I purchased 6 eight week old chicks from a farm about a month ago. They had not been vaccinated for Mareks (didn't even know what Mareks was until a few days ago). All were fine for the first week or so and then my cat (who has always done fine with the chickens) killed one of the babies, a gold sexlink. Two evenings later I put all the little chicks to "bed" in their coop (they have a fully enclosed dog run now). No problem. The next day the other Sexlink just stumbles out of the pen. She is flopping over and can't seem to walk. I called my local feed store and the farm I got them from. They suggested it was Coccidiosis or Mareks. I brought the chick inside and treated with Sulmet. I found a little bloody stool in the pen where she had been with the other chicks so I washed and sanitized everything. The other chicks were treated with Sulmet as well. They are all fine. I also cleaned the big pen my hens live in.
Since then there has been little change in the chick. I'm told if she had Mareks that my whole flock would be affected. Her toes are curled and she can't walk. I keep her in a wire dog crate filled with straw to keep her from getting pecked by her flock.(Tried her outside on the grass to see if made a difference and it didn't). She is eating but not much. She also stretches up her neck and takes a gasp of air and closes her eyes, and then does it again when she is moved, picked up or sometimes just for no apparent reason. She loves grass so I give her some every day. It was recommended that I try B2, so I have and it hasn't made a difference. I have also tried a naturopathic med called Causticum, which is an anti paralytic, and it has had no affect either.
Help! She is a fighter and is trying to stay alive but I hate to see her suffering every day. Any ideas on what I can do? Attaching a pic. I named her Gina Lollabrigetta...
Thanks!
Since then there has been little change in the chick. I'm told if she had Mareks that my whole flock would be affected. Her toes are curled and she can't walk. I keep her in a wire dog crate filled with straw to keep her from getting pecked by her flock.(Tried her outside on the grass to see if made a difference and it didn't). She is eating but not much. She also stretches up her neck and takes a gasp of air and closes her eyes, and then does it again when she is moved, picked up or sometimes just for no apparent reason. She loves grass so I give her some every day. It was recommended that I try B2, so I have and it hasn't made a difference. I have also tried a naturopathic med called Causticum, which is an anti paralytic, and it has had no affect either.
Help! She is a fighter and is trying to stay alive but I hate to see her suffering every day. Any ideas on what I can do? Attaching a pic. I named her Gina Lollabrigetta...
Thanks!
