The Poultry Keeper

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

Now this is what I do--I`m not telling anyone to do anything illegal--for many of you have strange laws.
In the spring and summer especially when there are spiders about,sometimes chickens get spider bit.The symptoms can be very similar to Mareks disease.
You can try this.

Mareks is not all ways the cause of fowl going Lame on you. Limber neck, and or fowl loosing control of legs, Wings and their Neck can be caused by Toxins in the fowl. Sometimes a good old Flush With milk will have them up and RUNNING in a day or two.. IF,,, they will eat???,,,,, soak a piece of bread in Milk and let them have all want as a Sole source for several feedings. If, they won't or can't eat,, Put a few cc's down their throat several times a day. EASY,,, as not to Choke them when doing this.. A lot of folks around here will blame this on SPIDERS?? Fowl standing Straight up with their head handing down on the Ground like a TRIPOD. Or Coupled on the Ground with their Head Leaned over their back and Twitching.. GOT MILK??? I had Culled a few of my favorites before I learned the milk trick thinking it was Mareks. Not all ways the case.. OLD MOLDY FEED??? A peck from the Rare Coopy Barra Bush??? Who knows?,?,? But Try the Milk flush and Stall them for a day. or so.. Most will come out of that stall like a bat out of,,,,,,,,,,, a cave the next day LOL..If they don`t respond after a couple or 3 days,then it could be Mareks.

This is, as I have said---what I do.Don`t break any of your laws.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I think it's always nice to hear of alternative way of treating our chickens, especially in something like mareks. I think we all get a little shiver when someone just mentions the word, so any additional help I believe is very welcome.

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

summayah
We do things here in America sometimes that are unconventional to say the least .I`m always leary to post something about doctoring a chicken here because of the laws in others countries,I wouldn`t tell anyone to do anything that would break their laws, even if I think their laws are wrong.

diddychick · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 3

Is there a perticular spider in the USA that causes these symptoms?
and do we have the same spider in UK?

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

That is really good to know. As I lost one chook with really strange symptoms and had one that fortunately recovered.

How does the milk flush work?

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

As far as the type of spider goes,I couldn`t really say,for there are many types in the fields,jumping spiders,grass spiders,black widows,etc.Never was able to find out the culprit.So I would say there may not be a particular spider.My only guess as to how it works ,would be that the milk helps neutralize the poison someway ,I never gave it a thought,just did it when told about it.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Well it's always worth a try! I will remember that one thanks Smuggler.

1 Chicken Smuggler · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 178

Anything is worth a try, for birds have been culled because of suspision of mareks.If you save one chicken it is worth it.