I have a chicken, roughly 18 weeks old, who seems very weak. It can barely hold its own weight and usually just sits. I felt it's legs and it feels like there is hardly any leg muscle, and is pretty boney all over. Also does not hold its wings up which in combination with sitting a lot, the tips of its wings have kind of curled under. This started maybe a week or so ago. It is alert and eating. I separated it today as he was getting picked on. I did have another bird die totally out of the blue the other day. She was fine one day and dead the next. Another went missing so can't be sure if it was sickness, predator. Does this sound like Maerks? All the other birds are currently fine.
Weak chicken
- Thread starter Aklewis
- Start date
Hi @Aklewis Welcome To BYC
I'm sorry to hear about your bird.
Can you post some photos or a video?
How long have you had him?
From your description it is hard to know, but it could be paralysis from Marek's.
Since you lost another one recently, it would be best if this one passes, to have a necropsy performed. You don't mention where you are located. Most states in the US have labs that you can send birds to for testing.
Do your best to keep your sick one hydrated. Offer poultry vitamins that contain Bvitamins or crush a human B-Complex tab and add it to the feed daily.
I'm sorry to hear about your bird.
Can you post some photos or a video?
How long have you had him?
From your description it is hard to know, but it could be paralysis from Marek's.
Since you lost another one recently, it would be best if this one passes, to have a necropsy performed. You don't mention where you are located. Most states in the US have labs that you can send birds to for testing.
Do your best to keep your sick one hydrated. Offer poultry vitamins that contain Bvitamins or crush a human B-Complex tab and add it to the feed daily.
- Thread starter
- #3
I am in eastern NC. I don't think I would say he is paralyzed cause he can still get around, just chooses not to much and not efficiently. I have had him /her (not sure) since he was a chick. There was an error uploading the pic so I'll have to try that again later.
Tell me what you are feeding him - type of feed and treats.
Does his poop look "normal" if you can, picture of that too.
Depending on how far East you are, the Raleigh lab is closest to you. We have 4labs in NC. They perform necropsy as well as other diagnostic testing(s) like fecal float and gram stain.
http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/
http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/FeeBrochure.pdf
Does his poop look "normal" if you can, picture of that too.
Depending on how far East you are, the Raleigh lab is closest to you. We have 4labs in NC. They perform necropsy as well as other diagnostic testing(s) like fecal float and gram stain.
http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/
http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/FeeBrochure.pdf
- Thread starter
- #5
- Thread starter
- #6
I'm very sorry to hear he didn't make it.
Seal his body in a plastic bag and refrigerate him.
Contact the Rollins Laboratory Business Office at 919.733.3986 for more in-
formation on the shipping discount through UPS and Fed Ex. ($8.00) Alternatively, if you are close to Raleigh, they do accept "walk-ins", but you would want to keep him chilled in a box like Kathy show you below.
They can also tell you how much total necropsy is - looking at the fee schedule it is $15.00 - it does have an * beside necrospy and it says:
*Price includes necropsy procedure and associated in-house bacteriology, virology, histopathology, molecular diagnostic, serology, and immunohistochemistry services for a single diagnostic problem."
I'm not completely sure if that would include testing for Marek's, but it looks like it - if you call the lab, they can tell you exactly what that includes.
PDF Instructions on how to send in a bird to NC labs - there is a submission form that needs to go with your bird:
http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/LabUserGuide.pdf#page=7
@casportpony made an thread showing how to send one in:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/
Seal his body in a plastic bag and refrigerate him.
Contact the Rollins Laboratory Business Office at 919.733.3986 for more in-
formation on the shipping discount through UPS and Fed Ex. ($8.00) Alternatively, if you are close to Raleigh, they do accept "walk-ins", but you would want to keep him chilled in a box like Kathy show you below.
They can also tell you how much total necropsy is - looking at the fee schedule it is $15.00 - it does have an * beside necrospy and it says:
*Price includes necropsy procedure and associated in-house bacteriology, virology, histopathology, molecular diagnostic, serology, and immunohistochemistry services for a single diagnostic problem."
I'm not completely sure if that would include testing for Marek's, but it looks like it - if you call the lab, they can tell you exactly what that includes.
PDF Instructions on how to send in a bird to NC labs - there is a submission form that needs to go with your bird:
http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/LabUserGuide.pdf#page=7
@casportpony made an thread showing how to send one in:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/
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