Sick birds this spring.

[chickenranchwife]

I made the call this morning to MMH about sick chicks, and politely requested a refund also. I also told them that I've lost about 15-20 chicks in the last week and a half. They didn't elaborate any information.

How do I find out who to take my chicks to if they appear sick?

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Darlinclem again opinions differ but here goes.

A vaccinated hen or one that got AE as an adult will pass immunity on to the chick. That immunity will last 5 weeks maximum. After that the chicks is open to getting AE. All chicks have an immature immune system and will not develop immunity even if they get it. They may become carriers of the disease that shed the virus at times of stress. Most of them will be poor keepers or will die later from the damage the virus did while they were sick. Everything I have read says to cull effected chicks to control the spread of the virus.

Adults that get the disease, or get the vaccine (which has to be done over 10 weeks of age to insure the immune system is able to handle it) will have immunity for a year and hens will pass it to the chicks via the egg, the chicks will be protected till 5 weeks old. Seems the 5 to 10 week old is a danger range, depending on the development of the chick and it's overall health it could be at risk, and if exposed might or might not develop illness or immunity.

Hens given the vaccine must not be used to collect hatching eggs for weeks as this is a live vaccine and they could transmit the disease to the chicks. They must be fully over it and tested to assure immunity. Most often hens are vaccinated before laying age to be sure.

Vaccine is available in wing web injectable or add to drinking water.

 

[huskyzzz]

I too have AE chicks. They are 2 weeks old and out of the 15 started with, we ended up with 11 straight from the box. Four were DOA, not MM's fault.

But they gladly refunded. Out of those 11, I am now down to 9. With 3 of those 9 being sick. Tremors, wobbly legs, won't eat or drink, gasping for air, droopy wings and so on. This morning they were fine. Tonight I lose 1 and now 3 are showing the signs. All in a matter of hours. We lost one Sunday night. That was the first from "out of the box". We will keep doing what we can. But I thank everyone for the information and updates. It is a hard time for all.

Amanda

 

[FutureChickenMan]

Ok, my MM chicks arrived on 3/17/08.

1 DOA
4 Expired since 3/18 with the most recent on Sunday 3/23

The remaining 27 seem to be ok for now. 1 has a roughed up rump from pecking so I put that one in it's own brooder to heal. They're eating, drinking, pooping and sleeping a lot.

As for beeds, I'm not exactly sure as MM didn't ship all my chicks and my order was "messed up" (wrong chicks/quantities). They did issue me a refund for the deceased and gave me the chicks I didn't order for free, which I thought was fair. I elected a refund instead of another shipment and I told the operator because of the sickness going around I wanted to wait until MM had a chance to address it.

I can post pics of the deceased if y'all think you could identify them. (if it helps??) What was supposed to be in the order was a mixture of White Leghorns, Black Giants, Barred Rocks, Marans, EE's, RIR's, Speckled Sussex, Dark Cornish. As to what is really in the mix? I don't really know. I can pick out the leghorns, RIR's, Black Giants and Barred Rocks but the others sussex, dark cornish, ee's I'm not sure.

What I'd like to know is those who haven't had any problems, what their ship date was to see if that has any correlation as to the time of the batches hatched. If we can determine that chicks hatched after date X are ok, then that should put buyers at ease.

Sorry I don't have time to comb all the threads for the data and stick it in some kind of table for a trend, maybe somebody else can do it?

 

[KathyAnn]

Amanda, you say you have AE chicks? have they been diagnosed with AE? if you haven't had them tested then you don't really know if they had ae

I spent 3 hrs at the state vet yesterday with 4 chicks, He sent them off for AE testing, but feels pretty confident that they have

Avian encephalamalacia A vitamin E deficiency, and not the Avian Encephalamitis Virus (AE) we'll know for sure in 3 or 4 days. He also said they didn't have cocsidiosis and that they do have a vitamin C deficiency too. I have done what my Vet requested switched their food for 5 days to turkey starter and vitamin pack in the water.

in 5 days I'll put them on chick starter again a fresh bag bought from another feed source. and I will dump the old chick feed as I think it was pretty old, (sitting in the feedstore a while)

This recomendation was given to me by my state vet, Not for everybody's chicks, just mine. There is no way to know EXACTLY what to do unless you have some of your sick ones tested. I recommend you do this if you haven't

As It was free for me and I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't free. I had to drive down there l l/2 hrs but it was worth it for the free testing. Most states will not charge you for the testing. So why not have your chicks tested. you will loose any chicks you bring down there, so make sure you bring the sickest. or very freshly dead chicks , like died that day , and stored in the frig till you get there.

I'll post my results when I get them, but I already have a n improvement with my chicks now, out of the 7 chicks we took 4 down there, 2 of the other three are back on their feet and not wobbly , still one left, no more sick dropping chicks out in the brooder , I was loosing one daily to sickness, not any more. They must have needed those vitamins severely.

I don't recommend you take my treatment and use it for your birds. without talking to an avian vet. Alot of folks say it's bad to put chicks on turkey feed cause it's too high in protein, which is true, but my chicks needed the vitamins and protein, and it's for 5 days like my vet said to do.

Later

kathy

 

[huskyzzz]

No, my chicks have not been tested. But I also raise turkeys and have a lot of game bird starter, Gro-gel B Plus, Vitamins & minerals added to water and so on. I did give them, for a few days, vitamins and minerals added to their water, along with a change in the food from Chick starter to Game bird starter with higher protein as advised by many friends online and off.

It did nothing for them. I have researched a lot on AE and Avian encephalamalacia. Here is what I had found on your case:

Vitamin E Deficiency, Encephalomalacia, Exudative Diathesis, Muscular Dystrophy

Extracted From:
A Pocket Guide to
Poultry Health
and
Disease
Order me a copy
By Paul McMullin

2004
Click Here to
Order Your Copy
Introduction

A spectrum of diseases of chickens and turkeys, occasionally ducklings and other birds, seen worldwide, characterised by oxidation of various tissues and caused by Vitamin E deficiency. The problem is associated with feed rancidity typically in diets with high fat. Encephalomalacia and exudative diathesis tends to be seen in young birds of 1-5 weeks of age. Muscular dystrophy is seen more frequently in older and mature birds.
Signs

* Imbalance.
* Staggering.
* Uncontrolled movements.
* Falling over.
* Paralysis.
* Ventral oedema.
* Green wings.

Post-mortem lesions

* Swollen cerebellum with areas of congestion.
* Haemorrhage.
* Necrosis.
* Blood-stained or greenish subcutaneous oedema.
* Steatitis.
* White streaks in muscle.

Diagnosis

Signs, lesions, feed rancidity, histopathology, response to medication. Differentiate from Encephalomyelitis, toxicities, necrotic dermatitis.
Treatment

Vitamin E and/or selenium in feed and/or water. Broad-spectrum antibiotics where there are extensive skin lesions.
Prevention

Proper levels of vitamin E, selenium, antioxidant, good quality raw materials.




None of my chicks have lesions of any sorts. I have tried the supplements, change in feed and consistent brooder cleaning.

I stayed up until 3 am last night researching the Avian Encephalomyelitis and other Avian diseases. They exhibit all the symptoms of AE. Necropsy or not, I strongly feel they have it. I am not worried about how, who and why right now. I want them back to health and will stay up all night if I have too. I do it for my kids when they are sick and these lil chicks are now in need. So far hand feeding them is helping. The 3 sick are doing a lot better than last night. I hope yours get better.

I did change the feed to game bird, as I stated and added extras to the water for vitamins and minerals. Nada. With the Vit. E deficiency, there is more to it than just Vitamin E. At least from what I read.

If I lose another, then I will have testing done and not speculate. But in the meantime, I can almost put my life on the line and assure it is AE. But not assure in the tone of a grudge.

Amanda

P.S. Sry if my tone and words are out of whack. I am low on sleep and have been running all day on overdrive.

 

[KathyAnn]

Like I said, this is my vet's diagnosis for my birds and why everybody should have theirs tested for AE (the virus) because it's definitely going around, but he didn't think my chicks have it.

The feed change is working for my birds.


I'm glad for one that it is working. and they hopefully don't have the virus.

MM won't take any claims on non tested animals. although they may refund, that's all they'll do, they won't own up to it if there isn't proof.

 

[huskyzzz]

Thanks. Like I said, if I have anymore pass, then I will get it/them tested. But so far nourishing them is doing well. I did put them on Sulmet, per a trusted and knowledgeable friend, and that seems to be helping also.

Even though they do NOT have Cocci. I just hate treating an animal with something when you really don't know what you're treating. I k now if my kids or myself go to the doctor and they want to give us "scripts", I always ask "what for". I am in the blind right now. But they do have every symptom of AE. Even down to stunted growth.

My new babies who are a week old now are bigger than some of the 3 week old bitties. It's weird. But they are pulling through. Hope all goes well with you. Keep me posted and let me know.

Maybe we can share pics sometime. What do you have again?

 

[KathyAnn]

I think I posted on page 8 or 9 which breeds I have.

I guess I misunderstood, which happens alot, thought you said the feed switch wasn't doing them any good, and though tyou announced that you had chicks with AE.

 

[huskyzzz]

I did announce that I had chicks with AE as they exhibit every symptom of AE. I did try game bird feed and minerals and vitamins in their water.

Nothing helped. So now, as I said, per a friend's advice I have put them on Sul-met to see if that helps. If I lose one, then I will get the testing done to confirm my thought of having AE chicks.

But so far eye dropper feeding them is working and they are hanging on.