Old Hazel Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Hi Sadly Fifi, our chief hen, was put down by the vet today. He said he thought she had Marek's disease and was doing a post mortem to confirm. Fifi was about 1 year 9 months old and so was quite old, I understand, to have the disease. It is all terribly sad and such a shock. The vet has warned us that it is likely the other hens will catch it and said we could lose all our girls. All we can really do is keep an eye on them and act quickly to take out anyone who isn't well.We're lucky to have a specialist avian vet. Fifi was a great chief hen: she stepped in to sort out trouble and kept Carmen in check when she was broody and terribly aggressive. I'll miss her. A bit miserable today at work: interesting how many people made a wringing neck gesture when I said she had to be put down. We aren't farmers - the girls are our pets. How would people feel if I suggested they strange their sick cat or dog? Very sad today! Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pips_pekins Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 So sorry Hazel. I hope your other girls will be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I never understand peoples lack of sensitivity What breed was Fifi? If she was a hybrid then she should have been vaccinated against Mareks. I've lost 2 girls to Mareks myself, both were unvaccinated pure breeds. The disease is shed and so others could catch if they are not vaccinated, in fact one perfectly well girl could be the carrier. Feel free to Pm me if you want more details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 What were her symptoms ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 Hi Fifi was a Maran. We have another Maran and 2 Araucanas plus 6 Sussexes. We live abroad and it's very rural. The vet said hardly any poultry suppliers vaccinate around here. He said that in the future, he could put us in touch with a supplier he knows and he would vaccinate the chicks. For now, it seems that we just have to wait. Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 You need to vaccinate at Day old ideally. What were her symptoms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 About her symptoms: Fifi, the other Maran and one of the Araucanas have all been a bit tatty all year – a bit patchy. I’ve been giving them supplements and the feathers were beginning to grow again. About a month or so ago, I noticed that a bald patch on Fifi’s chest was very red. The vet gave her antibiotics which helped a little bit but aloe vera helped more. I don’t know if that was a symptom or not. Then on Saturday everyone seemed fine. Fifi was out and about free-ranging. I gave them some mash in the early afternoon and she was with the others getting stuck into it. Then at about 6, I noticed she was sitting strangely. Then she couldn’t get up, obviously a problem with one of her legs. We put her on the perch with the others at bedtime (they are all sleeping outside at the moment). In the morning, she was still there so we lifted her down. We put her by some food and water and she was eating and drinking. However, she was blinking a lot and I think her eyes had turned grey. She spent another night on the perch. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see the vet until this morning. He said she was paralysed and felt reasonably sure it was Marek’s. That’s it really – all scarily quick. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 There is a degree of paralysis with Mareks. Usually only on one side. Both my girls that had it would fall over and the one wing would droop. A very sad condition to see A post mortem will confirm if there are growths on the organs (a classic sign), blood tests will confirm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 Yes - it sounds the same. One leg was paralysed and her wing was hanging down. Poor girls! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Some hens are born with a natural immunity, so it may not be a disaster. Hugs x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 That's so sad, Hazel If you have had one hen with Mareks then does that mean you can't have any more hens or would it be safe to introduce vaccinated hens. As the owner of Silkies I have wondered about this as I'd so hate not to be able to have any hens should one of mine get it. I *think* they were all vaccinated before I got them, but I am not 100% certain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted September 5, 2011 Author Share Posted September 5, 2011 I don't know. I'm going to talk to the vet in the next couple of days. I was selling eggs at work and donating all the proceeds to Dementia UK (my Mum has dementia) but today I stopped. My "customers" all buy the eggs because they know they are organic and free range and come from happy hens but now I have the possibility of a diseased flock. From everything I have read, there is no worry about anything to do with Marek's transmitting to humans but it seems right not to eat the eggs -or is it? I'm not sure what is ok any more! I think I would wait before introducing any new girls. In any case, I still have 9 hens and need to see what happens. Oh - today I was ready to give everything away. I was so upset but now I know I just need to wait and if any of my girls catch it then I'll deal with it. At least they are having a reasonable life now! H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 One of mine was pts from suspected Mareks but neither of my other 2 pure breeds succumbed. It is disturbing to see the hen try to get around in a paralysed way. Horrible. I know what you mean about people being insensitive. When I said that I'd had her pts someone asked me if we were having chicken and chips for tea that night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 Sorry to hear about your poor girl. Other people can be so insensitive I agree. We often get stupid comments when we have a girl that is sick and like you our hens are pets and are much loved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 You are absolutely fine to eat the eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hazel Posted September 6, 2011 Author Share Posted September 6, 2011 A neighbour here who knows chickens was happy to take a dozen eggs off me this morning and I had read that there was no problem with eggs so thanks very much for confirming that. All the girls are fine today but seem very quiet without their leader Fifi. Normally they yell their heads off but today, there has hardly been a peep. They are still sleeping on their shelf in the run even though it seems quite cool. Maybe I'll try to encourage them into the Cube tomorrow. I wonder how long it will be before they start electing a new leader! Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
