I was so afraid of mareks finding me. So afraid. But my understanding is most everyone has it whether they're aware or not. It's everywhere, the ground, the soil- the birds that fly around between your coop and your neighbor's house, who cover miles in a day and stop to steal chicken food, leaving marek's behind.
It seems to me it is a fact of life. Many birds live long lives and never show a symptom. Few die, and a lot of them are blamed on other things.
Don't take ill chickens to shows. Practice ethics and hopefully others will too. Quarantine when you get back if you do that sort of thing, treat for bugs. Use care but don't let fear of a disease which is EVERYWHERE ruin your enjoyment of your birds. You can get mareks at a feed store, at wal-mart, or at the pharmacy off somebody's clothing or shoes. Everyone has it. No one knows or believes they do, but it lives in flocks across the country hidden.
It seems to me it is a fact of life. Many birds live long lives and never show a symptom. Few die, and a lot of them are blamed on other things.
Don't take ill chickens to shows. Practice ethics and hopefully others will too. Quarantine when you get back if you do that sort of thing, treat for bugs. Use care but don't let fear of a disease which is EVERYWHERE ruin your enjoyment of your birds. You can get mareks at a feed store, at wal-mart, or at the pharmacy off somebody's clothing or shoes. Everyone has it. No one knows or believes they do, but it lives in flocks across the country hidden.
it seems that if a wild bird can ruin certification (MG, MS, etc.) than anything can. I assume those that go the extra to have MG/MS free certifications usually don't show? I read where some people on here found out their birds were carriers and never had a sniffle!
