are not the reservoir, it is wild birds.

Our vet system is not geared to helping backyard poultry keepers, rather is is geared entirely to protecting large scale commercial operators and may be willing to do so at detriment of backyard keepers.

It would be nice for state vets to make use of information and even carcasses I provide, but they have not done so with prior attempts so no more efforts will be made by me. The are happy to charge me for services that provide me and my flock no benefit.

 

[centrarchid]

She appears to have bounced out, not typical of the Mareks like thing. Must have eaten something toxic. She is a bit dehydrated, but otherwise back up.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She appears to have bounced out, not typical of the Mareks like thing. Must have eaten something toxic. She is a bit dehydrated, but otherwise back up.

Eyesight restored too?
Could she have not been eating and gotten dehydrated instead of something toxic?
Glad she's better.

 

[centrarchid]

She was off feed yesterday. She had access to food and water. Even while her siblings were out foraging, she did not participate. For a couple of hours she simply went over to where they all dust bathed and fell asleep. She did not respond even when dogs nudged her with their noses. Vision appears restored. I think she was in la-la land not knowing what was going on around her. She has not been given chance to eat yet this morning as she is penned up. Shortly she will be given a limited ration to see how she responds.

When the birds get drunk eating fermented Persimmons, they act similar, but they obviously have eaten.