Possible Marek's???

[wolfee]

Hi - I'm new to the site. I have a 4-5 month old silky girl that came down with paralysis of her legs gradually. At first she stumbled a bit, then spent most of her time squatting with her head to the ground. She now has no control of her legs, although she can move them. I have to direct her to her feed and water and hold her up while she eats/drinks. At first I thought it might be botulism, but she never lost control of her neck and didn't have diarrhea. I'm thinking at this point that's it's probably Marek's.

I have her isolated from my other chickens, but I don't know how contagious she might be. I have 2 two-month old chicks that are also kept inside, although not in the same container. I have a very small house w/multiple animals and only have one room where I can keep the chickens safely.

Should I keep babies away from my sick girl? Is keeping them in the same bedroom dangerous? I can't go through this with again with another chick...

 

[NotTheMomma]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=193712

See if this is the same thing. It seems to be common among the Silky breed.

Best of luck!

Please let us know if it's not the same symptoms, or if it doesn't respond to treatment.

 

[wolfee]

Possibly. Her poop doesn't look like the cocci chicks', but possibly the vitamin deficiency. I'm going to the store to find some Polyvisol now.

Question - I've been giving her Mycin-10 (antibiotics) for about a week now. Shoud I discontinue this before giving her the vitamins?

I hope someone can respond to me soon - she seems to be going downhill very slowely. She's eating and drinking, but I have to take the food and water to her. Her movement coordination is definitely getting worse...

 

[NotTheMomma]

I'm not vet, just a chick owner as well.

Personally I would discontinue the antibiotic and just give the vitamins.

You can wet the feed to make a crumble if it's having trouble eating. Make sure to dip it's beak in water to encourage it to eat.

Please keep me posted!

 

[sammi]

describe the chick's droppings..color and consistency...in detail.

is she in with other older chickens?
is there a roo?

hopefully, the Poly..will help..
mix up some chopped egg in the feed, or see if she will eat a soft scrambled egg..

have you checked the bottom's of her feet?
if not..check for any sore, swelling , heat or scab.

wouldn't hurt to check the crop.

what all are you feeding them?

 

[wolfee]

Her poop is on the dry side, but color is very normal.

I'm feeding her dry crumbs. No roos and she's in a box by herself. But in the same room at night, I have 2 younger chicks in a separate carrier where she can hear them.

She was pecking pretty heartedly and drinking lots of water until tonight. I gave her the Polyvisol this afternoon and I'm wondering if that's having a negative effect on her...

No soars/scabs on her feet - she just has no coordination in them. They are splayed out to the side. She can move them and flops around when she wants to move, but has a hard time getting to where she wants to go so I've been trying to go in and putting the food and water in front of her every few hours.

I've been on the antibiotics for 8 days now, so I'll discontinue it and just give her the Polyvisol and she how she does.

One other question - I've been keeping the night on in the room she's in so that she can attempt to find her feed in the middle of the night if she gets hungery. I know this probably is interfering with her and the chicks sleep. I wonder if I should turn the light off or if this is even a problem. Anyone?

 

[AHappychick]

sounds like the right age for mareks to show up and rear its ugly head. How do her eyes look is one pupil dialated or mishapen or gray? you can try Moodychicken's homeopathic remedy for mareks, It helps support them through it but it can be a hard battle. I tried to save one of my chickens and after 2 months and her living in a sling I had to put her down

hopefully none others will get it but it is in the dander so if she has it they have all been exposed. Good luck. to me it sounds like it could be mareks, but if she is eating and drinking ad pooping ok she could come out the other side and get better but it is very hard. It is a decision only you can make, but the ones that dont get it will be resistent to it and better for breeding.

so sorry

 

[wolfee]

Her eyes are clear and normal. This is what's baffeling me - she doesn't have any other symptoms of Mareks except for the loss of leg control. No bumps on skin, normal eyes, etc... Her poop is still on the dry side than normal - definitely no diarrhea.

Can anyone tell me if the Polyvisol I gave to her last night might be dangerous in any regard? The directions given to me were to give her up to a half of a dropper full, which I gave last night. After that, she seemed to stop eating and drinking and couldn't even get her head up. I thought it might be the end, but just now when I propped her up, she ate pretty well and drank water. I'm kinda scared to give her any more Poly, but on the other hand, it may have just been a coincidence. I don't know what to do...

So if she has Marek's, this may go on for awhile?

Thank you, everyone, for the support and info. I'd be a worse wreck if I didn't have anyone to go to...

 

[tiki244]

I think that is too much Polyvisol. I would only give her a few drops a day. It shouldnt have iron in it either. Best of luck.

 

[shay20]

I had the same promblem with one of my pullets, i thought the same thing if it was mereks, but i cam e to the conclusion it was not, no other sighns of anything.
What happen is she was not getting the right vitemins in her system she got weak and becouse of the weakness she got dehydrated. so i kept her seperated and gave her lots alots of water and baby food mixed with water froma dropper, and she is now getting better energy, eating shick starter med on her own and drinking water onher own and her leg is getting back to normal.

Hope your chick will be ok, kepp with waht the directions say, keep the crop full of liquid, this way you know they are getting the a lot fluid.