3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[Minnie&Moose]

We had a suprise bird death earlier in the week (young hen, approx. 17 wks, we'd had her 1 month) - she appeared fine and then was found dead the following morning. Today, having had a very good look at the remaining new bird, I'm very concerned that she may be showing signs of Marek's disease. She looks fine but, on picking her up, it's obvious she's lost weight. She moves around OK but I've seen her lurch to one side on a couple of occasions (not sure whether it's always to the same side or not). Additionally when I tried to put her down on a flat surface she kept her feet curled up, one much more than the other one. However. when moving around under her own steam her feet are flat on the ground. She also has slightly dodgy droppings and isn't eating much in the way of pellets but is grazing on grass, will eat corn, sweet corn and cabbage. She's a purebreed Welsummer and I know she isn't vaccinated.

 

Fortunately she's well away from our other birds and hasn't had any contact with them yet.

 

If is is Marek's are our other birds at risk? All are >1 yr old and I think all have been vaccinated.

[Daphne]

It could be - mareks often presents as paralysis of the wing (which tends to either hang down and/or get used as a 'third leg' by the bird), followed by leg/foot. A few people have reported birds getting over mareks, but that is rare and there is no cure. The bird gets weaker as it loses mobility/interest in food and then its ability to eat as it is likely to get problems internally as well. Personally, having watched a hen with this (without realising it at the time, she stopped eating properly quite a time before the paralysis became apparent), I couldn't go through it again, but thats a personal preference. However, it could also be a physical injury which might have a much better prognosis. I think I'd take the bird to a vet. Although mareks can only be properly diagnosed with a post-mortem, your vet will be able to give you a professional opinion - it might be something else altogether.

[Egluntyne]

I agree, it could be, and it is highly contagious, so I'd keep her isolated, and have her seen by a vet asap.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks Daphne & Egluntyne - looks like we'll be off to the vet then.

[Minnie&Moose]

Muppet was looking much worse this morning so I took her back to the breeder who agreed to dispatch her for me. Seemed so sad disinfecting the eglu and run this afternoon and putting it all away - think we'll wait awhile before getting any more. Fortunately though the new birds had never met the others so hopefully we won't have any more sick chickens for a while

[Daphne]

Sorry to hear that Sometimes it is the right thing to do, to take a break.