Rooster with mass in neck, possible tumor, thymus response -- Marek's

[Nambroth]

I'm very sorry. I had a small flock very similar to yours, my Altair was a version of Coho, I had 3 Polish Crested much like Derp. And a cast of more "characters". 3-4 of my hens came down with Marek's one by one a year or so apart. They had different symptoms, the first was the inability to walk though they were happy and appeared healthy otherwise (transported her around in a clothes basket, but that's a story for a different day). I chose to put them down since there's no cure. Another got pneumonia very fast, and another filled with an abdominal tumor(s) over a short matter of weeks.

The worse part is they were supposedly vaccinated as chicks from the hatchery I purchased them from. One source I've read from is Marek's is nearly everywhere in the environment and in several strains. With my flock of 11 chicks and beyond I hope to breed and encourage natural resistence.

May the future be better!

Hear hear, to a better future!

It may have been that you were unfortunate enough to have a mutation of Marek's in your flock, that's made it "past" the immunities built up with proper vaccination from the hatchery. One only hopes that the hatchery didn't somehow neglect to vaccinate. Either way, I wish you all the best in breeding resistance!

 

[artsyrobin]

i just want to mention this thread is doing alot to help educate people on mereks, so many assume mereks when its not, and visa versa- while the loss of trousers is horrible, he and you are helping others!

 

[seminolewind]

I'm very sorry. I had a small flock very similar to yours, my Altair was a version of Coho, I had 3 Polish Crested much like Derp. And a cast of more "characters". 3-4 of my hens came down with Marek's one by one a year or so apart. They had different symptoms, the first was the inability to walk though they were happy and appeared healthy otherwise (transported her around in a clothes basket, but that's a story for a different day). I chose to put them down since there's no cure. Another got pneumonia very fast, and another filled with an abdominal tumor(s) over a short matter of weeks.

The worse part is they were supposedly vaccinated as chicks from the hatchery I purchased them from. One source I've read from is Marek's is nearly everywhere in the environment and in several strains. With my flock of 11 chicks and beyond I hope to breed and encourage natural resistence.

May the future be better!

I've vaccinated for 2 years now and have not had Marek's symptoms except for 1 who couldn't walk and 6 weeks later she was fine. But I've had more problems with opportunistic illnesses, especially coccidiosis . 3 got eye infections and died.

Prior to that, Altair, I had the hens die one by one a few months apart, generally wasting away.

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote: can you tell me more? i have been battling something that does that....

 

[CarolyneT]

Three weeks ago our 12 week old Bantam, got very sleepy and lethargic, only eating and drinking very little. That night she passed awayL
The week after that another Bantam, got sick. Her head was hanging down, she couldn’t stand and her eyes were twitching. I took her to the vets and Marek’s was suspected.
The vet said it was definitely neurological, and we had her put to sleep. L
Last Saturday out Leg Horn’s head started hanging down. Over the day it got worse, and she couldn’t stand.
We took her away from the others and started her on hypericum, as apparently it is the only treatment that may possibly help Marek’s, which is normally fatal.
We fed her scrambled egg straight into her mouth and gave her Hypericum / mineral water solution by syringe. We also gave her water by syringe. Her head was actually twisting all the way round and her beak resting on the ground
There wasn’t much improvement so I also started her on Vitamin’s E and B and Selium , in case it was crook / wry neck. I also gave her fish oil from a capsule, as this is a natural steroid.
By Tuesday we took her off scrambled egg and gave her moistened Chick Crumble, which she ate herself while we held her and supported her neck.
She was back on her feet, could use her wings, her poop was normal and she was very alert.
Until then we had her in a cardboard box in the shed, but she was now getting out and so my husband made her a hutch.
I was feeding her about 5 times a day (5am, 8am, 12pm, 5pm and 7pm), and still giving her Hypericum, Vitamin’s E and B ,Selium, and fish oil
Wednesday morning she could hold her head up on her own to eat, and walk around.
Yesterday I fed her at 5pm and then let her wander in the garden, we also let the other Bantams out with her. She was pecking at the ground, preening and had a dust bath
She got into the run when the other Bantams went in, and was furious when my husband took her out and put her in her hutch.
This morning she was having none of it. I managed to give her, her meds and then she flew over to the Bantam run, making a huge din and trying to get in.
So she is back in with her friends now; her neck is still a bit crooked, maybe it will straighten, maybe it won’t, either way it doesn’t bother her.
I will continue to give her Vitamin’s E and B ,Selium, and fish oil for a while, but I have everything crossed that she will now live a long, happy and healthy life J

 

[CinnamonQueen]

Three weeks ago our 12 week old Bantam, got very sleepy and lethargic, only eating and drinking very little. That night she passed awayL
The week after that another Bantam, got sick. Her head was hanging down, she couldn’t stand and her eyes were twitching. I took her to the vets and Marek’s was suspected.
The vet said it was definitely neurological, and we had her put to sleep. L
Last Saturday out Leg Horn’s head started hanging down. Over the day it got worse, and she couldn’t stand.
We took her away from the others and started her on hypericum, as apparently it is the only treatment that may possibly help Marek’s, which is normally fatal.
We fed her scrambled egg straight into her mouth and gave her Hypericum / mineral water solution by syringe. We also gave her water by syringe. Her head was actually twisting all the way round and her beak resting on the ground
There wasn’t much improvement so I also started her on Vitamin’s E and B and Selium , in case it was crook / wry neck. I also gave her fish oil from a capsule, as this is a natural steroid.
By Tuesday we took her off scrambled egg and gave her moistened Chick Crumble, which she ate herself while we held her and supported her neck.
She was back on her feet, could use her wings, her poop was normal and she was very alert.
Until then we had her in a cardboard box in the shed, but she was now getting out and so my husband made her a hutch.
I was feeding her about 5 times a day (5am, 8am, 12pm, 5pm and 7pm), and still giving her Hypericum, Vitamin’s E and B ,Selium, and fish oil
Wednesday morning she could hold her head up on her own to eat, and walk around.
Yesterday I fed her at 5pm and then let her wander in the garden, we also let the other Bantams out with her. She was pecking at the ground, preening and had a dust bath
She got into the run when the other Bantams went in, and was furious when my husband took her out and put her in her hutch.
This morning she was having none of it. I managed to give her, her meds and then she flew over to the Bantam run, making a huge din and trying to get in.
So she is back in with her friends now; her neck is still a bit crooked, maybe it will straighten, maybe it won’t, either way it doesn’t bother her.
I will continue to give her Vitamin’s E and B ,Selium, and fish oil for a while, but I have everything crossed that she will now live a long, happy and healthy life J

Wow, great job!

 

[CarolyneT]

Thank you; that was the main reason I posted my story. If I had listened to advice, then Mary would be dead now. As it is she is completely back to normal, and ruling the roost again

 

[seminolewind]

Quote: can you tell me more? i have been battling something that does that....
For 3 years, one of my chickens would start to waste. Most times it took a long time, and some would be normal for a while and then waste again. My first thought was that they were being bullied away from the food. Of I would see them peck the ground around the food bowl, and think that they thought the food was forbidden. I could never understand it. They appeared normal in every way. Then I had 10 chicks develop paralysis each a week apart and I finally put 2 and 2 together. And by the time they've wasted to the end, you see them tired. the few days before they die.

 

[seminolewind]

Thank you; that was the main reason I posted my story. If I had listened to advice, then Mary would be dead now. As it is she is completely back to normal, and ruling the roost again

It's always nice to hear some good news!

 

[drumstick diva]

It's nice to triumph against the odds - glad she is doing well now