West Nile Virus? Botulism? What else could it be?

[Sphinx]

About 6 weeks ago, I went out of town. While I was gone, my 3-4 month old polish cockerel fell ill. He was found laying on his side, and unable to get up. When I got home, I gave him an injection of a steroid/painkiller, and he seemed totally recovered within 3 hours.

Two weeks later, my 5 month old lavender ameraucana started acting off. She suddenly was unable to stand or walk. She is kept in a completely separate run from the first chicken. She was taken to a vet who said she had encephalitis, most likely from West Nile Virus or botulism. She was separated from the flocks at the first sign of illness. She was given antibiotics, but after a couple weeks, she ended up dying.

Yesterday, my patridge rock hen seemed to be acting off. Her comb seemed pale, and she was a bit lethargic, though her poo looked fine and no respiratory symptoms. She was kept in the same coop/run as the lavender, but not as the polish. She did come out and scratch around the yard though.

Today, she wouldn't come running when I came out to give them treats, and when I just checked on her now, she is laying on her side, and actually seems like she's going downhill much faster than the lavender.

I'm assuming it's some disease. If so, what could it be? Also, why is it weeks between each bird showing symptoms, and why do the other 17 chickens all seem to be fine?


My chickens are kept in completely enclosed runs. I feed them regular chicken feed, and then table scraps. I generally don't let them free range at all because they're all pretty young (hatched in January 2012 or later) and seem a bit wild still.

 

[Folly's place]

Have you had a full necropsy done? Tissue samples to a poultry pathologist may be the only way to find out. I had that done recently, and got a totally unexpected diagnosis, well worth the expense! So sorry, Mary

 

[Sphinx]

The first chicken is alive and kicking. I have to admit I just buried the second chicken, figuring it was a freak thing.

If this third one dies, I'll definitely try to do the necropsy.

Out of curiosity, what was your situation?

 

[leadwolf1]

Agreed. I hate to say it but your symptoms are running right along the Marek's path. Do yourself, and your flock, a favor and find a state lab to do a necropsy on one. You can call your local government extension office and find out what lab your state uses. They will usually do them for a nominal fee. Good luck!

Have you had a full necropsy done? Tissue samples to a poultry pathologist may be the only way to find out. I had that done recently, and got a totally unexpected diagnosis, well worth the expense! So sorry, Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I've had chickens for 20 years; started with a trio of bantams from a neighbor, and only added day-old chicks since. This summer I got a trio of Marans that were 10 days old from a breeder, not vaccinated for Mareks. They were isolated from the flock for six weeks, then introduced to the coop. One week later the smaller pullet suddenly had severe neurological signs, and was down the following day. I really thought that Mareks disease was the problem, and so did the poultry expert at Mich. State. I decided to have the post done; the problem was Vitamin E deficiency! Very unexpected and better than the other choice. Apparently this one chick had a problem; the food was fine, no other birds here ever affected. Mary

 

[leadwolf1]

This is very true. However, as you say, the vitamin deficiency is a rare case, not one that would start going through a flock in stages.

OP, if you would like to try vitamin therapy, here is what I would recommend.

.5mls poly vi sol, without iron, daily
400 ius vitamin E twice daily.

You should see improvement within two weeks. If there is no improvement or, if the chicken gets worse or, dies then it isn't a vitamin deficiency. At that point, I would recommend going the necropsy route so that you will know for sure what is going on.

I've had chickens for 20 years; started with a trio of bantams from a neighbor, and only added day-old chicks since. This summer I got a trio of Marans that were 10 days old from a breeder, not vaccinated for Mareks. They were isolated from the flock for six weeks, then introduced to the coop. One week later the smaller pullet suddenly had severe neurological signs, and was down the following day. I really thought that Mareks disease was the problem, and so did the poultry expert at Mich. State. I decided to have the post done; the problem was Vitamin E deficiency! Very unexpected and better than the other choice. Apparently this one chick had a problem; the food was fine, no other birds here ever affected. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Hello again, the chick that I just mentioned was much to ill to respond to therapy; she had major lesions in her brain, poor thing. Just a totally odd diagnosis, hopefully never to be repeated. So glad I found out! If Mareks appears on my farm, I want to know it! Mary

 

[leadwolf1]

Wow. I never new a vitamin deficiency could cause brain lesions. Interesting, thanks for sharing. If caught in time, most vitamin deficiencies can be solved. Sorry you lost your little friend.

I wish my necropsies would have come back as vitamin deficiencies but, they all show Marek's as the cause.

Hello again, the chick that I just mentioned was much to ill to respond to therapy; she had major lesions in her brain, poor thing. Just a totally odd diagnosis, hopefully never to be repeated. So glad I found out! If Mareks appears on my farm, I want to know it! Mary

 

[Sphinx]

Well, I gave her the poly vi sol this morning. I went back a couple hours later, and she was already gone. She died much, much more quickly that my first fatality- the first chicken took almost 3 weeks to die.

I've made an appointment to have a full necropsy done. Hopefully I get answers, and answers that I like, but I'm pretty afraid.

I have no idea how they could've been exposed to marek's. They have been exposed to mycoplasma gallisepticum. Well, possibly. I bought hatching eggs from a farm I visited that recently tested for it, but those chicks are kept in the other coop. So, who knows. I will come back and update when I know more.

 

[leadwolf1]

Sorry you lost her

. Now, at least, you will have your answer.