Weird poop: looks like cysts? (Picture included)

[Orpingtons Mom]

Question...should I? Is it likely they died from different disease processes?

 

[aart]

Question...should I? Is it likely they died from different disease processes?

Did you have the cultures done on the other bird?

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Did you have the cultures done on the other bird?

I believe so. I know that it takes time to do the cultures (I think) and I have yet to hear from VDACS. When I requested the necropsy it asked why I was requesting it... I checked diagnostic. I told the incoming staff there that I suspected Mareks.

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Just got off the phone with the vet at VDACS. What a wonderful lady... she spoke to me for about 15-20 minutes. This is what I discovered:

1. Julie has been sent off for microscopic examination, and I'm sure, culture, to confirm Marek's.
2. Marek's is basically a disease of young birds. Once they hit 1 year, they are less likely to develop it.
3. I believe, and she agreed (as much as she could) that it is common for birds to be sold with unknown diseases. THANK GOD I ISOLATED these birds. I am convinced that the individual that sold me these birds knew they were sick.
4. I can bring in a poop sample for all three groups of birds I have now for a float test. This I will do. Immediately.
5. Coccidia was present. However Salpingitis was not.
6. Pneumonia was present, but was not the cause of death. This makes sense as I was trying to hand feed her. BIG MISTAKE. I should have tubed her...
7. Marek's (just found out that is the correct spelling) is highly contagious to other chickens, by we humans, as the virus can reside on our clothing, etc.
8. Once it is on your property, your entire flock is considered contaminated. EVEN IF the sick chickens were quarantined.
9. Chickens can be tested (blood sample.) Testing location is in Athens, GA. I have to draw blood...the Lord knows how I can do that. I guess I'll learn.

If the diagnosis is Marek's, all babies that come on to the farm from now on need to be vaccinated, at least for me.

I hope people learn from my mistakes. And I am now worried about how to handle the rest of my flock... it's so discouraging. But, one step at a time. Next step for me is testing.

 

[aart]

Great communications.
Hoping for the best results.

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Added information:

just got off the phone with UGeorgia in Athens. The bottom line is this:

if you do not vaccinate your chicks your chickens will be infected, as the herpes virus (which causes all the havoc) is endemic in nature. This means that while I isolated my new chickens when they arrived, unless they were vaccinated, all my chickens are now infected.