June 19, 2012 Update on Dolly

Well, it has been a tearful month worrying about Dolly and hoping she gets better.


It is almost certainly a nasty chicken disease called Marek's Disease. Most flock owners cull a chicken who contracts it because it is contagious; even though new chicks are vaccinated against the disease, sometimes it doesn't take. And by now they should have a fairly good natural immunity.


So, last week, Steve and I agreed to send Dolly to the Happy Coop in Heaven. Friday, amid more tears, I dug a grave on a nice part of the property in back of the barn and below a group of olive trees.  Darned if Friday afternoon she looked like she was getting stronger and really trying to stand.  So, we had a "stay" and decided to give her more time to recover.


I have been treating her with Astragalus [a good general immune booster even for humans!], echinacea, baby vitamins, and a homeopathic remedy called Causticum. As well as the foods she wants to eat right now which are red grapes, oatmeal, mealworms and some of her chicken pellets softened with water.
This web site has wonderful homeopathic and natural treatments for chickens: it is out of the U.K., but ... hey ... any help from any source is appreciated!       Homeopathic Treatments for Chickens


It is Tuesday and I can say that she is in good spirits, has a very good appetite, and keeps trying to stand up.


I dunno....I might be grasping at straws to think she will pull out of it. Although, it is possible to recover, it takes a long time and she will then always be a carrier....does this mean the others won't get sick - I don't know that either, but it is possible. Normally Marek's attacks early in their lives, like under 2 months old: if it was also what Fearless had in December, then it took 5 months for Dolly to come down with it....hummm.....


SO far the other 4 are hale and hardy, and doing the business of eat, scratch, poop and lay eggs....


As for Dolly, I am not sure how long to keep going because I hate to see her suffer, but I'm being selfish in that if I give her enough time, and she doesn't develop any possible tumors, that she will get back to her old self.
Deep down, I am prepared to let her go.


Oh sure, chickens aren't near the top of the intelligence list, but as she looks at me I can see in her a spirit not ready to give up yet, so neither will I.


Stay tuned....