Mareks/ALV hock joint tumor

[Jhura]

Hello,

Long story short, a year ago we were positively diagnosed with Mareks and ALV (yay). We most likely have a mild form because my losses aren’t that frequent, maybe one every other month. We’ve had many necropsies confirm this in my chickens, and in my quail too.

Anyway, I have a 1.5 year old Belgian Duccle female, who got sick last June 2024. I nursed her back to health with various medications and supplements and food-it took a month-and she started to get better, feathers came back, she even started laying in November. However, her left leg became lame. Vet said that’s Mareks, nothing we can do. We did an x-ray and exam. She’s been living an amazing life as a kitchen chicken with all scrambled eggs and sardines and greens and love. She’s doing very well.

We’ll fast forward to now, we discovered a swollen hock/hip joint on the lame leg, it’s pretty big. It must’ve been growing this whole time when it became lame back in July. I took her to the vet yesterday and he said it it’s a tumor it’s inoperable and all we can do is keep her comfortable until we can’t.

Well until that time comes I’d like to research ways to reduce the tumor to support her immune system… I know there’s gotta be other things I can do that haven’t been done? Does anyone know or have experience with tumor reduction from Mareks (or could it be the ALV?) I’ve come across things like turmeric, and medicinal mushrooms but I don’t know if they’re safe for chickens? I read an article on NIH about lithium chloride reducing tumors, but I don’t feel comfortable giving that to my girl lol

I can’t find anything on this forum but maybe someone has thoughts or experience?… thanks so much.

 

[Debbie292d]

There have been many positive findings with tumor reduction by use of Chinese Skullcap Baicalin. I got mine here on eBay.

There is a group on Facebook that explains this and other things you mentioned as well that help. You can read some posts there to see but eventually go to the Guide tab.

That's where I got this chart for dosing. We do not have Marek's, but all of our chicks and chickens get the preventative dosage.




I wish you the best!

 

[Jhura]

Is the one that you get on this chart? It’s coming from China, do you trust products from China? Are there any on Amazon that we could get quicker also?

I have the maple life sciences but it’s a tiny bag. That shipped from India and it took three weeks!

I also ordered some from Amazon, Horbach brand 800 mg caps (then I can split).

And when I click on that Facebook group nothing comes up. Is it the Mareks and avian leukosis group? I already belong to them (unfortunately). Or is it a different one?

We just lost another bird two days ago, she died in my son’s hands. It’s just horrific. They’re not dropping like flies, I’m just losing like one a month on average.

I have a flock of 33, would be expensive to give them skull cap every day? How would I do that?

 

[Debbie292d]

Is the one that you get on this chart? It’s coming from China, do you trust products from China? Are there any on Amazon that we could get quicker also?

I have the maple life sciences but it’s a tiny bag. That shipped from India and it took three weeks!

I also ordered some from Amazon, Horbach brand 800 mg caps (then I can split).

And when I click on that Facebook group nothing comes up. Is it the Mareks and avian leukosis group? I already belong to them (unfortunately). Or is it a different one?

We just lost another bird two days ago, she died in my son’s hands. It’s just horrific. They’re not dropping like flies, I’m just losing like one a month on average.

I have a flock of 33, would be expensive to give them skull cap every day? How would I do that?

I am so sorry!

Yes, that group recommended that seller from China as having the authentic stuff in bulk. It's just that it takes practically a month to get it. I too started with some capsules and the powder in bulk is so much easier. I've seen that FB group also has someone who gets it in bulk and sells it.

The link takes me right there. You may have the same group. Its full name is: Positive About Marek's and Avian Leukosis Virus

We have a flock about the same size, plus chicks hatching weekly that also get it. We feed them all Kalmbach's Flock Maker, 20% protein. (Hens get oyster shell). Hubby brings in a couple of our air-tight bins we keep feed in and a 50# bag of those crumbles into our kitchen. I weigh the SC on my little digital scale for 50# of feed, preventative dose, then double it. (The recommend doubling.) I put that in a small bowl. They say they need some fat to absorb it better, and some of them mix this SC into some bacon grease or just oil. I had some Kaytee baby parrot powder plus Fat, so have been putting about double the amt of SC of that in the little bowl, then mix it together. Hubby pours the feed crumbles in fourths in the bins, I put 1/4 of my mix, he mixes it with his hands, then do this 3 more times so everything is in the two bins now.

Everyone, from day olds on up, eats this "mixed feed." I've hatched two batches of silkies that got this feed. They were here for about a week before being sold. Nothing abnormal in the least was noted.

@2ndTink has Marek's in her flock, and got me onto all of this information I'm sharing. She may have input too.