I'm Torn

[AltonaAcres]

Hey guys. I am leaving on a trip for 11 days in a week and a half. My neighbor and a family member will be caring for my chickens. Right now I have 5 separate pens of chickens, which means they would have to fill 5 feeders and 5 waterers daily, and let out tons of chickens separately. I was planning on putting several groups of chickens together to consolidate. However, yesterday, some of my adult chickens somehow got into a pen of 3 month old chicks. They totally bloodied up the poor little guys So, now I'm back to square one. Because I have so many roosters in each separate group, I really don't know how all the groups will be able to live together w/o killing each other. You may be like, just sell the roosters! Problem is, I have had several cases of Mareks recently, And I would hate to pass that on to the buyer's flock. I really would hate to butcher/sell for meat bc these roos are young, bantam-size, show quality, and super sweet. HELP!!!

 

[Cyprus]

Sell them. Mareks is literally in every environment in the US. Even if people say it's not, it is because wild birds transmit it.

 

[Chickassan]

I'd keep them myself. You could sell them but you'd have to inform the buyer to cover your own butt.
Like @Cyprus said it isn't the sort of thing any flock is really safe from to begin with.

 

[Birds of a Feather]

My personal opinion is it’s fine to sell them as long as the buyer knows about the Marek’s.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Ok! thank y'all for the responses. That makes me feel much better. I will post a Craigslist add immediately.

 

[Mosey2003]

If you have positive knowledge that your birds have had Mareks symptoms recently, I feel that needs to be disclosed. It doesn't really matter if it's widespread, it's still something not everyone has issues with.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Yes, my flock had a blood test done. Those aren't always accurate though. I'll keep thinking/researching...........

 

[aart]

If you have positive knowledge that your birds have had Mareks symptoms recently, I feel that needs to be disclosed. It doesn't really matter if it's widespread, it's still something not everyone has issues with.

Ditto Dat^^^

This is exactly why I rarely if ever buy birds, and then only day old chicks....
...I don't want to bring disease into my flock.