Welsummer acting funny

[leadwolf1]

I asked these questions in my PM..now I'll ask them here so that everyone can learn.

How long have you had her? Where did she come from?

What type of food is she on?

How long have you been giving her poly vi sol and at what dosage?

Marek's can present with a wide range of symptoms. I've had chickens die from Marek's that showed no symptoms at all, some that started as wry neck, sour crop, star gazing, a large swollen leg and several others. As you can see, Marek's does not have to present with just the one leg forward, one back that is so well known.

Does your chicken show any signs of being in pain?

I don't believe that the Sulmet is going to have any effect on her at all. There are only two other things that I can think of that could possibly cause those symptoms. 1. vitamin B deficiency...the poly vi sol will take care of that. I would add 200mls of vitamin E twice daily. 2. Rickets. I just read about this disease and haven't had a chance to truly research. It is a vitamin D and C deficiency. There is Tri Vi Sol, from the makers of poly vi sol that is a combo of vitamins D, C and A. If you want to give it a try, I would. I don't think it will hurt and who knows, it just might help.

If the poly vi sol and tri vi sol do not help, you will know within 2 weeks...or, if she gets worse, I fear that you are dealing with Marek's. Right now, make sure that she is getting food. If she doesn't want to eat, try making a mash with crumbles, yogurt and water. Most chickens can't resist. If she won't eat on her own, hand feed her. She needs to get nourishment into her. If you feed her the mash, you will not have to worry about water...she will get all the moisture she needs from the food.

If she gets worse, I'm sorry but, I would have to recommend that you euthanize and have a necropsy performed. You can call your local extension office and find a state lab that will do them for little to no cost. You really need to find out what you are dealing with for the sake of your flock. In the meantime, quarantine your bird.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions at all, feel free to ask..I will help you as much as I can.

 

[leadwolf1]

Just wanted to add...

Marek's can take up to 12 - 16 weeks before another will show symptoms. I lost my first silkie at 10 weeks. I thought it was a head injury. I didn't put two and two together until 12 weeks later, I lost a NN pullet. Necropsy confirmed Marek's. I now know that the original bird died from Marek's. She had the classic symptoms. The NN pullet had none. She was rittled with Marek's lymphomas. Lungs, liver and reproductive organs were peppered with them. She died from respiratory failure.

 

[nanasbitties]

ok got some yogurt strawberry my local store doesnt carry plain mixed some of the starter/grower medicated in it and that welsummer tore it up....hope for the best and plan for the worst so hope she gets better as I have a number of birds that I have hatched that have no Mareks protection whatsoever Thank you Speckledhen,Leadwolf1 and Seminolewind so much....how long before I know if it is Mareks?

 

[leadwolf1]

If the vitamin therapy doesn't work. You should see improvement within two weeks or, she will get worse. Then you will know that you are dealing with something else. At that point, the only way to know for sure what you are dealing with is to have her euthanized and a necropsy done. This is the route I would suggest as, depending on the results will determine what you will need to do from this point, forward.

I'm glad to hear that she is eating the mash..at least she will be getting nourishment while you wait.

 

[Skipspin]

Can I piggy-back on this thread a bit? Perhaps it will help the OP too since my situation seems very similar.

I had a pullet that was acting very similar to this 4 weeks ago. She was a hatchery chick that we got from the local feed store because she was the only one left so they gave her to my DD. Probably a black sex-link. She was raised with 3 Naked necks that are a week older. I isolated her at the far side of our yard, and came here to research. She was "technically" sort of young to have symptoms of Mareks at 4-5 weeks, but I didn't want to risk it. Other than the leg weakness she was in very good health, possibly a little on the thin side. Bright eyes, ate and drank with no encouragement, etc. She slowly improved and was almost back to normal after 3ish weeks. Slightly light on her feet, but no more limping. I did give her some crushed vitamins with her chick food the first two weeks, but that's the only change. She was wormed with Wazine, but only because I wormed everyone. I've been letting her free range again here and there (all ours free range during the day) but she mostly stays to herself since she is housed so far from the others. My RIR pullet, however, has recently discovered her private retreat and that her food spills out the bottom a bit, so she's not well-isolated at this point I guess. Today she was a little worse again, but not nearly as bad as she was initially.

We have had no new birds since we got her, and the chicks she was raised with are from our neighbor (no Mareks in her flock and no vax.).

Now, I think this sounds like a vitamin deficiency because of the recovery and relapse, and possibly she is just a weaker bird and I'm wondering if she wasn't purchased simply because she was smaller than the others- just a guess. She is still housed separately since I wanted to make sure her legs aren't weak when she goes back. She actually seems to like her private quarters and has developed quite the personality. Any ideas? Obviously I'm going to get her back on some vitamins asap and see if she gets back to 100% soon.

 

[leadwolf1]

At 4 - 5 weeks, I wouldn't have considered Marek's initially. A vitamin deficiency would have been my first thought and I would have treated for it.

However, with it recurring, I would be more concerned. Marek's will go into remission and then return time and time again. However, seldom do chickens go into a second remission. I've only had 2 out of the 40+ I've lost to Marek's that have had a third chance. Although, 4 - 5 weeks would be considered young, I have come to realize that Marek's does not follow rules. It doesn't follow anything. It is totally changeable and unpredictable.

If your chick doesn't respond to the vitamins this time, I would opt for euthanizing and a necropsy. Marek's is not something to fool around with. Neither are the few other serious illnesses that can mimic Marek's.

 

[nanasbitties]

Can you vaccinate older chicks and chickens with the Marek's Vaccine?

 

[fishnet1971]

X2. Can you, and/or would it do any good?

 

[leadwolf1]

You can vaccinate chickens of any age. It is preferable to vaccinate at day 1, before they have the possibility of being infected. However, studies have shown that vaccinating at an older age can still provide protection and, if the chicken is symptomatic, can help in fighting off the disease.

My thought is, if there is even a slight chance of it working, it is better to vaccinate then to do nothing.

 

[nanasbitties]

Well she is still eating the yogurt mash forcefully now, but she is eating I sent the video to UGA poultry research dept. and one of the clinicians is suppose to get back with me, she is still wobbley on her feet and falls over...UGA said if I thought she might die to bring her down there and they would euthanize her and do a necropsy on her to tell me what was wrong with her...I dont know what to do, my daughter said Mom better to know than not, she would be taking one for the team Mom....My vet says to exhaust all avenues first if she is no better in 2 weeks then take her...UGA says Marek's is a virus and with all viral infections it will have to run its course either she will make it or she wont....but they prefer to have a live bird to euthanize because fresh is best for testing.