Can an older bird catch mareks.

[bird bites my feet 4 fun]

We had a solo rooster for about a year, we got him when he was 2 weeks old from some people who could not have a rooster where they lived, he did have 3 siblings but im not sure if they got mareks or were vaccinated.
Anyway hes 2 years old now (almost) and we have just had 3 of our youngest hens who we hatched in an incubator about 4 months ago die from mareks.
we also have some older hens about 9-10 months who all seem fine and we got from a breeder, the rooster that came with those hens died from what we are assuming was mareks as well.
is our 2 year old boy at risk of developing symptoms and dying or is he somewhat in the clear.

 

[nuthatched]

Did you send away for a necropsy to confirm the mareks?

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Did you send away for a necropsy to confirm the mareks?

X2?!?!

 

[Eggcessive]

Your 2 year old rooster could be at risk of Mareks, just because he was in your flock with others who had Mareks. It would be hard to know if he came to you as a carrier, or if your birds got Mareks at your home. He could have some immunity to the disease. Did you get Mareks confirmed by your state vet with a necropsy? Some other things can look like Mareks. It can affect young birds mostly, but older birds can get it as well once they are exposed. Mareks can remain in your environment for months to years after chickens are gone, so it is good to have a necropsy confirm the disease.

 

[bird bites my feet 4 fun]

Unfortunately we dont have anyone who can do the necropsy in new zealand in my area, but both of my dead hens went through the same stages of progression, leg paralysis, loss of balance, loss of wing control, gasping, then spasms. after the spasms started we destroyed them humanely and buried them the next day.