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Just remember that slower growth does not necessarily mean more poorly. I read some research about poultry growth in general indicating that growing too quickly/maturing too rapidly in artificial conditions with constant, easy food supply was slightly more likely to cause some long-term problems...

I agree... I am the same way. I am very attached to each and every bird, and hate to lose any of them or see them suffer. This disease has caused some to get out of chicken keeping after the last bird passes away. For me, the joy of having them... and knowing I gave them a good life... is still...

Here's the thing. Even if you did depopulate and then you brought in only vaccinated chicks, nothing has changed. The virus can live for months to years in the environment and it is on microscopic dander. You really can't 100% get rid of it once it is on your property unless you go to extreme...

I understand that ascities is a secondary problem with various causes (often reproductive, in hens)? So it could be a number of things. We have to remember that Marek's is great at suppressing the immune system, so even minor issues can become life-threatening. What breed is she? Based on your...

If I wasn't so darned busy this year that would be something I could do. I could set up a google survey form that people could enter data into every time they have a strongly suspected or confirmed Marek's case, which could be compiled into one spreadsheet to share. Let's brainstrom what...

Oh my gosh Kim, I apologize for getting off topic but now I want to name my next rooster Roaring Rodney Roostertoes.

Trsut me, I'm not. I went out of my way to research this problem for over a year, and wrote an article about it... I have gone to great lengths in terms of biosecurity of my flock since I learned about Marek's, and have worked personally with my avian vet and others to get as much information as...

You hit the nail on the head. We don't have the money or power that big agribusiness does. There are some feed/product companies that focus on us as a niche-- but we are just that, a niche. It's hard to get taken seriously even when you pay well for testing to get answers. People that keep pet...

The problem with a site-wide poll is that only a few people would respond, and it is actually really difficult to know for sure if a bird has Marek's disease or not without doing a necropsy and/or PCR (DNA) test by an experienced avian vet. Most people can't afford extensive testing to know for...

I have looked quite a bit at if waterfowl can get or transmit Marek's and to date have never found anything that suggests that they can. If someone has literature that says differently please do share.

Oh no, Karen! I love turkeys, lol! I think they are lovely. Then again, I'm pretty strange... :lau

Just a note. This may generally be true but isn't accurate 100% of the time. The last rooster that I lost showed classic visceral signs just after his 11-month-old-mark, and died shortly thereafter. I couldn't believe I was seeing classic Marek's at this age. I had extensive and expensive...

(emphasis mine) I agree with all of this, absolutely. I am also very open to learning new things about Marek's. If new studies come out that contradict what I "know", I am happy to keep my mind open to science and adjust my mindset (and the FAQ of course!). Until then, I tend to err on the...

Interesting. Everything I've read/discussions with the folks that study this suggests otherwise. That, like other Herpes viruses, when the virus comes out of latency that the host sheds virus. As it can be difficult to know the difference between sub-clinical Marek's (in survivors) and other...

Do you have any literature that supports this?

That's very kind of you. I am a layperson trying to understand as much as possible about this disease and living with it. I make mistakes! If any of you ever sees something that needs corrected or added to the FAQ just let me know and I will do my best!

That may be correct-- I may have interpreted it incorrectly. Admittedly a problem when you filter information through a human being! Still, like you said, this disease doesn't play by the rules and I have talked to folks here on the forum about chicks showing signs early.

Yes, if the chick is exposed at hatch, three weeks is enough time for signs to show. It is not common and most start to demonstrate signs a bit later on, but it's not impossible. Six weeks just happens to be the time that a lot of birds show it, but it takes much less time for it to actually be...

Ack... yes, massive internal hemorrhaging would certainly cause a lack of blood to the comb. I'm truly sorry to hear it. :(

I apologize if my post was misleading. The purple comb alone is not an indicator of Marek's... it can be from other reasons. Purple/blueish/unusually dark combs are generally a sign of poor blood flow. This can be from any ailment that affects the heart and/or lungs, including respiratory...