Confirmed Marek’s. Moving forward.

[CabritaChicks]

In so soory- my heart goes out to you.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I beat Marek’s by letting nature take its course. I let Marek’s run through like a wildfire and purge out all the chickens that couldn’t handle it. I then bred the chickens that were asymptomatic. It created a flock of chickens that shrugs its off.

I understand that approach won’t be tasteful for someone keeping their chickens as personal pets, as you may have to sacrifice your personal favorite birds for the good of the flock. But this method does practically work.

 

[Closing Time]

I beat Marek’s by letting nature take its course. I let Marek’s run through like a wildfire and purge out all the chickens that couldn’t handle it. I then bred the chickens that were asymptomatic. It created a flock of chickens that shrugs its off.

I understand that approach won’t be tasteful for someone keeping their chickens as personal pets, as you may have to sacrifice your personal favorite birds for the good of the flock. But this method does practically work.

Honestly, at this point that’s what I’m thinking we do. I only have 6 total at this point, including the one that I’m sure we will lose and the Roo that’s with her. We were planning on building a new coop and run in a different part of the property this year because the old barn building they are in needs to be moved due to our horse barn and paddock expansion. But now I’m going to sit on that, see what happens here and look to make that change in the future. I know we’ll still have it on the property but a new build will be easier to decon and mitigate then 40 year old T&G barn wood.

If our Roo makes it through this (and I so hope he does. He’s a lovely boy) then that’s what we’ll go with. I didn’t exactly want to breed polish crosses but he’s got a great temperament so it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

I looked up the ideal 236 and the production blacks that are supposed to be resistant. I’ll keep researching others to integrate in the future. Not the sweet backyard fluffers I was planning but it is what it is at this point.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Sigh. This sucks.

I completely understand what you're going through. I went through something similar, but with PBFD (Parrot Beak and Feather Disease), which is lethal and has no cure. It managed to take away my best friend at the time—an African Grey named Siva—and three other rescues. All because of one stupid disease that came in with a single bird. After that, I became absolutely paranoid... and did exactly what you're doing now: shut down all intakes until I was certain it was safe again.

I ended up having to close the clinic entirely. No new birds, no appointments, total biosecurity lockdown. I was beyond distraught. In a moment of sheer panic and grief, I started rolling cages into the saltwater pool—total hysteria. Not my finest moment, but I was desperate to feel like I had some control. Maybe consider taking a slug hammer to the old coop... even just a few hits and yelling all the profanities you have bottled up.

I bought F10 'bombs'—the ones you set off like exterminator foggers—and fogged every inch of the clinic. I even treated the soil in the outdoor enclosures. My employees stayed overnight just to make sure every surface was disinfected once the fog had cleared (and they were worried about me- I was less calm than I am now).

So yes… when you’ve vaccinated (there is not even a vaccine for PBFD), done everything “right,” and still lose birds—it’s infuriating, heartbreaking, and surreal. That kind of 100% failure rate feels like betrayal. You're not alone. I know that pain all too well, and I’m so sorry you're in the middle of it. That is when I hit the alternative medicine and nutrition bandwagon HARD. I adsorbed all information (went back for a phd) and wouldn't stop until I knew I could improve the immune system of my birds (all the birds from wild passerine rescues, parrots and chickens (I don't do waterfowl). It actually gave me a new lease on perspective.

Do what makes you sleep at night. Regroup and reformat. You may find it therapeutic in the long run.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Honestly, at this point that’s what I’m thinking we do. I only have 6 total at this point, including the one that I’m sure we will lose and the Roo that’s with her. We were planning on building a new coop and run in a different part of the property this year because the old barn building they are in needs to be moved due to our horse barn and paddock expansion. But now I’m going to sit on that, see what happens here and look to make that change in the future. I know we’ll still have it on the property but a new build will be easier to decon and mitigate then 40 year old T&G barn wood.

If our Roo makes it through this (and I so hope he does. He’s a lovely boy) then that’s what we’ll go with. I didn’t exactly want to breed polish crosses but he’s got a great temperament so it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

I looked up the ideal 236 and the production blacks that are supposed to be resistant. I’ll keep researching others to integrate in the future. Not the sweet backyard fluffers I was planning but it is what it is at this point.

Genetics is a bit of a lottery. Some birds win big, others lose. I’ve found that the more chicks are spammed, the more likely you’ll have one come out Marek’s resistant.

I had one bloodline that I favored that was extremely prone to Marek’s. It took about 1 in 100 chicks to make a survivor. I had to spam chicks for 2 years. But the survivors that never showed symptoms made chicks that don’t show symptoms. It takes time, patience, and heartache. But you can win.

 

[Closing Time]

I went through something similar, but with PBFD (Parrot Beak and Feather Disease), which is lethal and has no cure. It managed to take away my best friend at the time—an African Grey named Siva—and three other rescues.

I am so so sorry for your loss. I don’t want to belittle anyone’s loss with their poultry pets but losing a parrot who is a family member for decades is just on a completely different level. Grief is grief but I understand how just absolutely mind-numbingly devastating it would be to lose a pet that can potentially outlive you.