How are you and your flocks doing months or years after Mereks

[34Fam]

We are newly diagnosed with Mereks. We bought 17 Marans from GreenFire Farms. They vaccinated the chicks as day olds. They were our only birds. Almost half of them have died so far. Death began at 12 weeks. We also hatched several chicks after them from eggs (so they shouldn't have been the cause)....and they have just begun to show signs as well.

We have been researching this for days, and understand the disease. However, we are having difficulty locating information on what life is like "after" living with Mereks, and what you all have learned looking back.

How much of your flocks did you end up losing?
How did you know when your remaining birds had "survived" the initial out break?

Did you go through additional outbreaks or waves of deaths again?

Did you clean? Did it help? Why?
Did your survivors ever thrive and become big beautiful heathy birds or did you just feel like you had a sick flock forever?
Did any of you ever have a vaccinated flock that was just ravaged by this disease and then spread it everywhere else? Any explaination or thoughts on how the vaccine failed so miserably? (We have come to learn the GreenFire Farms has Mereks at their farm, but chooses to sell "vaccinated birds" anyway)

Looking for real life, candid experience of those who have been living or surviving this disease. Thank you.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

@rebrascora may be able to help you. She's got some great write-ups on Mareks. Good luck to you and your flock.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

So sorry

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your losses.

Did you get a diagnosis/necropsy through your state lab for confirmation of Marek's disease?

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[34Fam]

I'm sorry to hear about your losses.

Did you get a diagnosis/necropsy through your state lab for confirmation of Marek's disease?

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

Yes we did. After our 5th bird died we sent one for necropsy. Just heard on Thursday...... Mereks. Yes this article was excellent just missing what happens to life with the flock months or even years later.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The article I linked you to is a by a member that has Marek's in her flock, she compiled a lot of info for others to help them out - probably ones of the best I've seen.

I'll tag a few others that have Marek's in their flock, they may be able to give you some pointers. @rebrascora @orrpeople @microchick

 

[34Fam]

The article I linked you to is a by a member that has Marek's in her flock, she compiled a lot of info for others to help them out - probably ones of the best I've seen.

I'll tag a few others that have Marek's in their flock, they may be able to give you some pointers. @rebrascora @orrpeople @microchick

Thank you very much

 

[34Fam]

So sorry

Yep...... I seem to be crying just like this everyday lately.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Yep...... I seem to be crying just like this everyday lately.

I can't imagine, I love my chickens so much

 

[orrpeople]

So, once our initial outbreak ended, (3 years or so ago) we rarely see it anymore. I vaccinate half my flock (I have about 80 birds) - but really lose more to predators than anything else. Those first months were hard, but it got much better.

Also, the research is pretty clear that it's an unavoidable disease, and most flocks have it - just not in outbreak form. All kinds of theories float around as to why outbreaks happen (stress, sanitation, etc), but last year, we had one of the most horrible summers (major, catastrophic wildfire, evacuation, and horrible smoke for months) and the chickens fared fine. Go figure.
Feel free to message me any time for questions or support. (Btw, we swear by Nutridrench here - it really seemed to help when we had our outbreak.)