Pullet Has Weak Legs/Mareks? *UPDATE*: Pullet Died

[Patchesnposies]

We have had a good year with no real problems with illness in the overall flock, other than a bout with lice and the occasional "accidental" death.

We have a small flock (13) of Langshan's that are about 12 weeks old. We let them out in the yard during the day and they spend the night inside the house in a very large dog crate. They have been doing this for about two or three weeks.

These were birds that we hatched from shipped eggs, and we did not vaccinate them.

Today one of the pullets did not come out of the crate and was just sitting there. She can walk when prompted, but her legs seem very weak.

Her craw was empty, so we brought her indoors to feed and water her, she pecked the food once and then no more. I "helped" her drink and even gave her some vitamins and electrolytes in the water, but she wasn't interested herself.

Her eyes are still bright, but her comb is really pale.

I researched the symptoms here on BYC and the internet and it sounds like she may have Marek's Disease.

It seems I should not have introduced them to the flock for a couple more months, I didn't know that.

If any has any other ideas of things it might be or
treatments to try, please let me know.

I have not noticed any worms in the poo-but haven't wormed them either.

Tips on what to use to worm the whole flock would be appreciated too. I think it is time.

Thanks!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have had a few to do that recently also with the legs but they still eat and drink like pigs. I researched what I could about the symptoms and think ours to be Newcastles.
I dispatched the first 3 because it scared us that something really bad was starting but then we have one that is older and she isn't as bad so we are "treating" her, though they say there isn't a treatment for Newcastles.
I'm not sure what is going on but it was odd that they are 12 weeks old and started acting crippled, like their legs don't know what to do. But in our case they have all been eating well. I sure would hate to find out I didn't need to get rid of those 3 pullets but then again, better safe than sorry.

 

[chickenzoo]

Coccidia can also make them weak. If they have been on the ground around your other birds they might have contacted it and the one that is sick was more affected. I would treat with Corid, then see if she gets better. If not then I'd prepare for other illnesses.

 

[CountryMom]

We had a buff orp that got really weak and laid a jumbo large funky looking egg. She didn't want to walk. I posted and did some research. Since this was a young pullet just under a year and had come from a hatchery not another place. I was doubting that it was a serious disease she hadn't been exposed to. Well, I started with some of those poly vitmain drops and she improved. In fact, she improved a lot and was on the road to recovery when she seemed eggbound and passed. I did some reading where if they are lacking Vitamin E and or Vitamin A that they can act like that. It also has to do with a lack of greens. Being as we are dryer than ever around here with no green in sight! Well, just this week I noticed another dropping some weight and acting dull. I didn't wait on her like I did on the Buff. I haven't seen a funky egg from her, but I treated right away. She has improved and never got too weak to stand like the other one. She is an older bird yet - probably over 2 - but still not one to be ill. She is now back gaining weight eating like a starved orphan and full of herself yet again.

I honestly believe in my case that the jumbo egg may have been a result of this weakened state, but also something was wrong with her system and maybe she was bred to be a layer too much. Does that make sense?

I have since begun giving them more greens. I added dried peas to their feed and giving them some fresh leaf lettuce and yogurt to keep them absorbing and their gut functions better. Mine do get to free range and I figure once the rains finally come they can have some good green weeds and grass to pick at. But for now I need to make sure they are getting enough.

 

[Patchesnposies]

Well, after sitting quietly in lap for about an hour this morning, I put her into a small dog carrier to rest so i could get my chores done.

When I went to check on her she was stretched out on her side and was dead.

I have no idea what it was. She wasn't the smallest pullet of the group and none of them seemed sickly at all and now this.

IF it is Marek's or Cocci will I lose more young birds?

I am going to get the few ducks we have out of the pen, they make the place a mess, esp. the waterers.

I am sad for the loss of this little hen-to-be. I love my birds so.

 

[jvls1942]

for coccidiosis treatment for our turkeys and chickens we use Sulmet (sulfamethazine sodium 12.5%) in their drinking water..

have had very good luck with it..

It is a treatment for some other lesser popular diseases also.. they are listed on the bottle..

when our chickens get to acting like that we treat them in this order. coccidiosis, mureks, worms.

 

[chickenzoo]

So Sorry you lost her...

 

[ranchhand]

I am so sorry you lost your pullet.