Sudden onset balance/mobility problem

[Shepshill]

I have no plans to get new chicks this year. And since these three chicks were my first time raising chicks and one got sick at ten weeks, just when I was feeling like they were well on their way, I am not sure I will try it again. I was just trying to get a sense of the big picture.

 

[Shepshill]

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to offer advice. This site really is a wonderful resource.

 

[rebrascora]

I am sorry that you feel so discouraged at this early stage. Marek's is pretty devastating when it first happens and a lot of what you read is pretty scary (in my experience not nearly as bad in reality), but it is manageable. Sadly illness and death is an inescapable part of the chicken keeping process as they are prone to so many ailments and diseases as well as predation, but there is also much joy and the "miracle" of eggs of course from keeping them, to offset the heartache! The bad times sometimes make it hard to remember the pleasure that chickens bring and unfortunately you have hit a bad time early on in the experience but there will be more good times to come.
I cannot tell you what the right thing to do is as regards this chick or future chicks as only you can make that decision based on research and gut instinct and we all have different approaches, but I do sympathise and wish you better luck in whatever you decide.

 

[Shepshill]

I am sorry that you feel so discouraged at this early stage. Marek's is pretty devastating when it first happens and a lot of what you read is pretty scary (in my experience not nearly as bad in reality), but it is manageable. Sadly illness and death is an inescapable part of the chicken keeping process as they are prone to so many ailments and diseases as well as predation, but there is also much joy and the "miracle" of eggs of course from keeping them, to offset the heartache! The bad times sometimes make it hard to remember the pleasure that chickens bring and unfortunately you have hit a bad time early on in the experience but there will be more good times to come.
I cannot tell you what the right thing to do is as regards this chick or future chicks as only you can make that decision based on research and gut instinct and we all have different approaches, but I do sympathise and wish you better luck in whatever you decide.

Thank you. I do love owning chickens. I just want to be sure I am not putting my original four chickens at risk—they’ve been such an enjoyable flock, and I don’t strictly need more for eggs than what they provide. I have raised sheep for years, so I know about the joys and sorrows of raising animals, and the frustration of diseases with no treatments. That said, I do keep as closed a flock as possible in my circumstances. It makes me think adding a few chicks a year maybe isn’t the best approach. I thought it would keep us with a supply of eggs as our original chickens age. But maybe it is better to keep a few for years and then get a new flock all at once.

 

[Shepshill]

Fingers crossed for these two!

 

[rebrascora]

I didn't realise that your birds were cream legbars.... one of the breeds I mentioned as susceptible. Is the sick one the same breed? Hope these two prove resistant and remain strong and healthy.

 

[Nambroth]

Just remember that while Marek's is likely based on what we are seeing in your photos (it is common), our best gusses here on the BYC forum aren't a diagnosis! There's a chance it isn't Mareks. Even if it is, there is life after Marek's, it just requires more thoughtful approaches to bringing new birds in. You said your original flock was from Craigslist and you don't know their exact origins or vaccination status, right? Where were these new chicks from? A hatchery, craigslist, did you hatch from eggs, etc?

 

[Shepshill]

The chicks were from a private hatchery. The owner actually pointed me to this list when I bought the chicks.

 

[Shepshill]

I didn't realise that your birds were cream legbars.... one of the breeds I mentioned as susceptible. Is the sick one the same breed? Hope these two prove resistant and remain strong and healthy.

Yes, I bought three Cream Legbars as week old chicks. I saw that you listed them as a susceptible breed. It makes sense to me that certain breeds would be more susceptible, and particular lines within breeds.

 

[Nambroth]

The chicks were from a private hatchery. The owner actually pointed me to this list when I bought the chicks.

If they came to you as day-olds, and the hatchery had excellent biosecurity (?) then it seems likely, if this is Marek's, that it originated with your first birds. This is both good and bad news; it means that your older chickens are likely safe as they have already been exposed and have not developed symptoms. This is, of course, a best guess... as Marek's can also be blown in on the wind, or travel on wild birds, or on our shoes/clothes, etc.