Thank you so much for confirming my observation that my boys were being affected at a higher rate than my girls. We’ve had ocular and lymphoma forms. I’ve lost 2 in the last month to lymphoma. I was reading about crop stasis with Marek’s and was wondering if you’ve had any experience with this. I have a boy now who is showing symptoms of impacted crop, but I fear it is more likely lymphoma (apparently lymphoma can cause crop issues).
Killer in the Shadows. How My Flock and I Learned to Deal With Marek's Disease
- Author microchick
- Publish date
- Article read time 29 min read
microchick
Thank you so much and I apologize for not responding sooner. I love the John Lennon quote, "Life is what happens while you make other plans" and that sure applies to me, lol. I am honored that I inspired you. There is hope. Don't be afraid to experiment and consider breeding for resistance. You will still lose birds but you won't lose them all. Those are the ones you want to cherish. I still have Marek's around as I lost two roosters recently to suspected Marek's symptoms, after 6 years with no suspicious deaths. Sigh, the killer in the shadows reared it's ugly head again just to let me know it was still around.
Still, I enjoy my feather heads and still have a flock of somewhere around 45 birds. So never give up and never surrender!
Still, I enjoy my feather heads and still have a flock of somewhere around 45 birds. So never give up and never surrender!
microchick
I'm so sorry to hear that you are dealing with this horrible disease. Yes, Silkies are highly susceptible to Mareks. Unfortunately. I would love to have a few but knowing the odds are stacked against them, resist bringing any into my flock.
Your Orpingtons must come from resistant stock as they too are also highly susceptible. I sincerely hope that your chick hatching goes well and second generation is also resistant. Time will tell.
Marek's is a horrible, horrible disease. I recently lost a young rooster to suspicious circumstances that makes wonder if MD is rearing it's ugly head again just to remind me that it is still around.
Your Orpingtons must come from resistant stock as they too are also highly susceptible. I sincerely hope that your chick hatching goes well and second generation is also resistant. Time will tell.
Marek's is a horrible, horrible disease. I recently lost a young rooster to suspicious circumstances that makes wonder if MD is rearing it's ugly head again just to remind me that it is still around.
microchick
Thank you Rebel. I did the article hoping that I could show people dealing with Marek's disease in their flock that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
microchick
You are a great friend to want to do that. Sincerely hope that you don't ever fight Marek's. Thank you for your kind words and Happy New Year!
microchick
Thank you so much! Getting ready to incubate 12 eggs from my vaccinated bantams. This will be their third and in some cases 4th generation. Also I have two wonderful Egyptian Fayoumi and Amish Barnyard cross roosters. There is hope after Marek's folks!
microchick
Hang in there, Chick. Those survivors are worth their weight in layer pellets as they may prove to be your resistant birds. Sorry for not replying sooner. Sometimes I don't get notifications like I should.
microchick
Thank you, MaryJanet. If I can help one person deal with Marek's disease it was well worth the effort.
microchick
Thank you Shadrach but it has so far a happy ending!
microchick
Thank you Granny. I didn't feel strong all the time, unfortunately but I do now!
microchick
Thank you!
microchick
Thank you, Ron
microchick
Thank you. Let me know how things go for you. You aren't alone in this fight.
microchick
Many thanks. And it's a never ending roller coaster ride when dealing with Marek's disease. You just hang on and hope for the best.
microchick
HA! You know me too well, DD. LOL. Thanks my friend.
microchick
Thanks Bruce. Keep up the good work with those Tiepos, LOL!
microchick
Thank you C. Means a lot to me.
microchick
It's been a rough story to tell but if it helps someone else, it's well worth the hassle. Thank you, Sour.
I lost two young roosters recently from wasting that made me suspect that that they had succumbed to MD. After 6 years with no suspicious deaths, I was disappointed to say the least. But once again, it was my roosters who seemed to succumb. As I think I wrote in the article speculation leads me to believe that once they reached sexual maturity, the breeding/pecking order stress they experienced lead them to succumb to the disease.
I read that crop impactions and dysfunctions were associated with MD, just another nail in their coffins so to speak.
So sorry to hear that you are having to deal with this. It sounds very much what I went through. I'm a big fan of roosters so losing one of my boys really breaks my heart a little more each time I lose one.
Regarding lymphoma. I lost a beautiful Welsummer rooster to sudden onset tumors in his throat. They were hiding under his wattles and I didn't find him until I witnessed him having trouble swallowing. I had to cull him and cried when I did. So yep, been there done that and frankly I wouldn't wish that pain on any chicken keeper.