Sick pullet, skin and bones

[HuskerHens18]

Marek's outbreaks are triggered by stress. Integration of youngsters is a major stressor both for the youngsters and also sometimes the older birds..... too many adolescent cockerels in the flock is another major trigger.
Your lame ISA may be due to an injury but she may also be having a Marek's episode. The disease can lie dormant for months or even years in an infected bird until an outbreak is triggered.
When you mentioned that you had a skinny youngster in your original post, my first thought was Marek's but as others suggested it could certainly be as simple as the youngsters getting bullied from feeders, so I didn't offer it as a suggestion but now that you have a youngster showing more classic paralysis, it certainly becomes more of a possibility.
I am pleased that you are getting a necropsy done. Unfortunately the PCR testing for Marek's will take time to be processed by the lab, so you will probably get a gross necropsy result pending those lab results which make take a week or two to arrive.
I hope I am wrong, but since it is such an incredibly common and widespread disease, it is the most likely diagnosis.

Gosh dang, that worries me so much but I'm really glad you spoke up. This year has been horrible, I lost one of my chicken coops where these particular chicks were going and I had no choice but to integrate them into my main free range flock. Everything was so unexpected I was unprepared. I want my cockerels in my rooster flock, but they're a little too small yet for my big guys.
If this is Mareks, have I already spread this to my chicks still in the brooder? Its in the garage, but I'm of course going in and out all day.

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs*

Where did you get the young chicks?

How old are they?

What do you use in the coop? Shavings? Sand? Yard goodies?

 

[HuskerHens18]

*hugs*

Where did you get the young chicks?

How old are they?

What do you use in the coop? Shavings? Sand? Yard goodies?

The two currently affected I bought as hatching eggs from a local breeder. They're Super Blues. 3 months old on June 4th.
In my coop I use chopped up corn leaves/stalks from my fields. I've used it for almost two years now.
They are free ranged every day, but I still feed Medicated Chick Start & Grow in the coop at all times. Fresh water is available 24/7 in 4 different containers.
My feeder is a giant plastic trash can with 6 different openings, which I've seen all chicks use as I taught them myself. As previously brought up, hens could possibly be scaring them off while I'm not there.

 

[rebrascora]

If it is Marek's and you are not changing clothes, covering hair, washing exposed skin etc between flocks then there is a good chance that they have been exposed. Depending on the voracity of the strain it may affect just a few birds or it could affect a more significant proportion.
I have one of the milder strains and a couple of years ago I broody reared 56 chicks within the Marek's flock and only 3 showed symptoms and 2 died. I get the occasional older bird that gets an outbreak and some beat it and others don't, but it is not a huge issue compared to predation etc. The things I believe that help in my situation is that the chicks, being broody reared and therefore have stronger immune systems and are integrated into the flock from day one by the broody, so less stress to trigger outbreaks.
I would like to say that much of what you read about Marek's has not proved to be the case in my experience. I was in full panic mode when I realised that my flock had it and did initial research, but the practicalities have not been nearly as bad as much of what I read. Yes every loss is heart ache, but they are few and the reality is that chickens are prone to so many diseases, ailments and of course predation that losses are inevitable. Marek's is not a cause for major panic, just something else to be learned about and managed.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Two things pop out at me.

1) The chicks probably weren't vaccinated since they came from a local breeder (vs a hatchery). Personally, I don't worry about it. I am with rebrascora that diseases and such can be managed. And vaccines aren't 100%.

2) Mold. You mentioned temps as high as 103 F, plastic food/water containers, dry feed... there's a SMALL chance that mold is growing in the feed container or in the waters containers. Younger chicks may not do so well with mold/bacteria/parasites/stuffs.

I know that with high temps here (high 80's - 90's) that my plastic water containers are slimy inside after one day. They don't look slimy, but they feel slimy when I change out the water.

It could easily be that the others aren't letting them get enough feed.

Have you considered fermented feed? It allows the chicken to absorb more of the nutrition.

Have you considered supplementing the feed with scrambled eggs or another high protein source every few days or once in a while? Young chicks need the extra protein. There are different opinions out "there" about when to switch from chick feed to layer feed.

My animals free range. I trust that they know what they are doing and getting good eats out there. I provide fermented feed as well as scrambled eggs or other high protein treats.

I put apple cider vinegar or nutri drench in their water as well. (Never together.)

I hope you receive answers from your vet.

I hope all of the rest of the chicks make it!!

 

[HuskerHens18]

Necropsy and fecal samples came back with rather odd news.

Fecal samples came back 100% normal, no worms/coccidia.

Necropsy came back as the chick's natural bacteria had a reaction and attacked the chick, which resulted in its death. The vet told me if any other chickens fall ill to bring them in immediately.

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs*

Did the vet give any clues as to what she might do if another chicken falls ill and comes in?

Please check your feed container to see if there is any moisture in it. Mold can cause the body to do weird things.

I hope no other chickens get ill.

 

[dawg53]

Necropsy and fecal samples came back with rather odd news.

Fecal samples came back 100% normal, no worms/coccidia.

Necropsy came back as the chick's natural bacteria had a reaction and attacked the chick, which resulted in its death. The vet told me if any other chickens fall ill to bring them in immediately.

It almost sounds like an autoimmune disease. Thanks for keeping us posted and good luck with your ISA Brown.

 

[HuskerHens18]

*hugs*

Did the vet give any clues as to what she might do if another chicken falls ill and comes in?

Please check your feed container to see if there is any moisture in it. Mold can cause the body to do weird things.

I hope no other chickens get ill.

No, unfortunately I didn't get to speak to the vet directly. The assistant said if more fall ill

*hugs*

Did the vet give any clues as to what she might do if another chicken falls ill and comes in?

Please check your feed container to see if there is any moisture in it. Mold can cause the body to do weird things.

I hope no other chickens get ill.

It almost sounds like an autoimmune disease. Thanks for keeping us posted and good luck with your ISA Brown.

I checked feeder and no mold, I scrub out waterers religiously. The vet himself called me finally, he said he thinks all these things are coincidence. Perhaps my Purina feed isn't giving them what they need, but he wants to wait and observe first. He wants me collecting fecal samples from the 3 month olds only. So I've isolated them all, and given fresh feed/water and chick grit. If nothing at all improves he wants me to bring some in for tests. Thank you all!

 

[rebrascora]

Is this a private veterinary practice or a state facility that has done the necropsy? That result sounds a bit vague compared to a normal necropsy report. You should have a full list of organs and their condition and the general condition of the bird.... of course you may get that and this was just a prelim result. Did you tell the vet Marek's was suspected? Marek's affects the immune system but generally suppresses it.