[WoodlandsDevon]

hi,
I have a flock of 36 hybrid layers. Suddenly today, my brother noticed one acting very strangely. Its difficult to describe but it seems very weak and doesn't sit properly- it lies on its side with both legs sticking out the side (I d to attach a photo but it is too large.) Also, its eyes kept rolling shut and looked as if it was dying on the spot. At first I thought it had broken its leg but both legs seem fine. It almost seemed to be surging, not very majorly, but still. It almost seemed like it was reaching too. I separated it from the rest and went and did some homework for 45 mins, and when I came back it seemed better. Now after about 3-4 hours it seems better, but it is still lying on its side with its legs sticking out?!!? .... my brother has suggested that it has paralysis... could this be so? Also my brother in law admits that he saw one drining from where he had just gone for a wee!!! .... or perhaps it could have eaten a air rifle pellet?.... I would appreciate any of your thoughts on this, as I am worried that it could have a disease...
thanks

[clydesdaleclopper]

try looking up Marek's and see if that sounds likely as that is the first thing that occurred to me.

[WoodlandsDevon]

Thanks or your reply!... shoot!! sounds nasty ... I hope not.. .. I will check her eyes... apparently that is one way of telling....?? none of the others have had similar symptoms though?!!? I just thought.... I do have hens that love climbing trees, and sometimes find themselves about 5 feet up!.... I noticed her when I called them to give them some corn so they all come running.. and she was underneath the tree... maybe she got excitied and fell off? :d sounds stupid but.... how would I tell? any suggestions? here is a pic of the bird after finding her...

[fsmnutter]

Looks like mareks, but could be paralysis from something else eg. trauma like a sudden landing from a tree.
You could isolate her away from other hens with deep bedding for comfort as she won't be able to perch and see if she improves or deteriorates over the next 24-48 hours. If no improvement, kindest thing would be to put her down. Your vet may be able to post mortem including sending a sample of leg vein to test for mareks if she doesn't make it.
Fingers crossed for her.

[WoodlandsDevon]

thanks fsmnutter! ..... yes it could be a trauma related... the other thing we noticed is that she had a slight wet mark on her neck.... maybe a rat attacked her... we have a few of them around. She seems much better now. She can stand and even layed an egg this morning! what a saint! If it is marek's would it be most likely that the other hens have caught it?

[Marches Farmer]

Marek's is astonishingly infectious.

[Hevxxx99]

Hybrid layers are usually vaccinated against Marek's, but possibly depends where you got them from.

In the summer, they behave much as you describe when they're sunbathing.  She wasn't just having a dust-bath or similar?

[mojocafa]

That's my thoughts as well hevxxx99

[WoodlandsDevon]

sorry for late reply... haven't been able to look at these posts recently....
no it was definitely not sunbathing  'm amateur but not that bad!!  .... she would just fall off her feet..... but she laid an egg on her first day and is back with the others.... cant tell which now....
My only issue is, I have noticed a lot of sneezing amongst my flock, and when I was cleaning out the hen house today, I heard one almost bubbling from its lungs as it breathed.... any suggestions??

[farmers wife]

sorry for late reply... haven't been able to look at these posts recently....
no it was definitely not sunbathing  'm amateur but not that bad!!  .... she would just fall off her feet..... but she laid an egg on her first day and is back with the others.... cant tell which now....
My only issue is, I have noticed a lot of sneezing amongst my flock, and when I was cleaning out the hen house today, I heard one almost bubbling from its lungs as it breathed.... any suggestions??

Masplamsa - we had it in the summer.  Sneezing and mucus is def a sign. Note if the face is swelling. Baytril/Tylan etc but I had to inject water and whipped up egg into out mouths as they were not able to feed in anyway.  I gave initial injection and followed up with oral I did it longer than the vet instructed as a few of them were very ill I was very pleased as I didnt lose one. I refed the eggs back into them.


If you have brought them recently then they could of had it from chicks, caught it from wild birds or as in a lot of cases they carry it and when under stress it appears.


Hope this helps

[farmers wife]

Hybrid layers are usually vaccinated against Marek's, but possibly depends where you got them from.

In the summer, they behave much as you describe when they're sunbathing.  She wasn't just having a dust-bath or similar?

If you read the data even if vaccinated they can still get it or carry it. 

[WoodlandsDevon]

Thanks for your help guys.....
I did guve them antibiotics the other month.... I suspected they had mycoplasma..... I think it cleared it or subdued it any way... d o you think it would be worth giving them another dose??
as for vaccinations I thnk they are fully vaccinated... but as  you say they can still catch it

[WoodlandsDevon]

what can be done for marek's

[farmers wife]

Yes I would give them another dose.  I had incidents when I popped mine back with the flock and the next few days they had it back.


Mareks very little to what I have read, think by reading other stories, if you have a strong healthy bird they you could probably keep it well fed and isolated.


I am going to disinfect the henhouse Monday with anti viral fluid.