Coloboma or Ocular Marek's? Does it really matter?

[lhamid]

Here is a picture of my hen, I suspected ocular Marek's. She has normal weight and behavior and is super friendly. All my other birds are fine. I was at the vet yesterday with my rooster and I showed the vet this picture. She said it was probably ocular Marek's. She said no point in culling as everyone else has already been exposed. Vet said if the hen gets stressed, she could start shedding the virus. I am torn about what to do. I really like this little hen, but I also want to protect my flock.

 

[Hentrovert]

Here is a picture of my hen, I suspected ocular Marek's. She has normal weight and behavior and is super friendly. All my other birds are fine. I was at the vet yesterday with my rooster and I showed the vet this picture. She said it was probably ocular Marek's. She said no point in culling as everyone else has already been exposed. Vet said if the hen gets stressed, she could start shedding the virus. I am torn about what to do. I really like this little hen, but I also want to protect my flock.

Keep her for as long as she's vigorous, happy, and healthy. You never know, she could be fine for a long time. My buff orpington just this past spring ended up with internal bleeding in her abdomen from her tumors, so we chose to humanely euthanize before she declined further. She had "water belly" and bright yellow urates, except when the veterinarian attempted to drain her, it was a massive amount of blood -- no matter where they pricked her.

She never knew a day that wasn't fun and I made sure she didn't have to waste away.