Naturalness
In the Brooder
- Sep 15, 2023
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One of my young hens died at about 6 weeks age. She looked fine, alert, but strangely unflustered when I picked her up, normally being very shy, because I noticed something wrong with her. Her legs were useless, not totally paralyzed but not able to stand her up anymore. I isolated her and provided her food and water. She accepted both though not overly enthusiastic. Her feathers and general appearance did not indicate malaise. Her comb was normal, her eyes were normal.
I had to leave for the day and when I came back 10 hours later she was dead.
I suspected Mareks but felt her age made it unlikely and the progression had also been too fast. I suspected botulism but can't for the life of me figure out how only this one would have gotten it if they're all eating the same feed in the same nursery area. Still with how fast she died it seemed the most likely or something similar at least.
This was three weeks ago and today another hen from the same batch seems to have the same problem. She can still stand but her legs give away. I isolated her again and gave her water & food, which she went for vigorously. Comb and wattles are red and her feathers are smooth. Again she seems less responsive when I or the dogs approach which normally would have sent her into a frenzy. But other than that she doesn't appear sick.
Does anyone have any ideas? I'm guessing that by tomorrow evening she'll have died just like the other one. I could perform an autopsy but I don't know what to look for... we don't have any poisonous creatures or plants here worth mentioning and all my young ones get the same feed. I'd like to know what I'm dealing with since trading chickens was part of my set-up and I obviously can't do it if there's a chance I'm giving others Mareks or something similarly undesirable. Any ideas appreciated
I had to leave for the day and when I came back 10 hours later she was dead.
I suspected Mareks but felt her age made it unlikely and the progression had also been too fast. I suspected botulism but can't for the life of me figure out how only this one would have gotten it if they're all eating the same feed in the same nursery area. Still with how fast she died it seemed the most likely or something similar at least.
This was three weeks ago and today another hen from the same batch seems to have the same problem. She can still stand but her legs give away. I isolated her again and gave her water & food, which she went for vigorously. Comb and wattles are red and her feathers are smooth. Again she seems less responsive when I or the dogs approach which normally would have sent her into a frenzy. But other than that she doesn't appear sick.
Does anyone have any ideas? I'm guessing that by tomorrow evening she'll have died just like the other one. I could perform an autopsy but I don't know what to look for... we don't have any poisonous creatures or plants here worth mentioning and all my young ones get the same feed. I'd like to know what I'm dealing with since trading chickens was part of my set-up and I obviously can't do it if there's a chance I'm giving others Mareks or something similarly undesirable. Any ideas appreciated