Bad news...thoughts?

[RyRe2010]

I have to begin this with a warning. Make sure you always quarantine new chickens for the 30 days...if not, you'll end up making/paying a costly mistake.
I am relatively new to chickens, coming up on my 2nd year and I have added new adult birds with no problem. I did that last year...
This year, I was given 4 birds in April, which I am 100% positive, brought Mareks into my yard/flock.
Since this, I have lost 2 of the birds from that 4 and 7 of my others...
I recently took one of my pullets who was declining fast to our Purdue Animal Disease and Diagnostic Lab.
Confirmed my suspicion for Mareks (my whole flock has been exposed) but she also had listeria and was septic with it. Listeria is a naturally occurring bacteria but can also be a normal gut flora.
After I took her in, which was about 3 to 4 weeks ago, I have since lost 3 more birds...which as we know, Mareks causes immuno suppression, and I believe I have a listeria outbreak, which also poses a great Zoonotic risk. But, without testing these birds, it's just suspicion according to symptoms.
I called the Purdue ADDL and their reccomendation is to cull ALL remaining birds, 24 in total. And start from a clean slate...I totally understand the reasoning. I do, I get it.
I am having a hard time just going and killing all of my birds...what if some of them do have the immunity and genetics to survive this??
I'm just torn. Do I let survival of the fittest take place. Or do I cull them all. I realize this is a personal decision but I'm just reaching out to see thoughts and opinions of others.
This has been a VERY COSTLY learning experience for me :-( not as in price, but lives of my birds.
Thanks for your time!!

 

[Mimi13]

I believe I would cull. Even if you have some that pull through, they are carriers and will infect future birds. I am very sorry you are going through this.

 

[DobieLover]

Wow. What a tragic learning experience. My heart goes out to you.
I am going to look at a pullet next week to add to my flock and am for sure going to quarantine her.
My question is: will Marek's or any other disease (New Castle, etc.) show up in the 30 day period?
My chicks were vaccinated against Marek's but I am well aware that they could still contract it as no vaccine is 100% effective.

 

[Kat2141]

oh wow, I'm so sorry that happened to you. That would be awful. I have never heard of Mareks and have to say, hope I won't ever experience it.

My chicks were vaccinated against Marek's but I am well aware that they could still contract it as no vaccine is 100% effective.

Just out of curiosity, who does vaccinations and care for chickens around here? I'm in Windsor, so only about 30 miles from you.

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Just out of curiosity, who does vaccinations and care for chickens around here? I'm in Windsor, so only about 30 miles from you.

Usually vaccinations are done to day old chicks from the breeder/hatchery you get them from. It is an option you can choose when buying.

 

[DobieLover]

Just out of curiosity, who does vaccinations and care for chickens around here? I'm in Windsor, so only about 30 miles from you.

I bought them from Meyer Hatchery and had them vaccinated as day old chicks. Sorry about the confusion on that. My chickens are now 20 weeks old. But great to know there is someone so close to me!

 

[DobieLover]

Usually vaccinations are done to day old chicks from the breeder/hatchery you get them from. It is an option you can choose when buying.

Yep. That's what I did.

 

[Kat2141]

I bought them from Meyer Hatchery and had them vaccinated as day old chicks. Sorry about the confusion on that. My chickens are now 20 weeks old. But great to know there is someone so close to me!

oh, ok. I got my original 6 from TSC in March 2017, so I'm not sure if they were vaccinated or not. It is nice to know someone else nearby

 

[rebrascora]

As someone who has Marek's in their flock and has been dealing with it for 4 years I can say that I would not cull and have not culled, just euthanized terminally ill birds. I have also had some that have recovered from quite severe attacks of it and go on to have good quality of life. I do have one of the milder strains though.

The Herpes virus that causes it can live in the environment for a considerable length of time, possibly years without a host, so it is not like you can start with a clean slate just like that. You could cull all these birds, clean up as best you can and get new birds in a year or two and still get Marek's again. I breed from the survivors and I lose less each year. I know how heart breaking it is but those healthy birds that you are being recommended to cull may be the genetic answer to the situation. It is believed that it is the vaccine that is probably responsible for the more aggressive strains of the virus, like you are experiencing. Nature has a way of balancing out these issues if we let her, but it is your decision. I would cook all eggs thoroughly.... no dippy yolks and make sure to practice good hygiene after doing chores etc with the chickens. A healthy immune system should be able to deal with these challenges. A good healthy diet is the basis of a strong immune system.

I wish you luck whatever you decide.

 

[rebrascora]

Those of you who are not familiar with Marek's disease should know that it is an extremely common and world wide disease of chickens. It is very easily contacted..... infected material can be carried on clothing, shoes, hair and skin as well as the feathers of birds that may not themselves be infected, so quarantine may not prevent them from bringing it into your flock, but is worth doing anyway as it will reduce the risk. Many people will have a milder strain of the disease in their flock and perhaps not even be aware of it. I would say that it is possible that more flocks have the disease than don't.... it is that common. Like the cold sore virus in humans, you don't know who has it until they have an outbreak and they can go months or years between outbreaks. Marek's is similar but it has so many different symptoms that it is difficult to look at a bird like you can with a person who has a cold sore and recognise the virus. The disease causes a lot of heart ache when they are in back yard flocks which are often considered pets. Please think twice about bringing grown birds into your flock.