HELP!!! Baby Chick Mystery!!

[AltonaAcres]

Hi guys! It's the 3rd time I've posted question this week............sorry.......... Anyways, I had a question regarding our newest batch of chicks. So, we've had several cases of Mareks in our flock lately. I'd say we've had 3 chickens having symptoms, and then ending up being put down. (We have had a blood test to confirm). 2 were 6ish weeks old, and the last was 1 year old, she was put down yesterday. Well, I had ordered the chicks before I knew about the Mareks, and I shared the order with my uncle who lives in a house on our property. He was super excited about these chicks, and we planned to keep them at my neighbors house to avoid Marek's contamination, so I went ahead with the order. So the chicks arrive, (they are vaccinated against Mareks), and my uncle really wanted to keep some chicks in his house instead of my neighbor's. I let him take his 10 chicks, and a few of ours, to keep in his home. The rest stayed at our neighbor's. My uncle lives about 100 yards away from our infected flock. He said he'd be careful about not wearing dirty shoes around the brooder, and he would wash his hands. I know that this is a little risky, keeping chicks so close to the sick ones, but it's a great experience for him. I was over at their house today, and I noticed my favorite chick was limping. AAAHH!! But here's the catch: My uncle had just built a new brooder, which slides in and out to change the floor size, maybe his little foot/leg got pinched? And....there is a small slot between the wire and the floor on one side, AND.....my uncle has two young kids who like holding the chicks, even though they aren't supposed to. Several days ago though, another chick which was dying, (my uncle said because of his kids holding it), and he seemed to be having trouble walking before he died, according to my uncle. Sounds a little like Mareks? I'm scared! Help!

 

[azygous]

It's more likely the chicks were injured due to rough handling. Small children tend to squeeze a baby chick because they are nervous about dropping it. The organs get crushed, and leg injuries are also possible.

Marek's won't show up until chicks are around 10 weeks. Vaccinated chicks need to be kept away from the infected flock until they develop antibodies for the disease, as I'm sure you've been made aware.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Thank you for your reply! I am thinking that that is the issue too. And good to know about how Mareks doesn't show up till the chick is older. I know that vaccinated chicks need to be kept separate!