Sick hen, possibly Marek's...help!

[keaf13]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Unfortunately, she did not make it. I have our vet performing a necroscopy to see if it was Mareks or something else.

 

[racergirl6]

Sorry to hear about your hen. I went to take care of my chickens this am. All were fine. I had a hen who stopped laying about 2 weeks ago... And looked like she was molting. (They are about 2 years)
I went up not even 2 hours later to check for eggs and this hen was in the corner... Her head was pecked and bleeding and she won't stand. Her right foot is like bent under. She tries to move... I have gotten her away from the others... I don't know anything about chickens... So any advice would be great! Thank you.

 

[racergirl6]

Sorry to hear about your hen. I went to take care of my chickens this am. All were fine. I had a hen who stopped laying about 2 weeks ago... And looked like she was molting. (They are about 2 years)
I went up not even 2 hours later to check for eggs and this hen was in the corner... Her head was pecked and bleeding and she won't stand. Her right foot is like bent under. She tries to move... I have gotten her away from the others... I don't know anything about chickens... So any advice would be great! Thank you.

Update: just went to check on her... She is my egg layer... Didn't think she was...
She was able to move a little better... She was able to get her foot under her and hop. Not back to her normal self... Still not sure what I should do...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Unfortunately, she did not make it. I have our vet performing a necroscopy to see if it was Mareks or something else.

@keaf13 I'm sorry for your loss

Please let us know if you find out what happened.

 

[keaf13]

Vet just called back and said it was NOT Marek's! The necroscopy showed egg peices in her abdominal cavity and called it egg yolk peritonitis. Apparently this is where the egg yolk goes the wrong way and becomes infected. There is no cure or medicine to help the hens that get this, and hens who lay soft shelled or shellless eggs are susceptible to this issue. Vet said to keep an eye on hens who lay these types of eggs and watch for abnormal behavior like we were seeing with her being aloof and off by herself. I feel bad that she had to go through this and had been for a few weeks. I wish I would have known what to look for earlier to help ease her going. Anyway, I hope this information helps others out there.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Vet just called back and said it was NOT Marek's! The necroscopy showed egg peices in her abdominal cavity and called it egg yolk peritonitis. Apparently this is where the egg yolk goes the wrong way and becomes infected. There is no cure or medicine to help the hens that get this, and hens who lay soft shelled or shellless eggs are susceptible to this issue. Vet said to keep an eye on hens who lay these types of eggs and watch for abnormal behavior like we were seeing with her being aloof and off by herself. I feel bad that she had to go through this and had been for a few weeks. I wish I would have known what to look for earlier to help ease her going. Anyway, I hope this information helps others out there.

Well, that is "good news" meaning not Marek's.

Peritonitis seems to be fairly common in egg layers and there really is nothing that can be done except give supportive care - make them as comfortable as possible and let them go when it's time.

Again, I'm sorry.

 

[keaf13]

Well, that is "good news" meaning not Marek's.

Peritonitis seems to be fairly common in egg layers and there really is nothing that can be done except give supportive care - make them as comfortable as possible and let them go when it's time.

Again, I'm sorry.

Thanks Wyorp Rock. It stinks and I hate losing a pet, because that is reall what they are to me. I just have a small flock, each with names that were chosen by their personalities. At least the rest of them are safe from something nasty and I know what to look for from now on.