I want to know if anyone else has had this issue. So I have had three of my girls die in the last five weeks. The first was a surprise and happened very fast. The second was also fast and the third was sick for over two weeks before I decided that she was in pain and took her to be euthanized. The second and third were sent to the lab here at UC Davis for necropsy. My one little silkie who died (the second) seems to have choked while chowing down on crumble while brooding. BUT the preliminary findings on my Barnevelder pullet (number three) are presumptive MAREK"S! She came from Ideal and was supposedly vaccinated. I know that the vax cannot prevent infection but it does prevent tumor formation which is the cause of death in the disease. They found tumors in her heart, ovaries and skeletal muscle. I am guessing that she was vaccinated incorrectly but I am just curious if anyone else has had issues like this. My first pullet that died had very similar symptoms as the third but she didn't last more than tree days after I discovered that something was off. Both had unilateral paralysis (from tumors in the skeletal muscle), both were eating and drinking fine but their balance and coordination was off. The first pullet I lost was from McMurray and also supposedly vaccinated. Am I totally stricken with awful luck or does this happen often? So far, the rest of my flock is alright (knocking on wood) but this has been a roller coaster ride.
