Zinc poisoning in galvanized feeders

[Nambroth]

With the plastic I was concerned about BHA and most of them don't say on the bottom if they are safe due to hot sun and coop leaking toxic chemicals in water.

Thank you I never thought about keeping them off the floor. Will do.

Update on my sick bird, Airabelle. First I want to thank you so much for all your expert advice. Took her to the vet, she examined her poop, seemed to be okay. She said she may have Marek's disease or lead poisoning. She has been vaccinated for Mareks, as we know, have nothing of lead around or in the coop area. All other birds are healthy.
She said possibly the bird was missed when vaccinating or she may be in the 5% that the vaccine didn't take.

She administered Hypericum which is an homeopathic herb for 3 days. If no improvement then chelation therapy for lead using medication for 2 weeks. It's expensive and not full proof.

I think we may put her down and not put her through the therapy as I've read it's hard on a chicken and can be fatal. If we put her down we will refrigerate her and take her to those centers to find out what the cause was.

Does anything make sense with the veterinarian's diagnosis to you?

I have gone through this scenario recently as well. You can have a metal toxicity test done (lead/zinc) via blood sample, which can be sent overnight and you'll get results fast. Mine took three days total. It was not inexpensive, but it was still less than the chelation therapy and it gave us an answer for sure. (mine came back negative for what it's worth)

What are your bird's symptoms? Maybe start a new thread if you'd like. There are some of us here with Marek's experience and maybe we can help. It won't substitute for a knowledgeable vet but it's something. There's also a link in my signature that can get you started reading about it. Marek's vaccination is not quite 95% as 'advertised' anymore, due to the variables of genetics of the bird, vaccine(s) used, strain of Marek's, etc.

 

[cjpines]

Thank you for the article on Marek's. Very informative.

What have you done with your bird?

My chickens' symptoms are: can't stand or walk. Spends time on her side mostly, but tries to get up. She can scoot around a bit. She can eat, but I have to hold the drinking cup and feeder to her beak. The vet said her legs are fine, but it's her nervous system in her brain that is causing lack of mobility. It's been 1 week now.

She doesn't have all the severe symptoms listed, just what I've mentioned.

 

[Arizona Son]

Thank you for the article on Marek's. Very informative.

What have you done with your bird?

My chickens' symptoms are: can't stand or walk. Spends time on her side mostly, but tries to get up. She can scoot around a bit. She can eat, but I have to hold the drinking cup and feeder to her beak. The vet said her legs are fine, but it's her nervous system in her brain that is causing lack of mobility. It's been 1 week now.

She doesn't have all the severe symptoms listed, just what I've mentioned.

Those symptoms sound EXACTLY like Marek's! By any chance, did you notice the birds eyes (Iris) discolor at all?

 

[cjpines]

I just checked her eyes and compared them with pictures of Araucana's to see if any changes. Her eyes are not discolored, but the pupil seems to be somewhat dilated compared to the pictures.

 

[seminolewind]

Thank you for the article on Marek's. Very informative.

What have you done with your bird?

My chickens' symptoms are: can't stand or walk. Spends time on her side mostly, but tries to get up. She can scoot around a bit. She can eat, but I have to hold the drinking cup and feeder to her beak. The vet said her legs are fine, but it's her nervous system in her brain that is causing lack of mobility. It's been 1 week now.

She doesn't have all the severe symptoms listed, just what I've mentioned.

I would also look into Aspergillosis, which can cause neuro problems/paralysis.

 

[cjpines]

I will look it up, thank you.

 

[Nambroth]

Thank you for the article on Marek's. Very informative.

What have you done with your bird?

My chickens' symptoms are: can't stand or walk. Spends time on her side mostly, but tries to get up. She can scoot around a bit. She can eat, but I have to hold the drinking cup and feeder to her beak. The vet said her legs are fine, but it's her nervous system in her brain that is causing lack of mobility. It's been 1 week now.

She doesn't have all the severe symptoms listed, just what I've mentioned.

Due to the results of several blood panels, and the fact that his heavy metal toxicity lab and Marek's PCR both came back negative, we tried a course of antibiotics, and I did physical therapy with him for a month (I will admit I go beyond what most people would do, but I really like this rooster). He's back outside with the hens now and is doing well, with the exception that his gait is stiff and may never be normal again. We still don't know what was wrong with him. I suspect possibly a false negative on the Marek's but we were able to somehow get him to survive. If so, I know he is on borrowed time and we enjoy every moment with him just in case.

I should mention that with Marek's, you don't always see all of the symptoms, or even more than one. My poor rooster that died last year just lost the use of his legs, and went downhill and died within a week. No ocular changes, no 'splits', etc.

If it is Marek's, it's important to know that it can affect each bird a bit differently. There are no rules.
I recommend exploring the other possibilities that are treatable, in case it is not Marek's. There's a list in the Marek's FAQ.

 

[cjpines]

Thank you for sharing. My vet never suggested blood tests. I will call her and ask her about it.

 

[seminolewind]

Blood tests can rule out a lot of things.

 

[cjpines]

Nothing wrong with good quality plastic containers. Just stay away from junk made in China like Tractor Supply stores carry. I've used these for years and they are durable and easy to clean with a brush:
http://www.miller-mfg.com/product/PPF3.html

Nothing wrong with good quality plastic containers. Just stay away from junk made in China like Tractor Supply stores carry. I've used these for years and they are durable and easy to clean with a brush:
http://www.miller-mfg.com/product/PPF3.html

I just looked up this site miller-mfg for water containers. Do you know if they are BPA approved? I have to have my water feeder in the coop and it gets very hot in there. I don't want any chemical leakage from plastic containers.