I bought 2 pullets from a local "breeder", and have for the past month or so kept them in isolation, and I'm glad I did.
One of them never looked well. Her tail was always down and her comb is short because she is young, but also very pale. All of a sudden I noticed one day her middle toe had folded under her foot and she was limping, so I assumed it was broken but there is no sign of breakage, just lack of muscle control and have since noticed on occasion it happening to another toe on the same foot.
She also has a hard lump and scab on her keel bone, but I'll just assume this can be normal.
Everything I read points to possible Marek's but it's hard to know for sure. Her poops look normal since I gave her ACV in her water, and her crop was full so I know she is eating.
This is the question. Do I just assume the worst, accept the loss and cull both birds since they both could carry it? or wait it out longer. As it is, if she has marek's my garage is now infected and I could have potentially carried it out to the coop anyways ( hopefully not).
Thanks
One of them never looked well. Her tail was always down and her comb is short because she is young, but also very pale. All of a sudden I noticed one day her middle toe had folded under her foot and she was limping, so I assumed it was broken but there is no sign of breakage, just lack of muscle control and have since noticed on occasion it happening to another toe on the same foot.
She also has a hard lump and scab on her keel bone, but I'll just assume this can be normal.
Everything I read points to possible Marek's but it's hard to know for sure. Her poops look normal since I gave her ACV in her water, and her crop was full so I know she is eating.
This is the question. Do I just assume the worst, accept the loss and cull both birds since they both could carry it? or wait it out longer. As it is, if she has marek's my garage is now infected and I could have potentially carried it out to the coop anyways ( hopefully not).
Thanks