I bought 7 bantam cochin eggs, 2 hatched. All was well for 4-5 weeks. 1 chick started stumbling around and within a few days could not walk. Everything I researched pointed toward vitamin deficiency or Marek's. After pumping her full of everything I read to administer for vit. def., she continuously got weaker and thinner although she was eating well. My thoughts turned towards Marek's. She had all the classic symptoms, one leg forward, one leg back, her eye color changed, difficulty breathing. She was euthanized.
I still have the 1 chick, all is well. Very healthy, vibrant, growing, etc. She/he is still too young to be with my mature flock.
Do I need to worry about Marek's with my older birds? I had a hen die unexpectedly several years ago that I had a necropsy done on that stated Marek's. All of my other girls are healthy. No symptoms, no deaths. Do I have Marek's in those girls as carriers? Can I put this chick with the others?
Would you vaccinate? I only have about 18 birds and the vaccine is sold in bulk (1000 doses). What to do?
I still have the 1 chick, all is well. Very healthy, vibrant, growing, etc. She/he is still too young to be with my mature flock.
Do I need to worry about Marek's with my older birds? I had a hen die unexpectedly several years ago that I had a necropsy done on that stated Marek's. All of my other girls are healthy. No symptoms, no deaths. Do I have Marek's in those girls as carriers? Can I put this chick with the others?
Would you vaccinate? I only have about 18 birds and the vaccine is sold in bulk (1000 doses). What to do?
