How to clean soil after Mareks?

[chicaus]

So it's happened. I purchased 4 little ones from a breeder and have lost 1 and now another is acting sick. All are 3 months old.

These little girls are separated from my big girls who are 6.5 months old but have shared the same free range area.

I do not want to lose my big girls and am wondering if I can clean my soil somehow just incase?

I can only find info that mareks lives for a very long time in soil but surely there is something I can do? any advice appreciated

 

[Eggcessive]

I would try to get a diagnosis first of Mareks with a necropsy by your state vet if you should lose another. Keep the body chilled, and take it in or ship it overnight. Call ahead of time for details and how to go about it. Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Mareks is spread in dust and dander of affected birds. It can last for months to years on surfaces. It is impossible to treat all soil where the virus lands. Virkon S tablets dissolved in water are sometimes used for disinfect equipment and facilities in poultry houses. It is available online from Amazon and others. Sorry that you lost a chicken.

 

[Aunt Angus]

So it's happened. I purchased 4 little ones from a breeder and have lost 1 and now another is acting sick. All are 3 months old.

These little girls are separated from my big girls who are 6.5 months old but have shared the same free range area.

I do not want to lose my big girls and am wondering if I can clean my soil somehow just incase?

I can only find info that mareks lives for a very long time in soil but surely there is something I can do? any advice appreciated

Are you sure it's Marek's? I agree that you need a positive diagnosis. Lots of illnesses can cause death, esp to young birds. Don't panic yet!

 

[chicaus]

I'm assuming due to symptoms of the first pullet from a couple weeks ago. She started limping, progressed to unable to move legs within a couple days and we found her in the splits position. She was put to rest humainly

Now our next girl showed trouble lofting one wing. Its been two days and she is now walking very unsteady this morning.

So after reading article after article I gather mareks is likely?

 

[Sonya9]

I have had mareks in my flock for 6 yrs and haven't lost a bird in 5. Grant it there may be different strains of Mareks with some worse than others but the main thing I did was REDUCE STRESS! Young birds undergoing integration stress are the most likely to get sick from Mareks. My flock has been perfectly healthy with no hint it is even there and I have had a couple of birds pass on from old age at 8 yrs old so it is not a death sentence for your flock. Our State AG vet says most all the flocks around here are infected and most never realize it because the birds are perfectly fine.

It is a herpes virus and stress triggers it (just like herpes in people). I am very careful when integrating chicks and also use a common generic anti-herpes drug if a bird is injured or very stressed. Vet wrote me a script for Valtrex and it was cheap at the local pharmacy, about $10 for 10 human sized tablets that will last years when used selectively. I just shave off a small amount of the tablet and feed it to an individual bird that may be at risk.

The anti-herpes meds work by stopping the virus from infecting NEW cells so they need to be started very early, not after a lot of damage is done. A few others here have also used it with good success, one lady cured a fatal herpes virus that attacks Turkeys. By early I mean if a bird is injured or traumatized I give them some the next day and don't wait for symptoms to appear. A friend had a predator get into her buff orp chick pen housing 4 month olds and within a week all the chicks were dying from Marek's due to the stress of it (whereas the rest of her birds were fine).

Also *never* buy a Mareks vaccinated bird except maybe chicks from a super safe hatchery. The vaccine makes them more resistant to the virus but they can still carry it with no symptoms which means a vaxxed bird can transmit very deadly forms of Mareks and wipe out a whole flock of unvaxed birds very quickly.

 

[chicaus]

I have had mareks in my flock for 6 yrs and haven't lost a bird in 5. Grant it there may be different strains of Mareks with some worse than others but the main thing I did was REDUCE STRESS! Young birds undergoing integration stress are the most likely to get sick from Mareks. My flock has been perfectly healthy with no hint it is even there and I have had a couple of birds pass on from old age at 8 yrs old so it is not a death sentence for your flock. Our State AG vet says most all the flocks around here are infected and most never realize it because the birds are perfectly fine.

It is a herpes virus and stress triggers it (just like herpes in people). I am very careful when integrating chicks and also use a common generic anti-herpes drug if a bird is injured or very stressed. Vet wrote me a script for Valtrex and it was cheap at the local pharmacy, about $10 for 10 human sized tablets that will last years when used selectively. I just shave off a small amount of the tablet and feed it to an individual bird that may be at risk.

The anti-herpes meds work by stopping the virus from infecting NEW cells so they need to be started very early, not after a lot of damage is done. A few others here have also used it with good success, one lady cured a fatal herpes virus that attacks Turkeys. By early I mean if a bird is injured or traumatized I give them some the next day and don't wait for symptoms to appear. A friend had a predator get into her buff orp chick pen housing 4 month olds and within a week all the chicks were dying from Marek's due to the stress of it (whereas the rest of her birds were fine).

Also *never* buy a Mareks vaccinated bird except maybe chicks from a super safe hatchery. The vaccine makes them more resistant to the virus but they can still carry it with no symptoms which means a vaxxed bird can transmit very deadly forms of Mareks and wipe out a whole flock of unvaxed birds very quickly.

This is exactly the timing I have had! The birds were healthy and happy and I began integrating the two flocks for a couple hours each day. Its been a good month but the smaller ones (the two affected) were picked on and I have been spending a tremendous amount of time with them to no avail. The big girls just don't like 3 out of the 4 girls. One for some reason they don't mind and she isn't appearing stressed at all.

I will see if I can find this medicine you mentioned. Thanks so much for your response!

 

[Regina Larsen]

I have had mareks in my flock for 6 yrs and haven't lost a bird in 5. Grant it there may be different strains of Mareks with some worse than others but the main thing I did was REDUCE STRESS! Young birds undergoing integration stress are the most likely to get sick from Mareks. My flock has been perfectly healthy with no hint it is even there and I have had a couple of birds pass on from old age at 8 yrs old so it is not a death sentence for your flock. Our State AG vet says most all the flocks around here are infected and most never realize it because the birds are perfectly fine.

It is a herpes virus and stress triggers it (just like herpes in people). I am very careful when integrating chicks and also use a common generic anti-herpes drug if a bird is injured or very stressed. Vet wrote me a script for Valtrex and it was cheap at the local pharmacy, about $10 for 10 human sized tablets that will last years when used selectively. I just shave off a small amount of the tablet and feed it to an individual bird that may be at risk.

The anti-herpes meds work by stopping the virus from infecting NEW cells so they need to be started very early, not after a lot of damage is done. A few others here have also used it with good success, one lady cured a fatal herpes virus that attacks Turkeys. By early I mean if a bird is injured or traumatized I give them some the next day and don't wait for symptoms to appear. A friend had a predator get into her buff orp chick pen housing 4 month olds and within a week all the chicks were dying from Marek's due to the stress of it (whereas the rest of her birds were fine).

Also *never* buy a Mareks vaccinated bird except maybe chicks from a super safe hatchery. The vaccine makes them more resistant to the virus but they can still carry it with no symptoms which means a vaxxed bird can transmit very deadly forms of Mareks and wipe out a whole flock of unvaxed birds very quickly.

Lauric acid, found in coconut oil, is also effective against herpes viruses. I use it when i have shingles. I wonder if it could be a good OTC strategy in chickens