Vet said Marek's, I'm not so sure. Help?

[Kaleido]

Hi! New to the forum, so greetings and thanks for any help. I've had chickens for about 13 years and just got a new flock after the last ones finally passed away. My new girls are all 19 weeks old this week, so should start laying any day now. I have one hen that I'm very worried about and would like some advice. She is a Buff Laced Polish, and her and her sister are the smallest of the group of 6 hens. 2 days ago she started acting listless and would fall asleep wherever she was, be it in the coop near the food or out in the run. Yesterday I isolated her so she wouldn't get trampled and took her to a vet (avian vet, not necessarily a chicken vet). The vet weighed her, asked a few questions, and said it was most likely Marek's Disease. I have no idea if they were vaccinated, bought them from a large feed store chain, and I understand this doesn't guarantee protection against the disease. When I brought the hen in and gave her access to water by herself, she seemed to perk up a little. All other hens look 100% normal.
However, the hen has a large crop, even in the morning, that feels squishy. She is weak on her feet and stumbles and hangs only her right wing slightly to the side. Her mouth doesn't smell (thinking it was sour crop), but yesterday she would dribble water out of her mouth when I picked her up. She's weaker today and I haven't seen her drink water.
I guess here's my dilemma: If she has Marek's, she'll continue to decline and I should take her to the vet to humanely euthanize her. On the other hand, if she has a crop issue and not Marek's at all, I'd be so upset for not giving her a chance and helping her however possible. Anyone with experience that can help me figure out what's going on with the poor girlie? Should I take her to a different vet? Could it be a B deficiency?
Thanks so much for any advice!!! ASAP is best!!!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Depending on which Hatchery the store sources (you could call them and ask,) you're right that some vaccinate for Marek's, some do not. I agree with you that it would be strange to have only one suffering from Mareks.... You have nothing to lose, to try right away, treating for Coccidiosis instead. What is her poo like? Is she puffed up, it's a little hard to tell from pic but I can see that she's for sure not well. So do you have any Corid? Welcome to BYC btw, you'll find many chicken experts here to help....

 

[TillyPeeps]

Since you got them as chicks at a feed store, it's a very low chance that you have Marek's in your flock. I understand that wind could bring the virus from neighbor flock or someone could bring virus to the feed store, but that's rare. I would start to treat for impacted crop first. This article would help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[TillyPeeps]

Did the vet check for worms? Heavy worm load can cause impacted crop.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Since you got them as chicks at a feed store, it's a very low chance that you have Marek's in your flock. I understand that wind could bring the virus from neighbor flock or someone could bring virus to the feed store, but that's rare. I would start to treat for impacted crop first. This article would help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

I agree with this and my recent experience with impacted crop is that in young birds it can be due to Coccidiosis, so good to treat for that too.

 

[TillyPeeps]

I agree with this and my recent experience with impacted crop is that in young birds it can be due to Coccidiosis, so good to treat for that too.

Yeah, I think young pullets could get impacted crop from Coccidiosis or worm, and older hens seem to get it from grass blockage, worm, or reproduction issues more often.

 

[SourRoses]

I do not understand vets who would just make a wild guess and not try to arrive at a real diagnosis. If they can't figure something out, they should refund the visit fee. No one else gets paid so much to do so little, it's very frustrating.

I would treat for the common stuff first. Since we keepers have to guess without any training, that's the most logical approach. Horses not Zebras.

 

[Kaleido]

Depending on which Hatchery the store sources (you could call them and ask,) you're right that some vaccinate for Marek's, some do not. I agree with you that it would be strange to have only one suffering from Mareks.... You have nothing to lose, to try right away, treating for Coccidiosis instead. What is her poo like? Is she puffed up, it's a little hard to tell from pic but I can see that she's for sure not well. So do you have any Corid? Welcome to BYC btw, you'll find many chicken experts here to help....

Her poo is solid, looks normal compared to the other birds. And she's still pooing, so not a complete impaction if that's what it is. She is kind of puffed up. I don't have any Corid, but could get some. If she has coccidiosis, wouldn't all the birds? Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Kaleido]

Thank you all so much for your help! So when I just picked up the little girlie, she was kind of burping gas. As far as I know, this can be from sour crop, right? And as I said to SandyRiverChick, she is a little puffed up. All of her weakness and limp wing is on the right side, where her crop is.

 

[Kaleido]

Did the vet check for worms? Heavy worm load can cause impacted crop.

No, vet didn't check for worms.