Introducing new chickens after Marek's?

[ChickenBabyinMaine]

We got 3 Wyandotte about a year ago, but now we're down to 1 and I'm wondering whether we can safely introduce new chickens.

The first girl died in Feb/March — we were told it was probably Marek's disease. She was a big, lively bird, and one morning she just couldn't stand and had all over body weakness. We separated her and she just continued to decline. She didn't really have any other symptoms of Marek's.

Then 1 of our girls got a pretty nasty wound on her neck about 2 weeks ago, probably from a loose wire in the coop. We'd been giving her meds and keeping her wound clean, and it seemed like she was out of the danger zone — but then this morning she was too weak to stand and went downhill rapidly. The vet said that her wound was healing well and she didn't have any infection or respiratory issues - so may have been Marek's, possibly flaring up due to all the stress from her injury.

So now we have 1 lonely girl left! Has anyone had success introducing new chickens after having Marek's in your flock? Any words of advice?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Sorry to hear about your losses.

Did your vet recommend you get a necropsy to confirm or rule out Marek's?

Your first loss sounds more like possible liver issues... to me. More info would be needed for further thought.

Since you don't breed your birds, getting Marek's vaccinated chicks and keeping quarantined during the needed time frame might be a good choice for you.

I won't have Marek's vaccinated birds here, because it doesn't stop them from getting it and carrying or spreading it hidden without the symptoms. I rather have it kill itself out and the strong survive. There was one gene identified that does give resistance to MDV.

That being said... some strains of Marek's are more aggressive than others, and I'm not sure which (if any) you are dealing with.

Some people who have Marek's in there flock have reported only 1 or 2 juveniles passing per year with no vaccines. Again virulence and genetics in addition to nutrition and pasture condition effects things heavily.

The best Marek's resource I've used that's easy to understand but loaded with info..
Marek's

 

[ChickenBabyinMaine]

Thanks so much for your thoughts! We did get a necropsy on the first chicken, but we didn't exactly have a ton of confidence in that vet's experience with chickens.

We're looking into getting some chickens who are vaccinated. I've also read that older chickens are less likely to get Marek's, so I'm wondering if an older gal might be a good companion?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I've also read that older chickens are less likely to get Marek's, so I'm wondering if an older gal might be a good companion?

Just less likely to develop tumors that cause paralysis is my understanding.

Necropsy via state vet is preferred... I agree I have seen local vets accept their first discovery instead of getting a full work up.

I would NOT (personally) get an older girl and maybe bring something more than Marek's to my place like... infectious bronchitis, Mycoplasma, or other respiratory stuff. See the recent outbreak of virulent New Castle disease in Ca, requiring first quarantine and then mandatory euthanasia of all back yard flock within specific zones... too scary of a reality for me.

Plus new chicks or such will give you a fresh start to eggs.