BigECart
Songster
18 month black minorca, pale wattles, low energy. I have 6 from this hatch, Gen 3. McMurray, vaccinated (Generation 3).
History: Flock has never been treated for worms or mites. Generation 1: purchased locally, first pullet started fading after a week. Ultimately lost 8 of 10, necropsy results were Merek’s. Gen 2: McMurray, vaccinated for coccidia and mereks. One chick got coccidia, and later merek’s. Became a house chicken and recovered from merek’s and was returned to flock. Have had 2 of my remaining Gen 2 hens (8 years old, started with 10) put down in the last couple of months, both lost use of legs. I still have 3 from this hatch, one is weaker than she used to be, spends her days chilling under a bush. I think just old age. Other 2 seem fine. Remaining Gen 3 hens are happy, healthy, and 4 of the 5 are laying.
Mites/lice: I see no signs of any live bugs or eggs. We’ve examined her twice. Feather shaft and skin look clean, even around vent/under wings.
So I think that this hen either has worms or merek’s. I tried to get my vet to do a fecal float but they refused. I have treated her with Safeguard and will do the rest of the flock today. She is in my brooder in the house.
What’s my next step? Find another dewormer in case it’s worms that Safeguard doesn’t treat? How should I treat her anemia? Does anyone else have experience with Merek’s in vaccinated birds? Pretty sure my first flock had anemia with merek’s. I don’t think the hen who recovered did. If I remember right, her comb stayed red, she had good energy, just couldn’t walk for a couple of months.
History: Flock has never been treated for worms or mites. Generation 1: purchased locally, first pullet started fading after a week. Ultimately lost 8 of 10, necropsy results were Merek’s. Gen 2: McMurray, vaccinated for coccidia and mereks. One chick got coccidia, and later merek’s. Became a house chicken and recovered from merek’s and was returned to flock. Have had 2 of my remaining Gen 2 hens (8 years old, started with 10) put down in the last couple of months, both lost use of legs. I still have 3 from this hatch, one is weaker than she used to be, spends her days chilling under a bush. I think just old age. Other 2 seem fine. Remaining Gen 3 hens are happy, healthy, and 4 of the 5 are laying.
Mites/lice: I see no signs of any live bugs or eggs. We’ve examined her twice. Feather shaft and skin look clean, even around vent/under wings.
So I think that this hen either has worms or merek’s. I tried to get my vet to do a fecal float but they refused. I have treated her with Safeguard and will do the rest of the flock today. She is in my brooder in the house.
What’s my next step? Find another dewormer in case it’s worms that Safeguard doesn’t treat? How should I treat her anemia? Does anyone else have experience with Merek’s in vaccinated birds? Pretty sure my first flock had anemia with merek’s. I don’t think the hen who recovered did. If I remember right, her comb stayed red, she had good energy, just couldn’t walk for a couple of months.
