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coccidiosis or Mareks?

sally
edited January 2011 in Feeding & Health Care
Hi All, Very new to chickens and began with six hens and one cockerel about ten months ago. A month or so in 2 hens died in relative short space of time (1 month). The first died with no apparent symptoms, running, eating drinking till last minute. The second had drooped wing, very sleepy, eyes half shut. Now seven months later the rooster died. He hasn't been well for 2 weeks, sleepy, lethargic. Eating but mostly corn. Last night was worst, had to lift him into his house. Slept on floor rather than on roost. Has never let me touch him before.Was dead in the morning. Thought it may have been cold weather although have had coop heated with red lamp. Can anybody give me any ideas. Want to replace him but worried there may be disease in flock. Is it too late to vaccinate for Mareks. Os is it coccidosis? Or neither?

Comments

  • Susan Mc
    edited November -1
    Hi Sally, I'm sorry to hear you're having such bad luck with your flock.
    To answer your question, it is too late to vaccinate for Marek's disease. This vaccine must be given to chicks no older than day-old in order to be effective. Droopy wing can be a symptom of Marek's, but it is usually followed up with progressive paralysis in other limbs as well. The description just doesn't fit Marek's very well.
    Cocci is usually accompanied by diarrhea, did the chickens in question have diarrhea?
    The first 2 cases sound totally different from each other, and the third case is far removed in time from the first 2. They may well have died from entirely different causes. How recent did the rooster die, would you be able to send his carcass for lab testing?
    If it was me, I'd take a bit more time and watch the flock carefully, checking for anything unusual. Look for discharge from eyes or nostrils, check the droppings, pick up the birds and check their condition are they too thin, look for mites/lice on the skin and feather shafts. Also check the house for redmite. If they haven't been wormed or treated for external parasites in the past 6 months, and the chickens appear healthy right now, then treat them for such as this should be routine anyway. Give their coop and feeders/waterers etc a really thorough cleansing and disinfecting as soon as you are able. Also make sure the chickens are being fed a suitable diet. If after 3-4 weeks the hens still appear healthy, then I'd consider bringing in new stock, but do your best to get healthy birds, and keep them quarantined from your current stock for at least 3 weeks.
    Fingers crossed all goes well from here on out. :)
  • sally
    edited November -1
    Thanks Susan. Yes all seemed so different may be just bad luck. As for discharge from nose and mouths, there was from the one with the limp wing but keep a close eye on them all since this and no others have shown this symptom. The four remaining seem very healthy, good weight, very lively. They eat organic layers pellets and rolled barley and a few kitchen scraps. House is cleaned regularly. Will start keeping better eye on droppings though as unsure about this. Rooster only died Wed. Haven't him buried yet due to frozen ground. How and where would I go about sending him to the lab? Will look into having them wormed etc. Thanks a million for all your advice. Hoping my four remaining have a happier and longer life.
  • Susan Mc
    edited November -1
    Sorry just seeing this again, your local vet should point you in the right direction for a lab, but it's probably a bit late now for that.
    Hope the rest stay healthy. Good luck this year!
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