[spanishchicken]

I lost my 24 week old Popeye over the weekend. He/she (I still hadn't been able to tell) had been ill for over a week. I tried numerous things to pep him up but on Saturday it was obvious that this was going to be his last day with us,
When I got him out of his overnight box ( he refused to perch at night since being ill) his eyes were spinning round and round as if he was dizzy.
This continued on during the day although later on he didn't open his eyes but I could see his eyes moving behind the lids.
He just slept all day and I hoped it would be quick for him. Later on I decided to move him back into his overnight box.  As I picked him up and placed him down it was obvious he had lost all signs of balance and just rolled around like a weeble (sorry, best way I can describe it).
I so wanted it to be quick for him - I had hoped i would be able to do it myself but because he was moving around so erratically everytime I touched him I couldn't do it.
his last couple of hours I believe him to have been in an almost coma state - occasionally lifting his back feathers up and lifting his neck round but never opening his eyes again.  
I am new to keeping chickens and this is my first loss and I am really upset.
I need to know if this is a normal process of dying - ie his body just shutting down or do I need to worry about my other 2 aswell?
Thanks in anticipation
Haze

[Vember]

Hi I'm really sorry about your loss  :cry:

By the symptoms your describing my thoughts are Mareks Disease, I have no direct experinece with it (luckily for me) .
Here is a link which might tell you more, there are a couple of other links within the post that are intresting.

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=11749&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=mareks&start=15
I would keep an eye on your other hens.

As for the normal process of dying... Mine thankfully have either gone in their sleep or very quickly aided & unaided.

Sorry I can't be of more help, sending Hugs to you for your loss

Sarah

[poultrygeist]

Sorry about poor old Popeye :?

Agree with Vember, from what I've read about it on here.

Affects the balance and co-ordination I think.

Rob

[agapanthus]

I'm so sorry Haze....sounds like a horrid way to go {{hugs}} from me too.

[nnbreeder]

Usually with Mareks the bird loses control of the legs first and will sit with one leg forward and the other back. Then it will spread to the wings next and they will droop and so on until all the systems just shut down. All the time this is going on the bird is usually bright and alert, eating and drinking normally but it just can't move. Those are the classic symptoms but at times I'm sure there are exceptions.

[spanishchicken]

Thanks for all your replies.  I had thought about Marek's but thought it was unusual because he had been ill for 8 or 9 days with none of the Marek's symptoms - just looking depressed and not wanting to join in with the others.  I was able to keep him eating a little and administer water to him.  
His 2 other companions Olive and Keeley seem well enough - they did miss him on Sunday and spent the whole day just calling for him.