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

[Roobaloo]

I noticed this morning that Robin's (Rhode Star) left pupil is severely contracted. At first I assumed Marek's but can't find any solid information. Some state that a hen of her age couldn't be affected (she was bought in March and was already laying...) She's got no sign of weakness in her legs or wings, she's bright, alert, active (jumping to pluck blackberries) Her pupil is the only sign something is wrong.

 

Could it be Marek's? If not, what else?

 

If Marek's, should she be pts immediately or can she be left until her quality of life is affected? As long as the others show no symptoms, are they safe?

 

Thanks!

[Tweety]

It doesn't sound like Marek's to me. I recently had to take one of my pekins to the vet, an avian specialist, as she was displaying all the signs of Marek's apart from the eye. The hen was about one year old, and the vet said that in view of her age Marek's was near the bottom of the list of potential diagnoses. In the event, he thought that she had had a stroke or brain tumour and she was PTS.

If your hen is showing no other symptom than the contracted pupil, and bearing in mind her age, I think it unlikely though not impossible for it to be Marek's. I would keep an eye on her and take her to the vet if it doesn't improve or she starts to show other symptoms.