Problem with Legs

[SouthernBYChickens]

Welp Hatchery offers Marek's vaccine for less than 20 cents a bird (I ordered a batch of birds from there last year and they've done well)- but you have to pay extra for Marek's disease vaccination. Did you have your chicks vaccinated when you bought them? If not, I'm really sorry but that sounds just like Marek's disease, is the right age frame to be displaying symptoms, and if not, I'm so sad to say that if you have one confirmed case (there is a test for it) that you should cull your entire flock because 1) it is extremely contagious (actually a form of Herpes) 2) causes paralysis and 3)causes tumors that either reduces their laying or stops their laying. Better to start over with vaccinated chicks if there's Marek's on your yard then too. I really hope you vaccinated, as you can rule this out!

I would not think a 4 month pullet to be egg-bound... most pullets just coming into laying lay small "pullet" eggs, that are often mis-shapen and/or smaller than they will lay in a few months. Egg binding usually happens in a hen who has been laying hard all season and is tired/wore-out (often shortly before moulting) or on older hens, who lay eggs less frequently, but often larger than when they were younger. An easy way to tell if a pullet is laying yet is by holding her on her back (like a baby LOL) take your fingers on your free hand and hold them out straight and together- you should be able to wedge 2 or 3 fingers between her pubic bones (you can feel them down low between her legs) and the bones should have some "flex" in them if she is laying yet. If not, you will only be able to fit 1, maybe 2 fingers in and her pubic bones will be stiff & firm. Also, a hen who is laying will have a large, moist vent/cloaeca where your pullets who are not will have a much smaller, dry vent.
Hope this helps!
Jen P & the Pack learning about chicken math...

I'm afraid I do not remember getting the vaccination on the chicks. So, the symptoms I am describing sounds like Marek's? I have her quarantined right now, but until I see symptoms in the other chickens, do I just watch and pray or is it pretty much a done deal the others will have it also? Once they are this age (4.5 months) is it too late to vaccinate them or is that something that could still be beneficial to them? Is their yard area and coop contaminated now? If others have it also, do I need to do something to the yard/coop to de-contaminate it all? Thanks!

 

[ProudK911]

I feel so awful to be the bearer of bad news!!!

I would take your pullet into a vet for a blood draw (for blood, they don't have to be a specialist) for them to send off to a lab for testing. In the mean time, keep your gal on STRICT QUARANTINE! (like change clothes or wear gloves & a special shirt to take off after handling her) in a hospital cage with what she needs. If the test comes back positive, you may / will probably have to cull your flock and start over. Marek's disease vaccination is given at 1 day (hatch- at the hatchery) and is an effective vaccination they say for chicks up to a few days old. At this point, there is nothing you can do except have her tested and wait. Cull her right away if her test comes back positive. Maybe you will be lucky enough that you have pulled her away early enough that she didn't infect the rest of the flock. But... it had to come from somewhere! (probably wild bird droppings) It is a strong chance the other birds will be affected too. The safe thing to do if she were positive would be to cull & start over.
ANYTIME you order chicks, make sure you pay the 25 cents or less per bird for the Marek's vaccine! Some hatcheries offer coccidia protection also for the same small fee most often. The maybe $5.00 more that my order will total is well worth never having to worry again! Also, with Marek's already in your environment, you will want to start your vaccinated chicks in a brooder so their immunity can build up before you let them out in the run/pasture.
Again, I hate to be the bearer of most likely bad news- but I know you'd rather appreciate my honesty rather than me blowing fluff up your butt. Your local ag extention or animal control or whatever may want your bird for further testing after she is euthanized. Give well & let them have her for their research!
Respectfully yours with warmth,
Jen P & the Pack worried about a SL Wy-- we have a bunch ourself & the prettiest calmest rooster! (even though he thinks it's torture to be held)

 

[SouthernBYChickens]

I feel so awful to be the bearer of bad news!!!

I would take your pullet into a vet for a blood draw (for blood, they don't have to be a specialist) for them to send off to a lab for testing. In the mean time, keep your gal on STRICT QUARANTINE! (like change clothes or wear gloves & a special shirt to take off after handling her) in a hospital cage with what she needs. If the test comes back positive, you may / will probably have to cull your flock and start over. Marek's disease vaccination is given at 1 day (hatch- at the hatchery) and is an effective vaccination they say for chicks up to a few days old. At this point, there is nothing you can do except have her tested and wait. Cull her right away if her test comes back positive. Maybe you will be lucky enough that you have pulled her away early enough that she didn't infect the rest of the flock. But... it had to come from somewhere! (probably wild bird droppings) It is a strong chance the other birds will be affected too. The safe thing to do if she were positive would be to cull & start over.
ANYTIME you order chicks, make sure you pay the 25 cents or less per bird for the Marek's vaccine! Some hatcheries offer coccidia protection also for the same small fee most often. The maybe $5.00 more that my order will total is well worth never having to worry again! Also, with Marek's already in your environment, you will want to start your vaccinated chicks in a brooder so their immunity can build up before you let them out in the run/pasture.
Again, I hate to be the bearer of most likely bad news- but I know you'd rather appreciate my honesty rather than me blowing fluff up your butt. Your local ag extention or animal control or whatever may want your bird for further testing after she is euthanized. Give well & let them have her for their research!
Respectfully yours with warmth,
Jen P & the Pack worried about a SL Wy-- we have a bunch ourself & the prettiest calmest rooster! (even though he thinks it's torture to be held)

Well, she is pretty much just laying down and not doing much other than that weird mouth opening while stretching her neck thing. All her symptoms point to Marek's so I'm afraid for her benefit, I will put her down tomorrow as soon as I have time. She doesn't appear to be in any pain, but that just doesn't seem like an enjoyable life for her and with little hope to return back to normal, I see no other action to take. I am not fortunate enough to have the time to work with her trying to heal her on a long-term basis. Poor thing - she really is a beautiful chicken. Thanks for all your advice. I do appreciate the "no fluff up my butt".