Possible Merak's

[E.C.]

My hen was attacked by a Goshawk about 6 weeks ago. Had to put a topical ointment on it, did get to her meat. She was fine and laid an egg the next day so not too much stress and has been laying and fine since. Today she can't walk, not vaccinated for Meraks. Gave her calcium and cod liver oil and yoghurt today. She is eating, drinking, and has a healthy solid poop. She also laid an egg this morning.
Ideas? Could the hawk transmit a disease?

 

[micstrachan]

Oh, wow. Great question. I’ll be watching to see if someone has the answer. So sorry to hear about this.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I'm sorry your first post is about a poorly hen. We will try to help but I think we need a lot more information before we assume it is Marek's.
When you say she cannot walk, what do you mean? Is she lying down and cannot get up or does she limp badly or perhaps she refuses to walk and just stands still? Can you take a photo of her or better still a video(it would need to be uploaded to a hosting site like You Tube and then a link to it posted here) Have you checked the soles of her feet for a scab that would indicate bumblefoot? Could she have frostbite? You have not included your location in your profile so we have no idea what sort of climate you are in?? It really helps if people include at least a nearest town or city and country (this is an international forum) so that we can see at a glance where in the world you are every time you post and adjust our advice accordingly, without having to ask each time.

Had to put a topical ointment on it, did get to her meat.

I understand from this that there was a wound. Is that fully healed now. Where was the wound?
The fact that she is eating and drinking and still laying eggs is promising but doesn't mean it isn't Marek's. Have you added any new birds to the flock in recent months? How old is she? Have you lost any other birds to disease or unexpectedly or had any go lame (even if they got better quite quickly). It is unlikely that a hawk infected her with Marek's if that is what you are asking? Marek's is contracted by inhaling dander dust from an infected bird. It is unlikely that a hawk could carry that dander dust from one chicken to another because it would almost certainly be dispersed during flight between birds. I do not believe that Hawk's are able to contract Marek's themselves and therefore shed it and pass it directly to a chicken, but I do not know that for certain.

 

[pennyJo1960]

My hen was attacked by a Goshawk about 6 weeks ago. Had to put a topical ointment on it, did get to her meat. She was fine and laid an egg the next day so not too much stress and has been laying and fine since. Today she can't walk, not vaccinated for Meraks. Gave her calcium and cod liver oil and yoghurt today. She is eating, drinking, and has a healthy solid poop. She also laid an egg this morning.
Ideas? Could the hawk transmit a disease?

I do not believe you need to worry about that so much.. so when was the hawk attack sorry you did say six weeks ago, where did it catch her? are you able to post photos of the wound
and Welcome to Backyard Chickens

 

[E.C.]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I'm sorry your first post is about a poorly hen. We will try to help but I think we need a lot more information before we assume it is Marek's.
When you say she cannot walk, what do you mean? Is she lying down and cannot get up or does she limp badly or perhaps she refuses to walk and just stands still? Can you take a photo of her or better still a video(it would need to be uploaded to a hosting site like You Tube and then a link to it posted here) Have you checked the soles of her feet for a scab that would indicate bumblefoot? Could she have frostbite? You have not included your location in your profile so we have no idea what sort of climate you are in?? It really helps if people include at least a nearest town or city and country (this is an international forum) so that we can see at a glance where in the world you are every time you post and adjust our advice accordingly, without having to ask each time.


I understand from this that there was a wound. Is that fully healed now. Where was the wound?
The fact that she is eating and drinking and still laying eggs is promising but doesn't mean it isn't Marek's. Have you added any new birds to the flock in recent months? How old is she? Have you lost any other birds to disease or unexpectedly or had any go lame (even if they got better quite quickly). It is unlikely that a hawk infected her with Marek's if that is what you are asking? Marek's is contracted by inhaling dander dust from an infected bird. It is unlikely that a hawk could carry that dander dust from one chicken to another because it would almost certainly be dispersed during flight between birds. I do not believe that Hawk's are able to contract Marek's themselves and therefore shed it and pass it directly to a chicken, but I do not know that for certain.

She is currently lying down and leaning to one side, she does not have any scars or signs of bumblefoot, I live in Colorado but it has been very warm, above average temps and we have little snow currently at 8,000 ft. She tries to walk but loses her balance and can't but wobbles. I have her in my basement away from my rooster. I check her hourly she moved about 4-5 ft in one direction once today. The most all day.
I did just loose one to "infection". She became lathargic one day and we thought egg bound because was pulstating, We quickly isolated her, checked her for a bound egg and did not feel one. She had green loose stool and was gone in 12hrs. I am new at this and I am learning about how essentail reaction time is.
The current hen that is sick is 8 months old.
The wound was on her neck, the hawk was on her plucking out feathers and I was able to scare the hawk away. She is fully healed and I just looked again to make sure there was NOT a new wound.

 

[pennyJo1960]

She is currently lying down and leaning to one side, she does not have any scars or signs of bumblefoot, I live in Colorado but it has been very warm, above average temps and we have little snow currently at 8,000 ft. She tries to walk but loses her balance and can't but wobbles. I have her in my basement away from my rooster. I check her hourly she moved about 4-5 ft in one direction once today. The most all day.
I did just loose one to "infection". She became lathargic one day and we thought egg bound because was pulstating, We quickly isolated her, checked her for a bound egg and did not feel one. She had green loose stool and was gone in 12hrs. I am new at this and I am learning about how essentail reaction time is.
The current hen that is sick is 8 months old.
The wound was on her neck, the hawk was on her plucking out feathers and I was able to scare the hawk away. She is fully healed and I just looked again to make sure there was a new wound.

New wound? she may be getting picked on ?

 

[E.C.]

Sorry not a new wound, no her and the rooster are inseperable.

 

[pennyJo1960]

if they are inseparable has he been mounting her that could be very hard on her just now

 

[E.C.]

Haven't seen him do it he has never picked on her, granted he is a rooster, they were hatchlings together so just never been apart always together.

 

[E.C.]

Haven't seen him do it he has never picked on her, granted he is a rooster, they were hatchlings together so just never been apart always together.

I did notice the rooster just got more aggressive about a week ago, he went after my son and has never done that before.