Have Mareks or Newcastle Disease- Now What?

[ChelsisChooks]

Just an update that I took 2 birds in this afternoon to have them tested via necropsy. Results within 10 days

 

[Willowspirit]

Just an update that I took 2 birds in this afternoon to have them tested via necropsy. Results within 10 days

I’m so sorry but I think it’s very smart of you.

 

[Folly's place]

x2. It's hard, but having answers is best.
Mary

 

[ChelsisChooks]

UPDATE:

The results came back and it is MG not Mareks. I had 2 GLW hens with respitory issues and one OE with neurological which I’m attributing to botulism due to finding some dead robins around my coop. Of the GLW hens was still sick so was culled for testing and the other I left because she had recovered and was showing no symptoms. The GLW tested positive for MG.

I spoke with a poultry veterinarian and he said the standard procedure would be to depopulate, sterilize and buy a new flock. However...

He said that so long as I chose to allow my birds to free range or even be outside in an open run I can not expect to maintain a clean flock long term. The wild bird population carries numerous diseases including MG and most are contagious in ways that make it work daily transferable to chickens in outdoor runs. I told him I had read about maintaining a closed flock and he said if I am willing to accept the responsibility of biosecurity measures that it is fine for me to keep my flock (completely closed).

My rooster and 1 hen appear to be having some respiratory symptoms (very mild) but the rest of my flock has not shown any issues in the 14 days since my first bird became ill.

My conflict currently is with the 14 chicks under the age or 6 weeks. I know I need to cull them all because it is just impractical to raise them knowing they are diseased...but it sure is hard to cull animals that appear perfectly healthy.

 

[Kiki]

UPDATE:

The results came back and it is MG not Mareks. I had 2 GLW hens with respitory issues and one OE with neurological which I’m attributing to botulism due to finding some dead robins around my coop. Of the GLW hens was still sick so was culled for testing and the other I left because she had recovered and was showing no symptoms. The GLW tested positive for MG.

I spoke with a poultry veterinarian and he said the standard procedure would be to depopulate, sterilize and buy a new flock. However...

He said that so long as I chose to allow my birds to free range or even be outside in an open run I can not expect to maintain a clean flock long term. The wild bird population carries numerous diseases including MG and most are contagious in ways that make it work daily transferable to chickens in outdoor runs. I told him I had read about maintaining a closed flock and he said if I am willing to accept the responsibility of biosecurity measures that it is fine for me to keep my flock (completely closed).

My rooster and 1 hen appear to be having some respiratory symptoms (very mild) but the rest of my flock has not shown any issues in the 14 days since my first bird became ill.

My conflict currently is with the 14 chicks under the age or 6 weeks. I know I need to cull them all because it is just impractical to raise them knowing they are diseased...but it sure is hard to cull animals that appear perfectly healthy.

Thanks for the update.


I wouldn't cull the babies...you never know they may never get sick.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry! The advantage of depopulating this flock, cleaning, and waiting a few weeks or longer to get new chicks, is that it will be over. Marek's disease wouldn't be gone for years, much worse.
It's both good luck, but mostly practicing rigid biosecurity, that would protect your new birds. Never bring in outside birds, except chicks from safe hatcheries!!! And, watch wild songbirds for any issues, and stop feeding them anywhere around your flock.
Keeping these birds will mean practicing at least as good biosecurity, for the sake of everyone else's flock, and having illness reoccurring in your group, and never either bringing in new chicks, or moving birds out of your flock.
I think I'd cry and depopulate...
Mary