I think it's Mareks!?? Need flock advice, please

[Heron's Nest Farm]

I purchased some OE (olive eggers) from a local. These are the first non NPIP I ever tried. Never again.

I brought them home and they just wouldn't feather on their rumps. I began dusting for mites. 5 weeks and they are almost feathered.

1 week ago I came to find one not able to really walk and lethargic. I immediately isolated. The next morning I found that she had fallen into the 1/4" of water in the bowl and drowned.

Today I find another exhibiting the same symptoms:
Trouble walking. Seems like one leg.
Comb is pale.
She seems more lively then the last hen did and is still eating.
Poop seems fairly normal although frequent.
I have isolated with no water in the cage and I am pulling her out hourly to drink.

My dilemma:
I have 50 chicks coming in February. I am using these as layers for my egg business. I will be raising them far from the existing pen. However, I was going to merge them with the 11 layers I have along with the OE that were in quarantine until 2 weeks ago when I let them out to range and they came in contact with the other flock. So everyone currently existing has been in contact with each other.

Please try to understand that I have 2 chocolate pure bread Orpingtons with Marc Sacre blood line. I am breeding for SOP. I can isolate my Chocolates. Everyone has been vaccinated for Mareks except the OE. Although the vaccination does NOT keep hens from getting it.

Do I put OE aside in isolation again? Can I ever have the existing flock with the other new chicks or should I always keep them separate? Should I simply put down any that show signs? I have the option of keeping this existing flock as one separate flock. We are a farm, We are very pragmatic.

Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Twistedfeather]

The problem with Marek's is once your birds come into contact with it, it is really hard to get rid of. Many farmers and poultry fanciers alike have to get rid of their entire flock so they could get rid of the disease. I think I had a case of Marek's a couple years ago and the bird with the weakest immune system died and the others were fine and didn't pass it with my other birds. I would not have the chicks near your previous birds because when they get it normally is at a young age. Marek's is such a frustrating disease

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

An update on the little juvenile hen with what I believe is Mareks.

She is eating just fine. Her drinking is above average. I have her on a water solution of garlic, electrolytes and vitamins. I take her out of the cage twice a day to forage in a distant part of the farm. She is eating and gimping around, but her leg strength is limited and she sits after some time.

Her comb color is improving. All of these birds (her hatchmates) all has very pale combs without showing signs of worms. It may be she is just reaching sexual maturity.

I'm over a barrel here. I'm not sure that I won't cull her, as hard as it would be after spending so much intimate time with her. If I see improvement by Saturday I may be inclined to do so.

Sill hoping for thoughts from more of you.

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

After some deliberation, we decided to put her down as her condition just got worse daily.