Sick 10wk old pullets?Possible Mareks?

[5Leepy!]

Quote:
This happened to me with my chick, too. She ended up just fine but I was super worried for a while. I hope you have the same outcome.

The only thing I don't see you doing is giving them vitamin B with selenium but not everyone thinks that's necessary so I think you're doing fine. Keep it up for the 2 weeks and then reevaluate. My chick made a very very subtle improvement at first. I thought it was my imagination but it did give me enough hope to keep doing the treatments for a few days. After a couple of more days the improvement was more obvious. So, keep your eyes peeled for even subtle improvements at first.

I don't think you should cull the rooster if he doesn't make any improvements. Personally, I think it's about quality of life. He seems happy and can do what needs to be done so why cull? You can always cull him or give him away later if you think it's necessary. Just my 2 cents. ;-)

 

[leadwolf1]

If he is running around, acting like a chicken and crowing...there isn't much wrong with him. With every rooster that I've had get sick, the crow is first to go. I think you may be right...maybe he has a muscle or joint issue. Were the two showing symptoms, siblings?

 

[Lobzi]

I have a four year old hen that was raising 10 babies that are now going on two months. She started showing signs of Mareks. Ive had sick ones in the past but never that old to be stricken. Mama Cass got to a point were she could hardly get around and pretty much just laid with her babies unless I moved her. I started her on intensive vitamin treatment and within a few days she was up and stumble-walking but not able to get up on the roost so she slept on the floor in a box with her brood. Last night she was able to take her babies up to the roost to sleep, all on her own.

At least try vitamin treatment. I got some liquid B vits and crushed my multiple vit and added it to the liquid, I gave her drops as many times a day as I picked her up which was about three or four. I also gave her as much water to drink as she wanted after the vitamins.

 

[BeccaSmith]

If he is running around, acting like a chicken and crowing...there isn't much wrong with him. With every rooster that I've had get sick, the crow is first to go. I think you may be right...maybe he has a muscle or joint issue. Were the two showing symptoms, siblings?

No, he is a RIR and the pullet is a Light Barhama, but like I said before, you can't even tell there was an issue with the Light Barhama now. With tomorrow being the last day of treatment, I don't think the vitamins are doing him any good. We have been treating him for almost a full two weeks and he hasn't gotten any worse or any better, at least he is still running around and crowing! I'll start researching muscle and joint issues.

 

[Hannah159]

Try dipping his beak in water. Maybe he is weak because he did not drink any water?



Marek's disease causes leg paralysis and droopy wings and sometimes death. Chickens with this disease shed the virus whether or not they show signs and thereby contaminate the yard for all future chickens. Vaccination does not prevent chickens from becoming infected and shedding the virus, but it does prevent paralysis. Chicks must be vaccinated before being exposed to the virus, and therefore most hatcheries offer to vaccinate chicks before shipping them. But, hatcheries may carry MG or MS.

 

[BeccaSmith]

Try dipping his beak in water. Maybe he is weak because he did not drink any water?



Marek's disease causes leg paralysis and droopy wings and sometimes death. Chickens with this disease shed the virus whether or not they show signs and thereby contaminate the yard for all future chickens. Vaccination does not prevent chickens from becoming infected and shedding the virus, but it does prevent paralysis. Chicks must be vaccinated before being exposed to the virus, and therefore most hatcheries offer to vaccinate chicks before shipping them. But, hatcheries may carry MG or MS.

Hi, thank you for responding. He is able to run around, jump on on things, and eats and drinks. As previously mentioned I no longer think it is Marek's disease. I thought he had droopy wings but he was really just letting heat out, it was extra warm out when we moved them to the temporary pen in the coop. They are about 11 weeks old now.

 

[Hannah159]

ok! I am glad your chickens are fine after all!

 

[BeccaSmith]

ok! I am glad your chickens are fine after all!

Thanks, I wouldn't so much call the little roo "fine", he still has wobbly legs. I'm looking into possible muscle and joint issues.