Hen can't walk

She died last night around 6. What would I do if it was mareks, because I had 3 chickens die past summer for no reason. I can give you the age of all of then if it helps.

littlechick2000 said:

She died last night around 6. What would I do if it was mareks, because I had 3 chickens die past summer for no reason. I can give you the age of all of then if it helps.

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I am so sorry to hear she didn't make it. You did everything you could .
If your parents are willing you could take her to your state vet for testing so you know what you're dealing with. She will need to be placed into a plastic bag and refrigerated. Clemson University has a lab located in Columbia, South Carolina at 500 Clemson Road (aproximately 1.5 miles north of exit 80 off of I-20).

Animals and specimens are accepted:

Monday-Friday: 8:00am - 6:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed

803-726-7831
803-788-2260

I am located in California and services here are free but I am not sure about SC. Again, I'm sorry for your loss and wishing you and your flock the best.

I already buried her and in my belief, it's respectful to let the dead be, so I won't unbury her, but if another chicken gets sick, I will. One other pressing matter is that I planned on getting 5-6 silkie chicks in late spring-early summer, is that a bad idea since I had this happen along with 3 random deaths

Of course I would never suggest you un-bury her! I was hoping you got the info before you burried her. Personally, I wouldn't add any to the flock until the cause of death has been determined. Something is going on if you've lost 4 already and you don't want to pass it along if it is something contagious.

littlechick2000 said:

I already buried her and in my belief, it's respectful to let the dead be, so I won't unbury her, but if another chicken gets sick, I will. One other pressing matter is that I planned on getting 5-6 silkie chicks in late spring-early summer, is that a bad idea since I had this happen along with 3 random deaths

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I am so sorry that you lost her. I would make sure thzt any new chicks that youj get have a Mareks vaccine, and are raised knside your house away from the coop for 2-3 weeks to achieve full immunity, just in case it was Mareks. A Mareks vaccine usually is only a dollar extra for hatchery chicks, but most feed stores do not sell vaccinated chicks.

Ok thank you a lot. If you don't get chicks from a hatchery though, where would you get them vaccinated.

You can buy Mareks vaccine at many online stores. It comes in 1000 dose vials, and has to be used within a certain amount of time after opening ( perhaps in one hour.) The vaccine is under $30, but you will have to pay shipping and buy a styrofoam contain, adding to the cost. Many people say that it is not as good a vaccine as what the hatcheries give, but it may work. Mareks has different strains and is constantly changing as do most viruses. Chicks must be isolated from any traces of Mareks virus for at least 2 weeks to develop full immunity to the disease. If there is Mareks in your environment, especially in the coop, it is in the dust, feathers and dander there. Any chickens in that environment can be infected for months to years afterward. All chickens in an area where there has been Mareks will be carriers for life, even if they don't develop symptoms. That is why it may be important to send in a dead or dying bird to the state vet for a necropsy and testing, just to know if that is the disease. Below are a couple of online stores that sell the vaccine. Here is a link for your state vet in the US:
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

Randall Burkey | Marek's Disease Vaccine (1000 Dose)

www.randallburkey.com/marek-s-disease-vaccine-1000-dose.html

MD-Vac CFL is recommended for the vaccination of healthy one-day-old chicks only, to aid in the prevention of the signs and lesions of Marek's disease.
MD-Vac CFL, Vaccine for Marek's Disease in Chickens ...

www.jefferspet.com/products/md-vac

Rating: 5 - ‎2 reviews - ‎$28.00
MD-Vac

CFL (Marek's Disease) Vaccine for day-old chicks to help prevent Marek'sdisease. 200 mL vial for 1000 doses (0.2 mL dose). Freight will NOT be ...

Thank you so much. I hope I can convince my parents to let my chicks stay in the house for a while