Has anyone experience mycoplasma or mareks from hatchery chicks?

ChickyMudder

Songster
Feb 28, 2023
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Oregon
Wondering if we can share our experience here. I’ve heard people order chicks from hatcheries and get maraks in their flock. Someone mentioned mycoplasma from hatchery turkeys.

It might help folks to keep their flocks free of disease and encourage hatcheries to test for disease.

NPIP does not force them to test for mareks or mycoplasma.

My experience
I purchased broad breasted turkeys direct from Cackle hatchery. They were healthy, strong, and great temperaments. Disease free at one year (don’t lecture about how I should have processed them. I’m aware. I’m managing to keep them healthy and at a decent weight). Cackle hatchery worked well for me.
 

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I know and have heard of many people with Marek's in their flock and most of them got it by bringing it in from a chicken farmer that has it and maybe didn't know it, but I've never heard of chicks coming from a hatchery with Marek's. Usually they are at least 3 weeks old with most deaths occuring between 8 and 20 weeks of age. I suppose it could happen but that's sure rare if it does. I couldn't find any instances of it though.

An infected bird with Marek's disease will have it laden in their dander which can travel as far as 5 miles.
 
I spoke to the extension office about Mareks after I had a chicken get loose and a well meaning person put her in their coop with their rescued wild turkey.
The extension office said Mareks takes time to develop from the virus into tumors. Seems like 8-20 weeks would be perfect timing.
That chicken was not worth the risk so we isolated it and then culled it.
I heard 2nd hand of a woman that bought chicks from a hatchery for Bresse chicks and then got Mareks in her flock.
 

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