Cruel Lesson Learned

[Dottie the Chicken]

I'm sorry for your loss!!! May God give you His peace during this hard time!

 

[feather13]

Here is a short article by Merck on Mareks that might be helpful:

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/neoplasms/marek-disease-in-poultry

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

For those that vaccinated and lost chickens to Mereks, how long did you quarantine them for before introducing to other birds?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately not only is the vaccine notoriously low on it's survival rates (some types being as low as 70%), but now your entire flock has it regardless of symptoms or vaccinated status because the vaccine does not create a sterile immune response. You need to crank up your bio security to 11 to not spread it elsewhere since it's in the dander and you could spread it just by going to the feed store. You can never buy or hatch unvaccinated chicks again as long as you have the equipment or land that your current birds live on because it lives in the soil for 3-5 years.

You may run into problems in the future as well, especially as the chickens age and their immune systems get worse and they develop comorbidities. You never know when a vaccinated chicken might not have a strong enough immune system to fight back.

I strongly suggest reading the great big Mareks FAQ here on BYC that another member linked you to, it's quite informative and could give you a good jumping off point.

 

[feather13]

For those that vaccinated and lost chickens to Mereks, how long did you quarantine them for before introducing to other birds?

We're keeping the vaccinated chicks from the rest of the flock for 10 weeks, but they are only 100 or so yards away, so I imagine they've already been exposed since we live in southern California where it's dusty and windy.

 

[feather13]

You need to crank up your bio security to 11 to not spread it elsewhere since it's in the dander and you could spread it just by going to the feed store. You can never buy or hatch unvaccinated chicks again as long as you have the equipment or land that your current birds live on because it lives in the soil for 3-5 years.

I strongly suggest reading the great big Mareks FAQ here on BYC that another member linked you to, it's quite informative and could give you a good jumping off point.

x2 regarding the BYC Mareks FAQ. Also x2 biosecurity: I forgot to add that we never have anyone over to the house who has chickens, never go near other people's coops, have garden clogs we wear only in the coop/run/backyard where the chickens are and wear shoes to the feed store that we've never worn in the coop. We have a pet sitter, but we are her only poultry clients.

 

[Sammi_0411]

So sorry for ur loss but she woulda known u loved her by the way u been trying to help her xxx

 

[Sherri1990]

@Sherri1990 and @Chickstarrs

I'm so sorry that you've both had experiences with this disease. Everyone seems to have a different experience, depending on the how virulent your strain is, and I hope all of your chickens are healthy. My experience with Mareks has been heartbreaking. We had 15 chicks and 13 died when they were between 10 and 18 weeks old. They were supposed to have been vaccinated. I can't tell you how heartbreaking it was to watch all of those chicks die painfully, especially one little bantam OEG pullet that would sit on my shoulder and acted just like a parrot. She had an expressive little face and was the friendliest bird I've ever encountered.

They also spread Mareks to hens and roosters that were 2+ years old (verified by vet and necropsy). Every single chicken that had Mareks symptoms died or needed to be euthanized. It seems as though 40-80% of unvaccinated chicks who are exposed to Mareks die and the odds are a bit better for vaccinated chicks. Honestly, I wanted to give up having pet chickens after this, especially after we had been so careful about biosecurity.

Mareks stays in soil 4+ years and every chicken that has been on your property most likely will have been/will be exposed. The virus is shed in their dander, so it's literally everywhere.

After doing tons of research, we recently bought 12 Mareks-vaccinated chicks. They are now 8 weeks old, so heading into the time when they will be most susceptible to the disease. I feel sick to my stomach waiting to see what will happen and am conflicted about whether or not I've made an ethical decision by getting more chicks.

Sorry to be the bearer of such grim news. Others on BYC will have much more informed responses to your post and will have had much better luck. I'm sending you big virtual hugs and hoping that your experiences will be very different than mine. Please keep us informed about how it goes with your flock over the next few weeks.

@Sherri1990 and @Chickstarrs

I'm so sorry that you've both had experiences with this disease. Everyone seems to have a different experience, depending on the how virulent your strain is, and I hope all of your chickens are healthy. My experience with Mareks has been heartbreaking. We had 15 chicks and 13 died when they were between 10 and 18 weeks old. They were supposed to have been vaccinated. I can't tell you how heartbreaking it was to watch all of those chicks die painfully, especially one little bantam OEG pullet that would sit on my shoulder and acted just like a parrot. She had an expressive little face and was the friendliest bird I've ever encountered.

They also spread Mareks to hens and roosters that were 2+ years old (verified by vet and necropsy). Every single chicken that had Mareks symptoms died or needed to be euthanized. It seems as though 40-80% of unvaccinated chicks who are exposed to Mareks die and the odds are a bit better for vaccinated chicks. Honestly, I wanted to give up having pet chickens after this, especially after we had been so careful about biosecurity.

Mareks stays in soil 4+ years and every chicken that has been on your property most likely will have been/will be exposed. The virus is shed in their dander, so it's literally everywhere.

After doing tons of research, we recently bought 12 Mareks-vaccinated chicks. They are now 8 weeks old, so heading into the time when they will be most susceptible to the disease. I feel sick to my stomach waiting to see what will happen and am conflicted about whether or not I've made an ethical decision by getting more chicks.

Sorry to be the bearer of such grim news. Others on BYC will have much more informed responses to your post and will have had much better luck. I'm sending you big virtual hugs and hoping that your experiences will be very different than mine. Please keep us informed about how it goes with your flock over the next few weeks.

Oh nooo. That’s how sugar was. My little parrot. She would hop on my shoulder and sit while I cleaned the coop. My vet told me it’s not likely that the rest of my girls will catch it but I am terrified. I feel exactly the way you do. Like giving up. I did not do this to watch them die a cruel death. I still can not believe this has happened. I know many people think well it’s just a chicken... but my heart does not feel that way.

 

[Sherri1990]

I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately not only is the vaccine notoriously low on it's survival rates (some types being as low as 70%), but now your entire flock has it regardless of symptoms or vaccinated status because the vaccine does not create a sterile immune response. You need to crank up your bio security to 11 to not spread it elsewhere since it's in the dander and you could spread it just by going to the feed store. You can never buy or hatch unvaccinated chicks again as long as you have the equipment or land that your current birds live on because it lives in the soil for 3-5 years.

You may run into problems in the future as well, especially as the chickens age and their immune systems get worse and they develop comorbidities. You never know when a vaccinated chicken might not have a strong enough immune system to fight back.

I strongly suggest reading the great big Mareks FAQ here on BYC that another member linked you to, it's quite informative and could give you a good jumping off point.

How frustrating. I will read it. Thank you for your much needed advice. I am truly stunned and traumatized by this.

 

[Weeg]

I am so sorry! My favorite chicken is a Buff Opringotn, they are the worst too loose! I am very sorry! Thank you for informing BYC member on this, by sharing your experience, you may save there chickens in the future. *Hugs*