A blessing turns into a nightmare...beware......

[HonaHelp]

Several weeks ago..I won a rare pullet raffle. I was over the moon with excitement!! The 4 different breed pullets were shipped to me from a breeder down south....at 8(one of them) and 12 weeks old.
Luckily...the Ohio cold has kept my quarantine period LONG. The birds have been here since Feb 15th. Kept in my heated garage. 2 of the pullets have since died from what I believe to be Marek's disease. They were fine, until they were not. The first died ( March 28th) within days after losing use of one leg(I thought she had simply strained the leg jumping off the coop ramp--she was kept separate and food and water was within reach...giving her time to heal--she ate and drank good and poop was normal), 10 days later the 2nd was sick(the youngest one) , unable to walk and died that very day(April 7th). These birds have been fed a 'nutritionally complete' age-appropriate diet, have had fresh water , fresh bedding, sunlight...everything I have always done for any of my birds. Vitamins were started when the first pullet stopped using her leg....just in case. My now excited win has my entire flock at risk. Marek's is highly contagious...spread via feather dander and fecal matter....so--it gets everywhere!! I know it is not 100% sure w-out an autopsy....but--signs are/were there. So--now--do I cull the remaining 2...or wait it out? THAT is the question. Incubation for Marek's is 3 to 25 weeks!! Comments, advice, experiences?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Depends how you feel about Mareks. I see it as a management issue. We cull any that are systematic. I see it occasionally in a young bird, but nothing rampant. I only get chicks from a hatchery these days or hatching eggs. I will never bring in any older birds. There are things much worse than Mareks out there.

I personally would watch them. You could cull under the assumption that Mareks will go with them, but Mareks can blow in on the wind and be carried in by wild birds. I believe most chicks exposed to Mareks will develop an immunity to it, and a few may become symptomatic.

Sorry this happened. It's always a risk with chickens.

 

[HonaHelp]

I have a little hobby flock. 7 birds. Never have a I dealt with any health issues. Glad they were never with my flock. I really wish I had never won that stinkin raffle. Hind site is 20/20. These birds came from a farm that sells and raffles chickens on a farm raffle site. I wonder how many others have gotten sick-in-a while birds from them.... BEWARE is all I have to pass on to others. Be very careful. It was well past the 30 day quarantine time zone that they showed sickness. I have pretty good knowledge of chicken illnesses now that I have had to research, research, research. Still learning, always learning... Thanks for the reply.

 

[HonaHelp]

Well...a 3rd pullet has a limp wing today(4-11). Hope anyone reading this and searching for answers....can find some info here to help them. All 3 of my suspected Marek's birds..have presented w different symptoms. One started w a limp leg, one not able to walk at all..and a wobbly neck---she died within 12 hours---, and this next one a limp wing. They are still on chicken vitamins...and away from my main flock. One plucky orpington left to show signs....but--they all started out plucky.

 

[Peeperscreepers]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I can't help but wonder what site/farm they came from? I live in the south and would rather avoid sick birds if I can.

 

[lazy gardener]

Did you contact the person these birds came from? Are they NPIP? (I don't put much faith in NPIP. IMO, it's not worth more than the sheet of paper it's written on, but that's the cynic in me.) Just wondering if there is any accountability with this supplier since sick birds were sent across state lines.

 

[HonaHelp]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I can't help but wonder what site/farm they came from? I live in the south and would rather avoid sick birds if I can.

Thanks. I'm pretty sick about it.

 

[HonaHelp]

Did you contact the person these birds came from? Are they NPIP? (I don't put much faith in NPIP. IMO, it's not worth more than the sheet of paper it's written on, but that's the cynic in me.) Just wondering if there is any accountability with this supplier since sick birds were sent across state lines.

Yes and yes they are. Awaiting any response/reply from them...They have to be NPIP to sell on the site. A lot of good that did me. I do realize marek's can blow in on the wind, nothing is 100%...maybe they did get exposed here...--- not sure how it would have gotten into my garage. Incubation is 3 to 25 weeks...and they have been here for 7 weeks.

 

[lazy gardener]

Mareks can be latent, (I think) as well as travel for long distances. It can be in your soil, travel on the wind, be carried by a passing bird, come in on your shoes or clothing. How many of us go to the feed store, then bring feed or other things home from the feed store. Our feet tread where thousands of other feet from other farms have tread... There really would be no way of proving where it came from.

 

[HonaHelp]

Mareks can be latent, (I think) as well as travel for long distances. It can be in your soil, travel on the wind, be carried by a passing bird, come in on your shoes or clothing. How many of us go to the feed store, then bring feed or other things home from the feed store. Our feet tread where thousands of other feet from other farms have tread... There really would be no way of proving where it came from.

Agreed. Can't prove anything, but..I'll take a pretty good guess. Ha. Want them to be aware anyway. I've learned a good lesson. Hope my other chickens don't have to pay for my stupidity.