Can Chooks have a stroke?

[minskey]

I've noticed over the last couple of weeks one of my Marans behaving quite strangely, or at least I think she is.

When she runs she sort of falls sideways onto a wing; I noticed it when she gets packed by one of the other hens. She is large but gets picked on. Goes to bed really early too. I managed to pick her up tonight and she is very light, not sure if that is down to moulting as he feathers are coming out all over the place. No lice but her comb is not a bright red, more burgundy and quite dry looking. I gave her some corn by hand and also noticed that she pecked them sidways on.

I suddenly though she resembles somone who has had a head injury.......... could she have had a stroke?

[Suechooks]

Yes chooks can have a stroke. She could also have Mareks as this affects one side and can lead to paralysis. Mareks manifests in a lot of ways so its difficult to diagnose except by post mortem. If you google it theres lots of info. I had a bird with it recently so it's the first thing that comes into my mind!

[RichmondHens]

My first thought was Marek's too. I would get her checked out by a vet for a proper diagnosis.

[minskey]

Mareks; the word makes my heart sink. I have 'googled' it & the loss of weight & also the pale iris are things we both noticed along with what looks like vision impairment. She is a maran & I also just read marans & sumatrans are very rarely affected.

What do I do now? all the rest are fine. Is it a notifiable disease?

[RichmondHens]

See what your vet says before you make any decisions. It is not a notifiable disease (to my knowledge) and is much more common than people think. A lot of cases go undetected or unidentified as people either don't recognise it or the bird dies and people just assume "it is one of those things". Unfortunately this is how it spreads around so easily.

If she were mine I would cull her instantly then get a diagnosis by post mortem (often the only way to know for sure). Then you know what you are dealing with. If any others start to show symptoms isolate them immediately and ask the vet for advice.

Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh. Not a good start to the weekend for you. Let us know how you get on.

[minskey]

I know you are both right, I don't want her to suffer. My OH will cull her as soon as he is back from work; I have done the deed before but just can't this time.

There is no chicken vet in my area [that I have found anyway] The last time I went he didn't even know how to handle the hen and had the attitude that I could get another one anyway

I have googled mareks; the information I found does not make it clear how hens get infected. is it something I have done or missed.

[Suechooks]

No Minskey its not anything you can prevent as far as I know. I believe wild birds can transmit it. Hybrids are vaccinated against it but that only prevents the tumours not the paralysis or the sudden death of chicks etc. Vaccinated birds can be carriers which is one reason not to mix vaccinated and unvaccinated birds
After my Cream legbar was culled I watered the runs with ***** fluid at the rate recommended for bird flu and sprayed all equipment and coop etc. I have all my pure breeds in the same run and coop so my heart is in my mouth every time one looks a bit fluffed up or unwell!
Sorry about your girl - its really heart breaking I know. {{{hugs}}}

[minskey]

Well my OH culled my maran today; I know she wasn't right but its so upsetting. He was very upset too.

I'm still not sure it was Mareks but she definately had problems with vision [her pupils were very small with a grey edge] and the iris was green/grey and was underweight, she had lost a lot of weight over the last week.

I watched he for oven an hour before she was culled and she would spin on the spot as if trying to make out where she was. I could walk upto her & she did not know I was there, usually you cannot get within feet of her. I'll keep an extra vigilent eye on the rest of the flock.

[polo]

That's such a shame but you made a tough decision- I think it was the right one. Xx

[Glutton4...]

Awwww ((((HUGS)))) from me. It's so upsetting to lose one.

[Suechooks]

Sorry you had to do it but she was obviously very sick so its the right decision.

[mr darcy]

so sorry for you, you are very brave, big hugs from me an my gals too!

[Nicos]

Oh dear- but you clearly made the right decision from how you describe her.

I lost Lily about this time last year to something neurological and my eyes were peeled for weeks keeping an eye on the other chooks.

Big hug to you both....not nice for either of you xx

[minskey]

thanks to one & all...................................