emchook Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 This morning I discovered Houdini just lying in the egg box looking very unwell ..she couldnt stand and one eye was very milky.. So I popped her into a big cardboard box to keep her calm and quiet and left her safe and sound in the WIR. I thought that if she felt better she could get out ..but it would keep her away from the others ... I had to go out today and didnt really expect to find her alive this evening. Having just gone to check she is looking much more perky .. has laid an egg ..and a couple of very wet poos in the box . I offered her some water [ not interested ] and put her into the eglu in the nest box for the evening ...She seems to be able to hold her weight and was able to turn herself around to look out at me .. but very happy to be sitting down But now Uno is doing the same thing .. lying in a big ball of feathers by the glug ,, legs sticking straight out,, and unwilling/unable to stand. I checked her vent and everything is looking fine and her breathing is not laboured .. So I have popped her into the eglu as well for tonight. The other chicken seems fine . What is going on ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 I'm wondering if it is Marek's disease. TBH they need to see a vet asap., even if it is just to rule it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 I'm wondering if it is Marek's disease. My heart sank as I was thinking the same I do hope that it isnt Mareks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted May 16, 2010 Author Share Posted May 16, 2010 mmmm ... I have just read up on this and the symptoms are v v similar.. My worry is I have been eating the egss ... as have the rest of my family ..Although it would seem that Mareks is not a threat to humans.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Fingers crossed that it isnt What breed are your hens? if they are commercial hybrids they may have been vaccinated against Mareks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 yes they are hybrids and I checked the website from the breeder last night and they are fully vaccinated. However, after reading up on Mareks last night the vaccinations are only 97-98% effective... Just been to check on them and they are all up and about out of the eglu ...although all the main 2 are very quiet.... The one that spent the day in the box yesterday is sitting under the table and the one I found late evening is looking a bit confused But at least they arent paralysed in the legs this moening to get out and down from the eglu. Off to phone the vet.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 Well I cant find a chicken vet .. the local one in Crawley has closed . .and thats 20 odd miles away. And I have just been down to see them and they look fine .. you really wouldnt know there was a problem ... weird .. Could it be an egg resting on nerves and crippling them for a day ? Like sciatica when women are pregnant [ I realise I am clutching at straws here but cannot get hold of a vet .. annoying ! ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Could it be an egg resting on nerves and crippling them for a day ? Like sciatica when women are pregnant [ I realise I am clutching at straws here but cannot get hold of a vet .. annoying !] Rare things happen rarely, you would be very unlikely to have two struck dowm with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Could they have eaten anything salty? I immediately thought Marek's as the symptoms you described sounded exactly the same as a chook that I had which died of Marek's. If they have recovered, then it might have been salt overdosing; chickens have a very low tolerance of salt and just eating a few crisps can bring on symptoms as you described. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 They havent eaten any junk at all ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 I spoke to the breeder that I got them from and she confirmed they had been vaccinated .. She was very helpful and said that if it was Mareks then they would not be little spring chickens the next day ...sounds like a ghastly way to die .. Do you think the eggs are safe to eat ?????????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 Claret - Did you chicken recover, get worse, recover etc ? What were her symptoms and did any of your other chickens get it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Well I cant find a chicken vet .. the local one in Crawley has closed . .and thats 20 odd miles away. And I have just been down to see them and they look fine .. you really wouldnt know there was a problem ... weird .. ] where are you in Surrey? Very god vet in Cranleigh very acceptable on Horley. gogood one in Bisley nr M3 (but he is off work at this very moment) ok one in Byfleet. Someone found a goodee nr Hove Brighton direction. what ever you need to find one for future needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 I am in Kenley , nr Caterham .. Horley is probably the closest .. I am going to try and chat with them on the phone first I think !! Do you know then names of the vets ? Thanks so much ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Claret - Did you chicken recover, get worse, recover etc ? What were her symptoms and did any of your other chickens get it ? No, she died, as most chickens with Marek's will do. It's a strain of herpes virus, that lays dormant in most flocks and doesn't really affect them until one of the hens gets poorly, or its immune system is compromised by a bad moult and then it will rear its head. I dosed my other chooks up with citricidal and kept anay eye on them; a couple looked to flag a little, but soon rallied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 I went there with my 1st chook, sorry brain gone but I have pm;d you a list from the RSVS online find a vet website. I always use the advance search and add birds and Poultry. looking at the list the 1st should be nearest to you but there are some odd placings. I have heard people talk of Seers Croft, have you looked on the recommended list here? good luck,a good vert is a real blessing. hope the girls are still up and perky in the morning. quite odd I would have really worried too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Wouldn't worry about the eggs, as long as you've cooked them well (ie not raw or lightly fried). Good luck with your poor girl. Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 am up and wondering how your girls are this morning. Hopefully normal like last night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted May 18, 2010 Author Share Posted May 18, 2010 Absolutely nothing wrong with them! They couldnt look more perky if they tried ! Could it be Mareks ... ? Or could it be salt issues??? Whilst they dont get junk they didnt seem to have drunk very much the previous day ? [i did read that salt can lead to paralysis of the legs ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
