debbiedoobs Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share Posted December 12, 2013 Yeh we agree, I rang the vets wanting to speak to him to see if there's anything else to try before we go ahead with it. Think we'll be goin to our local vets as not sure we'll be ok to do the hour drive with us both blubbering! I hate it cos she's very aware of her surroundings but just can't walk, can't believe I'm gonna be goin through this with the others if it is mareks! It's my own fault for bein so nieve bringing new chickens in and none of them being vaccinated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Not your fault at all, don't do that! You have done more for your girl than lots would, some don't advocate going to the vets as the cost so you have done everything possible, bless your heart. I remember replying to your first post ages ago and it's still ongoing! You can't carry on like this for your own health and sanity! I really hoped I was wrong with the mareks, will be interested to see what the vet has to say. Good luck and rest assured you are a perfect chicken mummy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share Posted December 12, 2013 Awe that's so nice of you, made me weep a little. I know you're right, I have some pretty serious health problems and is starting to make me ill. I put it down to the fact we don't have kids so I get really attached to our pets. Getting a little impatient waiting for the vet now. We agreed to have blood sent to be tested for Mareks So we will know for definite if the girls have it X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Oh I am so sorry for you, can totally empathise having been something similar myself, it's a horrible decision to make but you can take comfort in the fact that you tried everything possible and some things are not meant to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 I know exactly how your feeling but please, please don't think that your going to loose them all to it, there's an item about it in this months (or maybe last months) Practical Poultry magazine. I've lost quite a few of my troop to illness over the past couple of years and yes Mareks has reared it's ugly head in the count but always as a secondary infection brought on by the stress of something else (egg laying, sneezes and snuffles, seahorse syndrome, moulting etc). As you see from my signature there's a fair few girls named and all acquired/hatched at different times during my venture into chicken keeping, the older girls have survived the loss of their coopmates to no ill effect. Big hugs to you for trying everything for your little chookie and having to make a tough choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 12, 2013 Author Share Posted December 12, 2013 Well our little girly Claudia is now buried in the garden with our dog and belle our other chicken that we lost. The vet said apart from possibly trying her with a fungal treatment he didnt think there was anything else we could do. So we took her down to our local vet, so after sobbing a lot, she fell asleep peacefully. Although I know it's the best thing for her I still wish there was something else I could have done. I just want to thank everyone for their lovely comments and advice, it's really helped us both get through this hard time. X x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 I have only just caught up with this thread and was so hoping for a different outcome for you. I am so very sorry. Sending you a hug. I admire that you did everything you could for your little girl - and a bit more. She was truly loved and cared for so never doubt yourself on that score or question what you could have done, you did it all. My heart goes out to you - such a painful time. Do hope you are coping ok. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Goodnight Claudia, sleep tight xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 poor girl, RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 I am so sorry you didn't have a good outcome but she was obviously very well loved and you did everything you could. Hope you are doing ok today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Oh debbiedoobs I am so sorry for you and for Claudia but you must take confidence in the fact that you honestly could not have done more for your girl. I do hope that your pain gets easier and that you manage to enjoy your other girls this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Thanks to everyone for your lovely comments. I feel relieved today as i know she is no longer in any pain or discomfort, doesn't take my pain away but i know she's at peace now. We will miss her terribly and there is already a noticable difference as she was always the noisiest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Sorry to hear this - Have been following the post and was hoping for a happy outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyBean2605 Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Me too, so sorry to hear this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 So sorry to hear this, I had hoped it would be good news but sometimes making that hard decision is the best thing that you can do for your girl. Glad you are feeling a little bit better. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 So sorry, at least Claudia is at peace. I lost a girl to suspected Mareks but fingers crossed everyone else is fine several months down the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Only just caught up with this. Mareks is a virus like a herpes type of virus, so even if your other girls have been exposed, they may never develop it. Just like not all human develop cold sores even if they have been exposed to them. Silkies are particularly prone, and I have lost 2 girls (a pure silkie and a silkie cross) to Mareks, but have since had 6 Mareks vaccinated Silkies with no issues. The two girls I lost were before the other 6 arrived, but I still have several girls still with me that were pre the Mareks outbreak.... Some vaccinated, some not. I've never heard anything so ridiculous as culling a whole flock due to one Silkie with symptoms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 I feel so much better from reading everyone else's experiences. I am now feeling so much better since losing Claudia, my poor little beautiful girl. I am giving my other girls extra attention (cuddles mainly)! Layla our lavender silkie who is the youngest is broody at the moment and is even tamer than usual, she's only 5months and only been laying for a few weeks, she's adorable though. She comes and sits at the side of me or jumps up onto my knee. Thought that Connie my partridge silkie was poorly the yesterday but thankfully seems better today, hate how often they get ill! I think that we will be vaccinating any chicks we hatch in spring just to stay safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 If you want to vaccinate, prewarn your vet as they need to order the vaccine in. It took about 2 weeks to come in. Also, the vaccine once activated can only be used for an hour and a half. The vaccine is in 1000 doses, so a ridiculous amount of wastage.... But I felt it was worth it when I hatched Silkies. The vaccine cost about £30 as far as I can remember. The chicks are best vaccinated when they are a few days old, I took them all to the vet in a box within a box, the outer box had a hot water bottle in it to keep them warm. It also meant that whilst they were being vaccinated, there was a second box which they went into once they'd been done! I don't think a consulting room had ever been so popular as all the staff wanted to see the cute chicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 Well it's confirmed that Claudia did have Mareks! Gutted! But at least we know now for the future. Hope my other girls don't go the same way, think I'm just gonna be a nervous wreck every time I see the slightest hint of a symptom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Just caught up,sorry to hear news,I have losy 2 in a fortnight and I know what you mean about watching others.One was standing on 1 leg a way back from others and I thought Oh no not another sick oneShe seems fine now.Hope your other girls keep well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 I know what you mean about being a nervous wreck every time you see the slightest hint of a symptom Every time any animal of mine has died, I think the others are about to get it. I now keep turning my poor chooks bottom up as last summer one of mine died because she was egg bound; and I keep checking my dogs' legs as one of my dogs died of bone cancer in his leg a few years back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsatroy Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Very sorry to hear about poor Claudia, it's so difficult when we lose a pet. Hope you're doing ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 It's horrible, I'm trying to stop myself from ' bonding' so much with them. It's so hard though as my health has stopped me from bein well enough to work, so getting the chickens was to give me some company from bein alone every day whilst my hubby is hard at work. I always get so attached to my animals! Thing is I really didn't realise how much fun they'd be, it's amazing that something so small could be so cute with amazing personalities. I watch them every day so manage to notice the subtle changes they have when they are poorly. I'm coping ok now with the loss of Claudia, it's the thought of the others getting poorly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Grandmashazzie I feel for you, think I'd be a wreck if I lost 2 of my girls so close to each other. I would still be crying over the first one! Hope you are ok x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...