The Poultry Keeper

Sallh · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Just to say I had one of my mottled pekins put to sleep yesterday as she had gone downhill rapidly in a day and a half. She had six chicks and was rearing them really well when on day 44 she did't come out of the house into the run so I checked and she was unable to stand and kept falling onto her side and panting and I automatically feared "Mareks" I phoned the vet who suggested she might just be suffering from heat exhaustion and to give her water and spray her to try to cool her off. The next morning I checked on her and she was the same but slightly worse, not quite as alert looking. I then took her to the vets and was informed she had egg bound peritonitis. I decided to put her out of her suffering and the vet agreed as chickens don't seem to respond well to the drugs . I now know what to feel for but unfortunately it was too late for my wee scone who, as is the norm, was my fave black mottled chicken. Crying or Very sad

CP · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:16 am Post subject:

That's really sad Sallh. Crying or Very sad

So sorry.

How are the chicks doing without their Mum? Sad

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2241 Location: North Cornwall

What a shame Sallh, for you and her babies. Crying or Very sad

Will they still need heat or do you think they will be OK.

Lisa · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:33 pm Post subject:

Aw.... that is sad Sallh Sad

Hope the chicks are okay without Mum...

janhll895 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: WALES (north)

after reading about jans bantam with mareks, i think my young chicken has it. leg spayed out to back as she tries to get aroung. im interested to see how jan got on at the lab?

traditionalbritishfowlco · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 243 Location: lancashire

I had one with similar symptoms once - legs seized up and splayed out to the back. i tried feeding her wet mash for a few weeks and kept her propped up on towels in a dog kennel but then I thought it was cruel to just keep prolonging her life. A knowledgeable friend said it was mareks, but none of my others suffered and I've never had another like it in 7 yrs.

janhll895 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: WALES (north)

:just to let you all know i took my young chicken to vets on monday, expecting to have her put down, but the vet suggested to try giving her an injection of anti body first as you cant be 100 per cent sure its mareks, so i took her home a bit optimistic and then a friend suggested some homeopathic medcine which i did give her a little, but neither worked and today thursday i had to have her put down because she couldnt stand on either leg, and it was horrible to see her in that condition. i did tell the vet off this morning because he should of put her down the other night because i think they know nothing will work, especially when its vets that dont know much about chickens. next time i wont hesitate to put a chicken out of misery. in all the years i have taken chickens to the vets not once have they saved any. i do believe it was mareks, so i just hope her dad sister or mum dont get it although they may be the carriers. (

CP · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:40 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear that janhll895. Crying or Very sad

Bhindi · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:59 pm Post subject:

Thats a shame, and sorry you've got no confidence with your vet, maybe its time for you to ring around and see if you can find one who's more experienced with chooks.Vets seem to move around from practice to practice, so it may be worth even trying ones, that in the past weren't worth concidering.

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2241 Location: North Cornwall

Been away for a few days so still catching up.

So sorry about your little chook janhll895.

I've had the full report on my bantie and after many tests, some repeated to be sure, they cannot say it was definitely Mareks.
I had a five page report and all they could find were some nerve endings that had thickened, which may have been early Mareks but not enough to confirm it. They also found she had one worm.
They seem to have been very thorough and I was expecting a very large bill but I thought it worth it to know.
As it was , it cost just £37.00 and I wouldn't hesitate to send anything else I was doubtful about.
None of the others are showing any sign of going the same way,so I hope they will all be OK.
I think a classic Mareks sign is paralysis with one leg forward , one leg back.

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

That was a very reasonabale charge for your report, Jan. As you say you wouldn't hesitate to use them again. But hopefully you won't need to ~ not in the near future any way.

It was good to know that they couldn't pin point it onto mareks ~ so the rest of your flock should be fine

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3461 Location: Monmouthshire

Perhaps this is a standard charge from the VLA as I paid the same amount for a PM last year.

CP · Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject:

That's not too bad a charge - I'm sure I heard rumours that it cost about £75 a while ago! Shocked

Glad it's the wrong information. Wink