1 y.o. silkie hen r.i.p. Marek's Disease

You wrote you are waiting for the results - so is a necropsy in progress? I would wait then, too. The others were exposed already, if it is Marek's. Perhaps the results will reveal something different - I cross my fingers there was another reason for dear Opal's death.
I read Marek's (there seem to be different strains) can be spread by the wind, so it can be very difficult to avoid. But I have no experience (and I am not very experienced at all).
Hopefully it was not Marek's :hugs
 
You wrote you are waiting for the results - so is a necropsy in progress? I would wait then, too. The others were exposed already, if it is Marek's. Perhaps the results will reveal something different - I cross my fingers there was another reason for dear Opal's death.
I read Marek's (there seem to be different strains) can be spread by the wind, so it can be very difficult to avoid. But I have no experience (and I am not very experienced at all).
Hopefully it was not Marek's :hugs
Yeah, I wanted to have it tested for sure. Thank you, I am thinking and hoping the same 🤞
I am learning a lot through error.
:hugs
I'll update with results.
 
I recieved the results this morning:
20210830_083517.jpg

She tested positive for Mareks.

I had Opal with her chick in a different part of the yard but I'm pretty sure the others have all been exposed by this point.

All my other chickens were purchased from a feed store so, it's likely they're vaccinated.
I contacted Opal & chick's seller and she informed me she did not vaccinate and hasn't had any issues in her flock.

So, regardless where it came from... what does this mean for the rest of my flock?

Is there any hope?
 
I have a 1yr old silkie hen that I got in the beginning of July with 1 chick. She's been completely fine until today. Noticed she never came out of the nest box. Not making much movement or even a peep. I picked her up (normally she runs from me) without issues and her right leg seems to not be functioning right. It's tucked back and she can't walk on it. There does not seem to be any blood, or broken bone, or any sign that she might have had an altercation with a predator...and her baby chick seems normal and fine.
View attachment 2804557
Any ideas?



Update: she worsened quickly, to the point she couldn't hold herself up anymore, would fall over and sleep. Took her to a vet and they suspected Marek's disease. I had her euthanized.
:(

They made this for me for free...
View attachment 2804556
I'm so sorry for your loss. I know what it's like to lose a chicken to Mareks. It's so hard. :(
 
I recieved the results this morning:
View attachment 2816529
She tested positive for Mareks.

I had Opal with her chick in a different part of the yard but I'm pretty sure the others have all been exposed by this point.

All my other chickens were purchased from a feed store so, it's likely they're vaccinated.
I contacted Opal & chick's seller and she informed me she did not vaccinate and hasn't had any issues in her flock.

So, regardless where it came from... what does this mean for the rest of my flock?

Is there any hope?
I'm so sorry!

As far as the outcome for the others, only time will tell I'm afraid. If there aren't any symptoms currently present, I would keep an eye for now and keep your flock closed for the next few months. The mareks vaccine is good but some chickens still will not overcome it I'm afraid. If the others may have contracted it and they have their vaccinations, there should still be some hope. The vaccination helps with the symptoms and most of the time they will live through it if they happen to contract it. Other than that, for now I would keep a close eye and pray for the best for the rest of the flock.
 
So sorry that your chicken was positive for Mareks. It does mean that your flock are carriers of Mareks. You should not rehome any, and if you would buy other chicks, they should be vaccinated at a hatchery, and kept free of the environment there outside for 2 full weeks to achieve immunity. Mareks is spread by feather dander, so it goes every where in your environment. Your hen could have gotten it at your place or been exposed at her former home. Hard to know. Hopefully, many of your chickens will not get the symptoms of Mareks. There are 4 types of symptoms—nerve, skin, eyes, and peripheral tumors. Here is a good article about the disease:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
 
I'm so sorry!

As far as the outcome for the others, only time will tell I'm afraid. If there aren't any symptoms currently present, I would keep an eye for now and keep your flock closed for the next few months. The mareks vaccine is good but some chickens still will not overcome it I'm afraid. If the others may have contracted it and they have their vaccinations, there should still be some hope. The vaccination helps with the symptoms and most of the time they will live through it if they happen to contract it. Other than that, for now I would keep a close eye and pray for the best for the rest of the flock.
So, just a waiting game and hoping for the best, and stricter biosecurity.

Should I continue to keep the chick separate?
 

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