Any advice for keeping Marek's from spreading?

[haleyd]

Ok, I'm pretty sure that we have two cases of Marek's disease in our pen of 8 week bantams. And they were vaccinated! Anyhow, I am very concerned about our flock of laying hens that I'm pretty sure have not been vaccinated. The bantams have not been housed with the hens, but they have been close by. Besides the obvious percautions like taking care of the bantams last, washing hands, sterilizing buckets and equipment, etc, is there anything else we can do to avoid an epidemic? Anything we can give the hens to boost their immune systems? Thanks for any help!

 

[seminolewind]

Where do you think these 2 chicks got Marek's? Who vaccinated them?
Once it's on your property, it would be really hard for someone to keep those 2 groups separate, because it spreads thru chicken dander/dust.

 

[haleyd]

Where do you think these 2 chicks got Marek's? Who vaccinated them?
Once it's on your property, it would be really hard for someone to keep those 2 groups separate, because it spreads thru chicken dander/dust.

They were vaccinated by the hatchery,(Murray Mcmurray) and I assume that is also where they contracted Marek's. We've raised chickens for about ten years, and have never had any problems with disease at all. We live way out in the country, and the nearest flock of chickens besides ours is half a mile away. And nobody that raises chickens has been near our flock for months. It's driving me nuts to think they have Marek's even after we paid for them to be vaccinated! Now our entire flock of 50 some chickens is exposed.

 

[dirtsaver]

They were vaccinated by the hatchery,(Murray Mcmurray) and I assume that is also where they contracted Marek's. We've raised chickens for about ten years, and have never had any problems with disease at all. We live way out in the country, and the nearest flock of chickens besides ours is half a mile away. And nobody that raises chickens has been near our flock for months. It's driving me nuts to think they have Marek's even after we paid for them to be vaccinated! Now our entire flock of 50 some chickens is exposed.

Mareks and other diseases are spread by "wild" birds too you know! You or your chickens never need to ever be within miles of other chickens to contract many diseases.

Also,while not impossible, it's highly unlikely that any of the well known hatcheries would ship diseased chicks.

 

[seminolewind]

Quote: The chicks are vaccinated very early in life. Those hatchery chicks don't have any contact with older chickens.
Chances would be better that one of your chickens is a carrier. You would never know it, there's no way to tell. But if any of the chickens in your flock had contact with other chickens outside your flock at any time in their life, they can be a carrier. And usually the first sign would be chicks that die at 6-8 weeks (average).

 

[haleyd]

The chicks are vaccinated very early in life. Those hatchery chicks don't have any contact with older chickens.
Chances would be better that one of your chickens is a carrier. You would never know it, there's no way to tell. But if any of the chickens in your flock had contact with other chickens outside your flock at any time in their life, they can be a carrier. And usually the first sign would be chicks that die at 6-8 weeks (average).

Good point.

 

[CottonGinWaste]

(From Fowl Facts - Mareks link above)
"There are certain 'B factors' contained in the blood of some chickens that make them resistant to Mareks. If you have access to a lab for 'B type' blood testing, 'B factor' birds are desirable for breeding for a 'Mareks-free' flock." <<<<< I'm going to check into this!!!!

My understanding of the Marek's vaccination is that it prevents exposed birds from developing Marek's symptoms, not from contracting the disease. A vaccinated chicken can be a carrier/vector of Marek's without ever showing any sign of disease. Hopefully you've developed/bred resistance in your original flock over time.

 

[seminolewind]

(From Fowl Facts - Mareks link above)
"There are certain 'B factors' contained in the blood of some chickens that make them resistant to Mareks. If you have access to a lab for 'B type' blood testing, 'B factor' birds are desirable for breeding for a 'Mareks-free' flock." <<<<< I'm going to check into this!!!!

My understanding of the Marek's vaccination is that it prevents exposed birds from developing Marek's symptoms, not from contracting the disease. A vaccinated chicken can be a carrier/vector of Marek's without ever showing any sign of disease. Hopefully you've developed/bred resistance in your original flock over time.

CottonGinWaste, I've heard of the research done with particular blood factors found in B-type blood. I can't imagine how expensive that would be to have done.

You're right about the vaccine. It prevents the symptoms causing death, but not the disease, or being a carrier. And any carrier may not show any signs.

My own chickens hatched my own eggs, and did have that resistance. My oldest silkie roo is 5 and still fine, and was in the flock with "Typhoid Mary". She died, but I have her daughter who is well, and almost 2 years old.