Sick pullet, skin and bones

[HuskerHens18]

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.

Private veterinarian practice. They're driving me insane, I drove the almost hour it takes to get there and they tried turning me away saying the vet isn't there and they don't want to deal with my fecal samples. That conversation did not go well, but they finally just took it.
I did not get a chance to, his phone call was very short and he had surgeries to do. This is the downside of this vet, he is the only good one in about a 5 hour radius and so talking to him is about impossible. He does emergency calls so half the time he isn't even in the office.
Where do I contact if I want the state to do it? I'll just Google it, I'm assuming it's in Lincoln. Which is 3 hours out. It's a bit late now, but if I lose another one I'll try sending it to the state instead. This week is just awful

 

[rebrascora]

University of Nebraska for veterinary medicine has the diagnostics lab.
It looks like a gross necropsy is $52 for multiple birds but there will be addition fees for further testing (like PCR testing) which it says is authorised with client before submission of samples, so you don't end up with a huge bill without knowing about it and authorising it.... You don't need to attend, you can send the bird(s) on ice.
http://129.93.197.52:8080/Portal/catalog/show/18180

 

[rebrascora]

I had a feeling you had not gone to a diagnostics lab..... that result just doesn't sound right. There are so many threads about possible Marek's outbreaks at the moment I get confused about which information has been shared on which thread. I thought Kikisgirls had posted a link to the list of state diagnostics labs here but perhaps it was another thread. Anyway, I hope you don't need to use the service again but if so, the above lab will give you a more professional and knowledgeable service.
Good luck

 

[HuskerHens18]

University of Nebraska for veterinary medicine has the diagnostics lab.
It looks like a gross necropsy is $52 for multiple birds but there will be addition fees for further testing (like PCR testing) which it says is authorised with client before submission of samples, so you don't end up with a huge bill without knowing about it and authorising it.... You don't need to attend, you can send the bird(s) on ice.
http://129.93.197.52:8080/Portal/catalog/show/18180

Oh wow thank you, I appreciate that. I bookmarked it.
I feel like I've done this all wrong so thank you for sticking with me and not smacking me over the head haha.
I'm hoping I don't have another incident, but at least I'm prepared now if I do. Again, thank you so much!

 

[rebrascora]

I actually feel bad that I didn't relay this information earlier. There have been so many posts recently on the same subject, it looks like yours slipped the net with necropsy info. I feel like you may have wasted your time and money on that necropsy at the vets because we didn't relay enough info to you sooner. You can also submit faecal samples to that lab as well so don't feel obliged to keep going back to the private veterinary practice. Because poultry are part of the food chain some of these state testing facilities are subsidised and therefore much more affordable, but most importantly they are very up to date with poultry diseases which can be very different to other avian pet species that an avian vet sees.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Bad news, ugh! The chick I originally made this post for has been fighting off death most of the night I think. Her vent turned black and grey, and is actively bleeding. She's still conscious and aware of her surroundings, but it doesn't appear she's going to recover. Rushing to the vet again, if she dies I will send her to Lincoln.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Finally after more tests and fecal floats, we discovered a new parasite to the area. Eimeria, which is the coccidia parasite that is immune to amprolium. It infested some of my flock, but not every bird which explains why some of the fecal floats came back negative.
I've weighed all 108 of my birds and will weigh again in several days.
I'm giving them Sulfa powder in their water. Then I automatically have to treat any new birds I bring to my place, including the ones in my brooders.