Silkie thread!

Beth G. :

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I think alot of people are under the impression that if a bird has been vaccinated they are good to go. I think that the USDA needs to get out there and really start to educate people on what Mareks really is, Also how much is unknown about it even to the Vet's and Scientists, and that the vaccine is only the herpie's strain found in turkeys. It doesn't cover all wild migatory birds.

I somehow wish USDA and local Dept of Ag's would get pamplets together and have auctions, shows, swaps, feedstores around the US hand them out when purchasing bird, poultry item, or even a bag a feed. And, also put up posters or something. Yes I know it would be costly but, I think it needs to be out there and we need to educated whether your a first time chicken owner, or a professsional breeder. Things change and pop up all the time.

I know I'm asking for alot and it probably will never happen but, All I can say is I'm grateful I get to see my Ag testers every 3 months at my farm b/c they keep me posted and abreast to whats going on out there in the world with respects to disease.

Mareks is in virtually ALL flocks that are not kept in extreme controlled conditions (think of things like a 2 year quarantine). There are different variations of vaccines available, but none are completely effective. There is really no cost benefit to your idea--vaccination does not prevent the virus from spreading--it merely prevents clinical levels of disease in most, but not all cases.

There are other things (such as botulism poisoning) that present like the bird pictured. Electrolyte imbalance can cause similar symptoms. IMO, the bird does not appear to have the typical mareks posture. Both botulism and electrolyte imbalance can occur rapidly. Electrolyte imbalance is more likely in hot than in cold weather. Botulism can occur at any time, but damp condtions or decaying vegetation increase the liklihood. I see nothing to indicate head trauma.​
 
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new little guy

woke up to a whole bunch in bator
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splashed, blues and blacks from Kate Morreale eggs

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No,her tail is up. It looks like she is trying go bite or get at something that is bothering her on her stomach. She goes backwards with her head down, until she hits a wall, and then pretty much stays there stuck. I can pick her up, pull the head up & hold it steady for a little while, and then she seems ok, but eventually, goes around with her head down as if she is pecking at the floor, and then eventually, it goes between her legs,and the backwards moving starts again? I"m stumped, but I'm new to silkies.

This sounds like a head injury. If you do a search on Wry neck you will get some answers. Mine completely recovered in a couple of days.
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yes I totally agree...it has to do with wry neck (head injury)...like I said I had a yound silkie exactly the same and mine did recover from it as well. I don't know if vitamins helped but you should try that polyvisol (sp?)
 
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Wow, I can't even see it. Yours is a LOT better than mine. The leakage I have is definitely more noticeable in my pullet--but at first I didn't even see it on mine. It came in later when she got older. Wow, now I don't know. Sigh. Well, I'll give it a shot and then figure she'll be heading out to my other pen. Like Chris said-- I don't have a lot to work with right now. My other two are fine (no leakage) so I'm hoping for good results with them. BTW Pam, that hen is really gorgeous! Congrats on the win last summer.
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Right now, we're at the learning stage, so I'm interested to see what happens with ours. Thanks for the close up pictures and the help in explaining!
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It's important to know that all Mareks does not have "typical" symptoms. I lost 9 show pullets last spring with what I considered very atypical symptoms for Mareks. No paralysis, no gray eyes...nothing to indicate Mareks. They just slowly wasted (which is hard to see on a silkie) and eventually died. They continued to eat and drink right up to their last breath...although not vigorously as they should.

Necropsy indicated Mareks on one of the pullets and since they all died exactly the same way, I know that it was an exceptionally virulent strain of Mareks. Afterward, I vaccinated my entire flock and now vaccinate and quarantine all chicks for two week after vaccination to give the vaccine time to build immunity.

It's pretty inexpensive and although I know it will not entirely prevent Mareks, I feel like I've made a valiant attempt to help prevent it in my flock. We discourage all wild birds from our farm and really don't see very many. There are a few cardinals that come late in the afternoon after the silkies are all up in their coops and pick up feed...but that's all.
 

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