Wry Neck? Coccidiosis? Mareks… I’m at a loss, HELP!

[jhorlamus]

You can order them online. It may be hard to source some of them since it seems like a lot of places may be on short supply.
The antibiotics are given orally or in the water.

Ointment you can most of the time find it at TSC.

What would you recommend for oral medication of the ones you listed?

 

[Kiki]

I need help…

I have an 18 wk old White Crested Black Polish pullet that has come down with what I believe is Wry Neck but I’m starting to question myself.
She is the only one who is showing any signs of illness so I separated her from the flock. I noticed one day that she was walking with a crook in her neck and moving rather slow and stumbley. She eats and drinks just fine but she is off balance, has a staggering/wobbly walk, a crook in her neck, and one of her eyes has yellowish mucus around it (very little but present). She doesn’t want to walk much and lays down mostly. I also notice her feet are being sat on awkwardly and almost look clenched in front of her. She has one side of her body that she struggles with more almost like what you’d see in a human who had a stroke that effected one side of their body. As I said before, she eats and drinks just fines and her feces is normal (no worms/ no discolor/ etc) and she does not have lice or mites.
I have been treating her with Vit B Complex, Vit. E and Selenium she also has Poultry Booster in her water. I am just at a loss. I’m hoping someone here may have some insight! I have been treating her for a week now. I’ve seen a little improvement but not much. I will attach pictures for better assessment! Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I do have videos of her walking as well if someone would like to see them!

How long have you had this bird?
Have you brought any other birds home in the last few months?

 

[Mtnboomer]

If it is Mareks what do I do with the rest of my flock? I’m located in South Eastern Wisconsin.

It doesn't matter. If its MD, your whole flock already has it. Birds can live their entire life a nd never be symptomatic. Generally speaking, once a chicken reaches 6mos without symptoms it usually lives its life just fine until the tumors take over. If it becomes symptomatic, euthanasia is the most humane thing to do.

Take it to a vet pathologist for confirmation.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What would you recommend for oral medication of the ones you listed?

Whichever one you can get.

 

[jhorlamus]

How long have you had this bird?
Have you brought any other birds home in the last few months?

I have had this bird since March 12th. I had her since she was a chick. I have had no other birds come into the flock she has not already been in contact with since being born.

However, I had a Silkie pullet (6 months old) pass away early May from what appeared to be Wry Neck (she was healthy and within 3 days of moving my 8 week old chicks into the coop got Wry Neck symptoms and died 2 weeks later after lots of treatment), then on June 21st my husband randomly found another pullet, a Lavendar Orpington, (same age from same hatchery as the WCBP) dead by the coop door (no signs of sickness) and then July 7th we had the same thing happen again.. dead by the coop door no signs of sickness at all. Our weather has been all over the place here in WI going from mid 70's to high 90's within a weeks timespan back and forth.

I started treatment for Cocci with my flock that is in the coop that doesn't appear sick but simply for precautions. They appear healthy, eating, drinking, and stool seems healthy. I have checked for worms and mites with no sign of either.

I have been seeing small improvements with the WCBP but then I feel like we are good for two days and then down hill for a day or two. This has been the case for 1 week. I am willing to humanely cull if needed, however it is not what I would like to happen. I am also concerned about my other girls and what might happen if I want to expand my flock in the future once things are under control in the future.

 

[jhorlamus]

It doesn't matter. If its MD, your whole flock already has it. Birds can live their entire life a nd never be symptomatic. Generally speaking, once a chicken reaches 6mos without symptoms it usually lives its life just fine until the tumors take over. If it becomes symptomatic, euthanasia is the most humane thing to do.

Take it to a vet pathologist for confirmation.

I will humanely euthanize if needed. I am trying to avoid it at all costs but I do not want her to be in pain or get anyone else sick (if she has something else).

I am going to call my vet and see what she thinks and if they even work with chickens. My original rescued pullet I started my flock with is currently 9 months old and has now graduated to hen. She was 4 months old when I got her. Then purchased two silkies who were with her from March at 8 weeks old until my Silkie pullet passed away in early May. I still have my Silkie rooster who is currently 6 months old. On March 12th I received my hatchery batch of Polish's and Orpingtons. They moved into the coop at about 10 weeks old and since then I have lost 2 from the hatchery and the WCBP is also from that bunch as well.

I truly don't know what to do.

I will do what is best for her and the flock but I am also concerned about their health going on and any additions I may have in the distant future.

 

[Kiki]

I have had this bird since March 12th. I had her since she was a chick. I have had no other birds come into the flock she has not already been in contact with since being born.

However, I had a Silkie pullet (6 months old) pass away early May from what appeared to be Wry Neck (she was healthy and within 3 days of moving my 8 week old chicks into the coop got Wry Neck symptoms and died 2 weeks later after lots of treatment), then on June 21st my husband randomly found another pullet, a Lavendar Orpington, (same age from same hatchery as the WCBP) dead by the coop door (no signs of sickness) and then July 7th we had the same thing happen again.. dead by the coop door no signs of sickness at all. Our weather has been all over the place here in WI going from mid 70's to high 90's within a weeks timespan back and forth.

I started treatment for Cocci with my flock that is in the coop that doesn't appear sick but simply for precautions. They appear healthy, eating, drinking, and stool seems healthy. I have checked for worms and mites with no sign of either.

I have been seeing small improvements with the WCBP but then I feel like we are good for two days and then down hill for a day or two. This has been the case for 1 week. I am willing to humanely cull if needed, however it is not what I would like to happen. I am also concerned about my other girls and what might happen if I want to expand my flock in the future once things are under control in the future.

Are you on the US?
If so, are you aware that you can send a bird to your state lab for a necropsy And they will give you an exact reason why your birds are dying? It may be something you can prevent from spreading to other birds and unfortunately it may not be something you can prevent.

Either way the first step is knowing what you're dealing with.
I highly recommend sending your next death in to your state lab.

 

[jhorlamus]

Are you on the US?
If so, are you aware that you can send a bird to your state lab for a necropsy And they will give you an exact reason why your birds are dying? It may be something you can prevent from spreading to other birds and unfortunately it may not be something you can prevent.

Either way the first step is knowing what you're dealing with.
I highly recommend sending your next death in to your state lab.

I did not know that! Yes, I am in the US. I live in Southeastern Wisconsin. Where would I be able to find this information?

 

[Kiki]

I did not know that! Yes, I am in the US. I live in Southeastern Wisconsin. Where would I be able to find this information?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...sease-testing-state-lab-website-info.1236884/

 

[Mtnboomer]

I will humanely euthanize if needed. I am trying to avoid it at all costs but I do not want her to be in pain or get anyone else sick (if she has something else).

I am going to call my vet and see what she thinks and if they even work with chickens. My original rescued pullet I started my flock with is currently 9 months old and has now graduated to hen. She was 4 months old when I got her. Then purchased two silkies who were with her from March at 8 weeks old until my Silkie pullet passed away in early May. I still have my Silkie rooster who is currently 6 months old. On March 12th I received my hatchery batch of Polish's and Orpingtons. They moved into the coop at about 10 weeks old and since then I have lost 2 from the hatchery and the WCBP is also from that bunch as well.

I truly don't know what to do.

I will do what is best for her and the flock but I am also concerned about their health going on and any additions I may have in the distant future.

We have MD in our flock. Long story. It is EXTREMELY common in backyard flocks. Many people have it and dont know it because their birds are asymptomatic. Thats one reason why it is so rampant.
I can tell you that in the last 4yrs we have hatched and raised 40+/- chicks a year and only lost 2 to the disease. The rest of our birds live happy lives all the to butcher day.

The eggs and meat of infected birds are perfectly safe and edible as the disease does not target these areas.

Unfortunately there are 1000s of things that can effect chickens and many have very similar symptoms. If you decide to euthanize, please do yourself a favor and have a professional necropsy performed.
Side note: vet schools often have a clinic that is cheaper than normal vets and they have plenty of experience with livestock and poultry. The State dept of Ag may also be more helpful than a typical vet.