Help Mareks disease

[Neechee0716]

I need help. I’m new to chickens and I just lost my silver laced polish chick to I believe Mareks disease. I’ve read that it’s very contagious and I have two other polish and 5 silkie chicks. They are all around 9 weeks old and around each other. Is there anything thing I can do??? I’m really worried to lose them all I’ve become very attached

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. I'm sorry for your loss!

What were the symptoms? Is it possible for you to send the body for a necropsy to be sure?
You can't prevent the others from getting it but you can try to give them a good chance. Clean and sanitize their space. I used Virkon S as it specifically says it kills Marek's. Remove all the bedding too, Marek's is shed in their dander. Limit treats, give lots of good food and clean water. Maybe add some vitamins to their water once in a while but keep plain water available too. If anyone else shows symptoms then you'll need to remove them from the flock immediately.

 

[igorsMistress]

FWIW I believe my flock had Marek's. I've lost a few more to it but I still have survivors. Those are who I'm using for breeding because they seem to be strong enough to fight it off.

 

[LaFleche]

I need help. I’m new to chickens and I just lost my silver laced polish chick to I believe Mareks disease. I’ve read that it’s very contagious and I have two other polish and 5 silkie chicks. They are all around 9 weeks old and around each other. Is there anything thing I can do??? I’m really worried to lose them all I’ve become very attached

I am sorry you lost her.

You stated that you are new to chickens, so what exactly makes you think that your polish died from Marek's?

Marek disease is quite difficult to diagnose as there are a multitude of symptoms that also apply to other issues/causes.

 

[Neechee0716]

I don’t know for sure but it was acting like it was paralyzed. Barely moving and neck slightly tilted but it could move it’s neck. ( this occurred in one day. Was fine the day before) I took it to a vet and they also said Mareks and put it down but we wouldn’t know for sure unless we did testing but it would have cost me $300 and I couldn’t afford that right now. Is there anything else you think would cause that?

 

[Neechee0716]

Hi there. I'm sorry for your loss!

What were the symptoms? Is it possible for you to send the body for a necropsy to be sure?
You can't prevent the others from getting it but you can try to give them a good chance. Clean and sanitize their space. I used Virkon S as it specifically says it kills Marek's. Remove all the bedding too, Marek's is shed in their dander. Limit treats, give lots of good food and clean water. Maybe add some vitamins to their water once in a while but keep plain water available too. If anyone else shows symptoms then you'll need to remove them from the flock immediately.

Hi there. I'm sorry for your loss!

What were the symptoms? Is it possible for you to send the body for a necropsy to be sure?
You can't prevent the others from getting it but you can try to give them a good chance. Clean and sanitize their space. I used Virkon S as it specifically says it kills Marek's. Remove all the bedding too, Marek's is shed in their dander. Limit treats, give lots of good food and clean water. Maybe add some vitamins to their water once in a while but keep plain water available too. If anyone else shows symptoms then you'll need to remove them from the flock immediately.

The bird started acting like it was paralyzed. Wouldn’t walk and head slightly tilted but could move it. This happened over night it was fine the day before. I took it to the vet and they put it down. Also said Mareks but I couldn’t afford the testing right now so we don’t know for sure. I’ve been really good about cleaning their coop every day and they are outside in a mini coop every day and in my garage at night. I’ve done some research and not sure what else could have caused this.

 

[LaFleche]

I don’t know for sure but it was acting like it was paralyzed. Barely moving and neck slightly tilted but it could move it’s neck. ( this occurred in one day. Was fine the day before) I took it to a vet and they also said Mareks and put it down but we wouldn’t know for sure unless we did testing but it would have cost me $300 and I couldn’t afford that right now. Is there anything else you think would cause that?

Yes, vitamin deficiency comes to mind, mouldy feed, parasites internal (worms) or external (blood sucking poultry mites) or poisonous bugs, spiders etc. etc. etc.

Did you take her to an avian vet? I often hear that normal vets rather tend to euthanize sick chicks because they just do not know how to treat them.

Edit: And with crested breeds like Silkies and Polish there is something special to take care of. Their crests often overgrow and the bird will hardly be able to see the food or either to orientate itself. So the can slowly starve to death if the crests will not be clipped to allow for unobstructed view.

 

[Neechee0716]

Yes, vitamin deficiency comes to mind, mouldy feed, parasites internal (worms) or external (blood sucking poultry mites) or poisonous bugs, spiders etc. etc. etc.

Did you take her to an avian vet? I often hear that normal vets rather tend to euthanize sick chicks because they just do not know how to treat them.

No it was just a local vet. I change their food twice a day and water has electrolytes in it. I’ve also used corrid in their water because I lost another to coccidiosis a few weeks ago.

 

[igorsMistress]

There are a lot of things that cause similar problems. Without knowing for sure I would clean and disinfect at the very least.

 

[Neechee0716]

There are a lot of things that cause similar problems. Without knowing for sure I would clean and disinfect at the very least.

Thank you ... I’m cleaning right now and praying the rest will be okay!