5 month old Cochin hen needs help

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Donna,

Oh, I am so sorry you lost your girl.

As I understand it, it's best to vaccinate chicks at one day old. I don't vaccinate my chicks, but I give injections often enough. You can do it yourself, all you need to do is purchase the vaccine, diluent, syringes and alcohol wipes if you use them. I always wipe the injection site, with an alcohol wipe, first. I would check the local farm/feed store to see if they sell the vaccine.

Here is a link to a video you can watch. Maybe you'll decide to do it with a helper.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLyD79Q-dXM

But, if you can't do it yourself, you can call a local vet to administer the vaccinations. The video covers that option too. Depending on where you live, there may be a state or county agriculture or extension department that can also assist you, or at least advise you.

I hope you will have the body of your hen out for a necropsy. Then, you can be certain what she died from. Here again, a vet can do the necropsy, or a state or county agriculture lab or extension office. Freeze her body till you can take it for the necropsy.

I hope I have been helpful. Hopefully, other members with experience in Marek's disease may also advise.

God Bless and peace to you Donna.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Donna,

P.S.
Yes, I would vaccinate the chicks, just to be sure.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. I would look into vaccinating for Mareks. The vaccine is available in 1000 dose boxes and available through several online companies, such as ValleyVetSupply, Jefferspet, and others. The vaccine only lasts for an hour once the vial is opened, so a lot will be wasted. You will need a cooler and cold packs from the shipper, which increases the cost. Once vaccinated, chicks should be kept away from dust, dander, and equipment used with any possibly infected chickens for at least 2 weeks to develop full immunity. Hopefully the necropsy will show that it is not Mareks.

 

[Donna Jeanne]

Thank you. Tough day as a second bird’s wing has paralysis. Send both in for necropsy. . Yes, ordering vaccine.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Donna,

Hang in there...this is the very down side of raising poultry.

You will have to practice strict bio-security to protect the chicks that have hatched, and the ones still in the egg, until you can get them vaccinated. Then, you also have to give them two weeks to build immunity.

Some things you may want to do:

• Check out the local farm store to see what kind of disinfectants they have, and purchase one, ASAP.

• Buy a 1, and a 2 gallon, tank sprayer: fill them with disinfectant solution. Keep the 1 gallon outside the entrance of the brooding and hatching area. And, keep the 2 gallon, outside the main coop area, to spray your shoes.

• Also, have a box of latex or nitrile gloves to wear when handling, cleaning or feeding, any of your older chickens.

• Always wash your hands, even if you have worn gloves.

• Use a separate pair of shoes in the main chicken coop/pen, leave them there.

• Before caring for the un-vaccinated chicks, change your clothes if you handle any of the older chickens, or go into the coop. The virus is in the dust and dander.

At this point good hygiene is your best defense. Remember the virus travels in the dust and dander.

These are all things I do with my chickens. It's a lot of work, but if you make it a standard practice, it just becomes part of the day's chores.

Do what you can, and take time for yourself. Some things are just beyond our control, and nature is one of those things.

God Bless

 

[Donna Jeanne]

Greetings Donna,

Hang in there...this is the very down side of raising poultry.

You will have to practice strict bio-security to protect the chicks that have hatched, and the ones still in the egg, until you can get them vaccinated. Then, you also have to give them two weeks to build immunity.

Some things you may want to do:

• Check out the local farm store to see what kind of disinfectants they have, and purchase one, ASAP.

• Buy a 1, and a 2 gallon, tank sprayer: fill them with disinfectant solution. Keep the 1 gallon outside the entrance of the brooding and hatching area. And, keep the 2 gallon, outside the main coop area, to spray your shoes.

• Also, have a box of latex or nitrile gloves to wear when handling, cleaning or feeding, any of your older chickens.

• Always wash your hands, even if you have worn gloves.

• Use a separate pair of shoes in the main chicken coop/pen, leave them there.

• Before caring for the un-vaccinated chicks, change your clothes if you handle any of the older chickens, or go into the coop. The virus is in the dust and dander.

At this point good hygiene is your best defense. Remember the virus travels in the dust and dander.

These are all things I do with my chickens. It's a lot of work, but if you make it a standard practice, it just becomes part of the day's chores.

Do what you can, and take time for yourself. Some things are just beyond our control, and nature is one of those things.

God Bless

Thanks. My boys are taking the losses pretty hard, and I really just can’t wait for a new day. I started cleaning the coop tonight with bleach. I did as much as time and light allowed. I need to figure out what chemical to buy that will truly kill the disease. The Doctor at the agriculture lab said bleach was enough, but I don’t know. I’m also going to move the coops to a different area of the yard; away from the house. Thank you for the information about bio security. I think that remembering to take off our shoes will be the hardest part because we’re so used to going into the basement to wash up and that’s where the chicks are located. I keep hoping and praying that the symptoms were caused by something else, although I fear that it truly is Mareks. The lab results won’t be back for 7-10 long days. Also, I spoke with a technician from Zoetis who makes the mareks vaccine. She said that as long as I keep the older chicks away from the chickens and practice good bio security that I can wait until the eggs hatch and then inoculate. I have mixed feelings on waiting, but as expensive as it is, it may be the choice.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I hear you Donna...no such thing as a free animal.

Most of the articles I have read, say it is best to vaccinate at one day old, or even in the egg. Wow, I would have mixed feelings too.

I will be disinfecting my coop this week, since my flock is pretty much recovered from Infectious Bronchitis. I think bleach solution will be enough, as the doctor told you. I am going to use bleach as the disinfectant, after cleaning my coop. In my research on disinfection of poultry houses, I found a good article from Cornell University.

Here is the link, if you'd like to read it, it's not long, but it explains the step very well.
smallfarms.cornell.edu/2014/04/07/cleaning-and-disinfecting-your-poultry-house/

This is a good resource; the author lists contact information. It's not often that you can talk to experts on anything. I think it's really good that you are talking to people who deal with Marek's professionally.

Keep us posted on the progress, or even if you just need some moral support.

God Bless

 

[Donna Jeanne]

Well, narcropsy results confirmed Mareks as cause of death. MG too. Feeling pretty defeated at the moment with knowing my 7 chickens, 15 chicks and 8 remaining incubating eggs are now in a closed flock with the threat of the Mareks disease forever hovering in my backyard.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that the necropsy showed Mareks. Could you post a copy of it for those of us that like to read and learn? Don’t feel defated. Many others are going through the same thing with Mareks in their flocks. Some chickens may have a natural immunity to the virus, and though they remain carriers, they may never get the disease. Those are probably the best ones to use if you breed.

There are several threads about having Mareks in the flock, and many ideas and opinions to search the forums for. Most people here are eager to share info

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Donna,

So sorry to hear about your necropsy results.

I have been going through a dickens of a time, with my flock. I am now in the eighth week of sick birds. Infectious Bronchitis is difficult to clear from the flock, unless you cull every chicken in the flock, and disinfect. Then, you still have to wait 6 months to bring in new birds. But, since these are my pets too, I will not cull them. Marek's too is a virus that can be cleared in the same way, but the wait time is longer.

Marek's is everywhere in the world. Just as influenza in people has spread globally, so too has Marek's, and many other viruses and bacteria. The scientists at UC Davis have reported that like Infectious Bronchitis, Marek's Disease is here in my community.

All higher life forms must co-exist with this invisible microbial world of viruses and bacteria. As far as having a closed flock, Gail Damerow, of "The Chicken Health Handbook", describes a closed flock as:

• not mixing birds from various sources
• not bringing in new birds (juvenile or adult)
• not returning birds to your property once they have been elsewhere
• not visiting flocks at other locations
• not allowing other keepers to visit your flock
• not borrowing or lending equipment
• not hatching eggs from other flocks
• not allowing wild birds free access to your yard

I have certainly learned a great deal from this knowledgeable author. But, I have to say...this is a pretty tall order! While I agree with many of the recommendations, some are just not practical. The other day, when I was sitting in the waiting room at the vet's office (with my hen), I started to wonder if any other keepers may have been there with their sick chickens. I mean, Marek's is spread by dander and dust! That is impossible to contain, and what about those darkling beetles, that also carry the disease!

Is it realistic to think you can eradicate every possible carrier of contagion?

No, no...my dear Donna, do not feel defeated. You have already done so much by being responsible and getting the necropsy. Now you know, and knowledge is power. If you chose not to cull the rest of the flock, the ones that never exhibit any signs of infection, may be resistant to Marek's. These are your golden girls, and you can breed from resistant hen's. Then, you will not have to deal with Marek's in their offspring, as they will have "natural" immunity at birth. It is believed that these chickens already exist, in flocks of the big poultry producers. Of course, you will need a resistant hen and rooster. Just as, there is a small percentage of people that are immune to HIV, so too, there are animals that are resistant to certain viruses. Diet and environment also has an affect.

For now, your vaccinated chicks have the best protection available.

But, in conclusion, I can relate. When disease sweeps through your flock, it can be daunting and overwhelming, some days.

When I feel like this, I give it to God, as I am a believer. I take my hope and strength from Him. I persevere and endure. And, I keep learning and seeking out information. And, I just care for my flock as best as I can.

I always remember these words, "Bless the beasts and the children, for they have no choice."

God Bless you, and give you peace and strength.