- Aug 14, 2010
- 2
- 0
- 7
I'm concerned about Marek's and am grateful for the info provided on this site. Three of my hens, all of whom are about a year old, died in the past year, one exhibiting the gray eye symptoms, the other two exhibiting leg paralysis. The remaining flock, 13 hens and a rooster, are energetic and happy, but several of the hens look awful. Their feathers are patchy, several areas look red and sore, and one has intermittent bleeding at the tailfeathers.
The flock is laying regularly and I am very reluctant to cull the unattractive birds when they seem to have a quality life other than their appearance. I have just purchased 25 chicks who are separate from the older birds. They have been vaccinated for Marek's. I am terrified that some of them will contract Marek's anyway and I am worried about the flock spreading the disease via wind and dust to any potential coops in our rural neighborhood.
How can the flock be energetic and otherwise healthy yet exhibit signs of Marek's? Has anyone else experienced this? The chickens have a healthy diet, lots of space, clean coop, fresh water - I just don't know the best course of action to take.
The flock is laying regularly and I am very reluctant to cull the unattractive birds when they seem to have a quality life other than their appearance. I have just purchased 25 chicks who are separate from the older birds. They have been vaccinated for Marek's. I am terrified that some of them will contract Marek's anyway and I am worried about the flock spreading the disease via wind and dust to any potential coops in our rural neighborhood.
How can the flock be energetic and otherwise healthy yet exhibit signs of Marek's? Has anyone else experienced this? The chickens have a healthy diet, lots of space, clean coop, fresh water - I just don't know the best course of action to take.
