Introducing chicken into Marek’s contaminated flock

[Kat_chickengirl]

Can I introduce an adult silkie into a flock with past mareks contamination?

I have a flock of 6 contaminated with mareks. We had one Silkie Roo who passed away from it About a year ago and that was all but it was definitely Mareks. The new adult silkie needs a home and I have been offered the rooster but I’m worried about going through Mareks again. My old rooster had been a juvenile when he showed symptoms and ultimately died a couple months later (He only lost most of the mobility in his legs but other then that he never got any worse until one day he died peacefully in my arms).

What are my odds of this chicken being able to live a healthy life and your opinions on if I should get him or not? Also could I possibly vaccinate him before introducing him? I don’t know if the rooster has already been vaccinated as he was a rescue.

 

[muddy75]

Someone should be along soon with advice

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

If you bring that rooster in, he will contract Marek's. He cannot be vaccinated as the vaccine needs to be administered within 24 hours of hatch. I would not bring in any birds to the flock.

You can read more here about how the disease works and how it affects birds.

 

[Kat_chickengirl]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

If you bring that rooster in, he will contract Marek's. He cannot be vaccinated as the vaccine needs to be administered within 24 hours of hatch. I would not bring in any birds to the flock.

You can read more here about how the disease works and how it affects birds.

We have introduced additional chickens since. I am okay with it being dormant in the chicken. I want to know his chances of it actually becoming active as I know Silkies are more susceptible to Mareks even if they are adults.

 

[Debbie292d]

Can I introduce an adult silkie into a flock with past mareks contamination?

I have a flock of 6 contaminated with mareks. We had one Silkie Roo who passed away from it About a year ago and that was all but it was definitely Mareks. The new adult silkie needs a home and I have been offered the rooster but I’m worried about going through Mareks again. My old rooster had been a juvenile when he showed symptoms and ultimately died a couple months later (He only lost most of the mobility in his legs but other then that he never got any worse until one day he died peacefully in my arms).

What are my odds of this chicken being able to live a healthy life and your opinions on if I should get him or not? Also could I possibly vaccinate him before introducing him? I don’t know if the rooster has already been vaccinated as he was a rescue.

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

The vaccination won't work on an older bird. Marek's vaccination needs to be done in the first 24 hours. @2ndTink can advise you further on that as she vaccinates all of her chicks for Marek's. She can also advise you about bringing another silkie into this. Once they are over a year old, the risk of them getting it is reduced, but they are still very vulnerable to it.

 

[sourland]

If you don't mind the possibility/probability of the silkie contracting Mareks, go ahead and introduce it to your flock.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC. If no one else is willing to take him you might as well give him a chance. Hopefully he will survive and have a happy life with his new flock.

 

[2ndTink]

Welcome to BYC!

As far as the odds of him getting Mareks, I have no idea there, it would depend on his immune system, the strain you have there, and probably what the viral load is on your property and coop.

Being an adult he may be less likely to succumb quickly to the virus like exposing a chick. Vaccinating him as an adult likely won't help, it also won't hurt, but the vaccine + overnight shipping is $60 to $80 depending on where you get it and it's only good for an hour once you mix it.

 

[N F C]

Hi, if you take him in, I hope you'll keep us posted on how he does. Best wishes.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!