Slow paralysis and death in chickens

[TarHeelBlue]

I have had several chickens that have become slowly paralyzed (starting in one leg ) and slowly progressing until they could not walk and die. Anybody have an idea what this is and what I can do to prevent it. Seems like it is my "home grown" chickens mostly. Can I vaccinate for whatever is causing it???? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[VincentVanCrow]

Sounds like Mareks

 

[VincentVanCrow]

My local farm vet who specializes in poultry told me mine had mareks disease when this happened to three of mine. He says chicks from hatcheries are vaccinated on their first day of life and are hatched in sterile conditions so they are not exposed to the virus before they are vaccinated. He said the virus is everywhere and there is really no way to sterilize the average backyard coop. Most chickens have been exposed at some point, older breeds, such as bantys, have natural resistance to it. Newer breeds and the bigger breeds are more susceptible. He said if you let Momma hatch eggs out on her own she most likely carries the disease. It is shed in her dander. Some chicks get it and survive, some don't. But once you see the paralysis there is little hope of them recovering. Of six barnyard mutt chickens I hatched out in September, three died and three survived.

My vet also said once they are exposed they carry it and he said it can cause tumours to grow in their nerves later but that takes years and years and most chickens don't live that long.

People will say to buy the vaccine (it comes in 1000 dose vials for very little money) but my vet said you are wasting your time unless you are hatching eggs in sterile conditions and can get the vaccine to them before they leave those conditions.

Some people will probably disagree with me here but I am only relaying what I was told by the poultry specialist for the rural, agricultural area I live in.

Good luck. Hope no one else gets sick.

 

[TarHeelBlue]

Thanks - I thought that might be what it is. Does anybody know where I can get the vaccine??? Even if It doesn't help, I would like to try. I just hatched out a bunch of chicks and would be willing to buy some if it has a chance of helping This is not the first one I have had that got this and I want to do everything I can.

 

[realsis]

yes you can get the vaccine from first state vet supply. online. I got mine from there. hope this helps. good luck and best wishes to you!

 

[Joanleeparkes]

Marke's or botulism

 

[seminolewind]

Botulism kills a lot quicker than Marek's.

Vincent has a very very good point. Within 6 years, my house is probably loaded with Marek's virus, and the vaccine may not help. Out my last batch, I lost 2/5 vaccinated.