Rooster sick...then better....then sick...then better...sick again! What the heck?

[Miss Chuckles]

Thanks for your diagnosis - I'm really depressed now! It's funny because I actually care a lot more about him since I've been nursing him off and on. I didn't think he had Mareks because he's that bit older and he kept getting better, but reading through the descriptions again it does seem to have the best fit. I'll have to find someone to help put him down cause I just can't do it myself.

 

[leadwolf1]

I'm so sorry

I just lost my favorite NN girl to Marek's last night. Marek's is a crazy disease and affects every chicken differently. This girl was right as rain too nights ago. Down off the roost and couldn't move by morning and died last night. Taking care of them definitely puts them closer to our hearts and makes it harder to let them go.

Please, do yourself a favor and find a state lab. They are really cheap and it will save you the heartache of not knowing what really happened. The most I've heard charged for a necropsy is $45 from a state lab. Most vets start at $300.

 

[UrbanviewFarm]

I may have another answer. I just read it in the latest isssue of Chickens magazine(put out by Hobby Farm press, bought at TSC, for those interested). The symptoms sound a LOT like avian influenza.

Im just going to quote from the article to keep everything as clear and accurate as possible.

"Avian influenza, what it is: avian influenza is a viral disease that affects wild birds and poultry worldwide. It usually causes mild symptoms in domestic poultry, but some infections ('fowl plauge') cause severe symptoms and a high death rate.
How it spreads: The virus usually spreads when a healthy bird comes into contact with an infected bird (living or dead). Other sources of innfection include litter, feces, vehicles, humans, flies and air currents. Some recovered birds remain carriers for weeks.
Symptoms: In mmild cases, symptoms include listlessness, discharge from the eyes and nose, visible swelling around the eyes, congestion, cyanosis (blue-tinged color to the skin, due to lack of oxygen), diarrhea, and decreased egg production. Birds affected by the more severe infection may die without showing symptoms. In other cases, symptoms include cyanosis, swelling of the head, comb and wattle, swelling of the shanks and feet, along with discoloration due to bleeding under the skin; blood-tinged discharges from the mouth and nose, and greenish diarrhea. Birds that survive a severe infection may have neurological problems, such as incoordination and siezures.
Treatment: there is no specific treatment for avian influenza. For mild infections, antobiotics may help prevent secondary bacterial infections. Increasing the temperature in the chicken house may be beneficial.
Prevention: Vaccination can decrease avian influenza symptoms, reduce death rate and decrease virus shedding. Vaccination must be approved by the US Department of Agriculture [no idea about Ireland I amm sorry].

 

[Lacrystol]

I wonder if spraying him with Oxine would help with bacterial, When he is getting better is there anything that you give him or do for him to help him recover? or do you just let him run threw the cycle? how old is he? If it was me, I would be giving him a shot of tylan and spraying him with Oxine. Of course, this is really buzzar because I really never heard of something coming and going off and on for weeks at a time.

 

[leadwolf1]

Vitamin and supportive therapy is all that can be done. I had a silkie that went off and on like this for several months. Finally, the disease progressed to where it was finally fatal.

 

[seminolewind]

Yup. I've had 2 that were on and off a few times. Right now I have a pullet who was completely paralyzed, then now is not. She's living in the house with me.

Leadwolf and I have lost alot of chickens to Marek's in the past year, and have done non-stop research about it, and we have seen quite a few different symptoms. Most of what you read is listing the common -most recognizeable symptoms . But there are many more.

 

[Miss Chuckles]

Can I just ask if Marek's makes the comb turn purple? He's still hanging in there and I think the fact that he seems so bright and perky is making it hard for me to do the deed (and I'm a big ol wimp). I guess I just want to be sure it's not a vitamin deficiency because I was giving him supplements B, E and selenium and nutrient packed foods both times he recovered. It was just hard to feed him special food when he was better because I couldn't catch him and maybe the tonic in the water wasn't enough? I realise I'm grasping at straws here...

 

[leadwolf1]

It can make the comb turn purple because it causes tumors in the lungs and robs them of oxygen. If you can't do it then, don't. Keep giving him vitamins and good food and see what happens. There is no harm in trying as long as he isn't suffering. The only downside is there is some evidence that shows that Marek's is shed in greater quantity when birds are symtomatic.

 

[seminolewind]

Leadwolf, I was afraid of what's said about shedding more virus when symptomatic. I wonder if that's for the whole time, like mine in the hospice. I wonder if she still sheds alot. I have to say that she does drop alot of dander.

Aside from the tumors , I think it can affect any nerves, like I had 2 that were doing a slow gasp for days, clearly some respiratory nerves affected.

 

[leadwolf1]

I have come to realize that they must shed more when they are symptomatic. But, once they show signs of remission, I don't think that they shed anymore than other carriers. Funny thing, I have never noticed more dander from an infected chicken then from a non-infected chicken. Odd?

And yes, any nerves can be affected...I have had some that I believe the diaphragm has been effected in some way. Just by the way they act/sound. It also causes tumors in the lungs...