[tatiana916]

My 8 month old Sumatra has been walking very funny for the last week. It started out what looked like a limp which turned into a waddle and she would keep her legs almost straight when walking and hold her tail as high as she could. She would often lose her balance and topple over. She hasn't started laying yet. I gave her a warm bath this morning as I'd heard that sometimes this helps if they've got abdomen problems. Although this morning her legs keep sliding across the floor as if she couldn't hold her weight but they would slide in different directions. She's bright and alert with shiny eyes still and eating and drinking. Does this sound like Mareks?
I've heard of some owners getting their chickens through it even if they have to be separated from the flock for an extended amount of time.
Anyone have any suggestions how to help her its horrible seeing your favourite poorly!

[ANHBUC]

Best to either telephone for advice or take her to a poultry friendly vet.  Make sure she is separated from your other birds in the meantime.  Good luck. 

[tatiana916]

Thankyou. Shes separated for now. Got to wait until Saturday to take her to the vets though  is there anything i can do for her in the meantime?

[ANHBUC]

Best to ring the vet for advice sooner rather than later as they will know what to ask you to get some idea what it is.

[darkbrowneggs]

I think the way it works is that they contract Mareks during the first few weeks of life - then rather like having had chicken pox the virus stays in the body and re-emerges at times of stress, particulary point of lay when there will be many changes taking place within the body

Apparently they can survive this, though obviously this is not certain, and one would never want to breed anything on from such a bird as the ideal would be genetically resistant.

If it is Mareks and she gets through it she would still be susceptible to a recurrence when under stress in the future ie the annual moult which is very debilitating for anything other than a healthy hen

I would say find a chuck friendly vet first and ask their advice as to what it is and what course of action to take

[joyfull]

if she has Mareks (and there is more than 1 type which they can get at differnt ages) and you manage to get her through it she will remain a carrier for the rest of her life. It is highly infectious and you run the risk of her passing it on to any other hen that comes into contact with her (indeed your others may have already caught it if indeed it is Mareks). Even if you get vaccinated hens you cannot be sure that they wont catch it.
First thing you need to do is get her straight to a vets then ideally if they cannot find any other reason get her culled at the vets and an autopsy done on her straight away 

[pepsi100]

What is Mareks ?

I have never heard of it, what are the symptoms to look out for /

[joyfull]

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/90/mareks-disease

[pepsi100]

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/90/mareks-disease

WOW going by reading that, this hen is doomed, she may have infected other birds as well

I would get her seperated as soon as possible

(just going to copy and paste a little from that website)

Signs
Paralysis of legs, wings and neck.
Loss of weight.
Grey iris or irregular pupil.
Vision impairment.
Skin around feather follicles raised and roughened.
Post-mortem lesions

Grey-white foci of neoplastic tissue in liver, spleen, kidney, lung, gonads, heart, and skeletal muscle.
Thickening of nerve trunks and loss of striation.
Microscopically - lymphoid infiltration is polymorphic.
Diagnosis
History, clinical signs, distribution of lesions, age affected, histopathology.
Differentiate from Lymphoid leukosis, botulism, deficiency of thiamine, deficiency of Ca/Phosphorus/Vitamin D, especially at the start of lay.

Treatment
None.

[tatiana916]

Thanx everyone shes currently living the life of Riley in the warmth if our house at the moment! I know 2 of our hens were vaccinated when we got them but I guess they could be carriers now aswel. She's always been a bit if a lone ranger and never socialises with the others which I always found very strange -but slightly thankful now!
How long will it take for the others to show symptoms? Theres only 5 chickens in the flock so its not too disastrous if I have to cull them all but its certainly upsetting its so hard when you've seen them grow from egg to adult 

[joyfull]

you do need to find out first of all if it is Mareks rather than leaving her suffering. It could be something else and by delaying any treatment you could be causing further problems.

[pepsi100]

Personally I think I would want to know as soon as possible, putting down all the birds would be hard, but watching them go downhill and dying is going to be harder, BUT if they are fine, its a bonus

[tatiana916]

The earliest the vet could see her is tomorrow. I talked it through with her on the phone and she said keep her warm and seperate for the time being. Theres not many vets around here that specialise in chickens and iv lost quite a few (and money) from vets not actually knowing whats wrong.

She looks a bit better today she can stand and stretch her wings without toppling over and tonight she was sitting properly rather than having her legs sticking out at wierd angles.

[tatiana916]

RIP Magneto. Vet said that shes got Mareks so I decided it best to have her put to sleep rather than bring her back and let her suffer. She wasnt in any pain but that doesnt mean I can be selfish and hope of some miracle recovery.
 He said hes only seen 1 chicken live 6 months after 1st diagnosis so it would be unfair on her and the rest of the flock.

[ANHBUC]

So sorry, but you did the right thing in not letting her suffer.  I hope the rest of your flock are alright.