Is my chicken a danger to the others?

[svnnmddx]

Hello! Im new to Backyard Chickens and fairly new to raising laying hens

I recently noticed one of my chickens eyes having a strikingly small and mishapened pupil. I've had her for a few months now and I have 4 other hens and 2 bantoms. I'm assuming she has Ocular Mareks disease, but I'm unsure how prominent the cancer is or how long it seems she has had it. The very small pupil is on one eye and her other eye isn't as small, but it seems smaller then normal.

Should I get rid of this chicken? (which I never want to resort to and I dont know what I would do in that case)
How big of a threat is she to my other chickens? Will it kill them? Are her eggs healthy for human consumption?'

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos...261712_100000581118384_1547074_70367057_n.jpg

Thank you! Savanna

 

[svnnmddx]

Well.. this chicken will have to go. I'm very nervous for the health of my flock, though. There seems to be a lot of research about ocular mareks disease but not a great amount of information on the detriment it can have to an entire, exposed flock. Very scary When I have more time (I'm at school), I will have to continue acquiring information.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Hi and

I have no experience with this. I tend to be paranoid, but it could be something else totally unrelated. If you've had her with your flock for 4 months already they've already been exposed to whatever is going on. Give yourself a little more time to get answers.

 

[WooingWyandotte]

It looks like Ocular Mareks, I'm sorry.
Once exposed there isn't much you can do...Mareks is spread through dandruff and can lie dormant up to a year. If your flock is exposed, it's likely a few of them will get it. You can't be sure. Mareks is a finicky disease; personally I haven't dealt with it, but Seminole Wind has and I've found her posts informative.
I am not sure about egg consumption, but I'd keep eating the eggs anyway..your choice.

 

[dawg53]

I agree. It could be ocular marek's. SeminoleWind is the expert.

 

[svnnmddx]

Thanks everyone! I will have to refer to SeminoleWind.

Took care of the chicken yesterday, never something I want to have to do.
I'm just going to keep an eye on the rest of the chickens. I won't be adding to the flock which is a shame :/

I was reading some information on the virus, and surprisingly it said it was not genetic so I assume the eggs are safe. Thanks for all the help everyone

 

[WooingWyandotte]

Wish you luck.

 

[seminolewind]

You know, I keep looking at one of my rooster's eyes, just doesn't seem right. His 2 nestmates both died of Marek's by wasting away. But he's almost 2 now. The other thing I notice is that he has no meat on his bones. None. I don't know if he's just a good roo or if he's wasting. The little things you notice. He used to never eat a treat-always dropped them for the girls. Now he gobbles them down.

I think with more adult birds, whatever Marek's symptoms they have, they all waste away. The may look like they're eating, but they're not. It's sad to see them just waste away. I imagine your hen was skinny as well.

Your flock has been exposed. They are older, so chances are they will not get symptoms. So I hope it's the only time.

 

[svnnmddx]

Aw, I'm sorry about your losses.
Yeah, I'm terrified that they will begin dying without me even knowing. But it is the ocular mareks that I've seen, I havnt noticed any nerval problems, yet. But I hope they will be fine for now, and yes, only time will tell.

Goodluck with yours!

 

[seminolewind]

My first one was 2 years old, believe it or not. A silkie roo, the one I hugged every night.
I first noticed he was falling off the ramp to the coop. Then, he wouldn't try at all. I put him in my hospital cage on the patio. He was eating, but was losing weight. Then I noticed his eye looked cloudy. He had leg paralysis, then his neck would not go where he aimed so he couldn't really eat. And all this time, he crowed every morning. I had the vet do it.

He was the only adult that showed all the signs. The vet misdiagnosed him as having Eastern Equine Encephalitis. So I thought it was a one time thing.

Over the next 2 years, every 3-4 months, one of my adults would waste away. I had no idea why. I thought the others were keeping them away from the food , but that wasn't it. I didn't have a clue till my silkies hatched 10 Polish for me. At 8-16 weeks they all died, most having paralysis.

The one that came to my flock with it was a 3 month old silkie pullet. She was in with the silkies, and only 1 of 4 got it. The rest are still alive, even some of their own chicks that they hatched. I've had hatches in with them, or in a pen near them , and about 1 out of each hatch would waste away at about 5-8 months old. But not the rest. What put it all together was those 10 Polish that were hatched by my silkies, and most were with paralysis. Then I knew.

Now I hatch every one in my incubator, and vaccinate or buy day olds vaccinated, then I quarantine them for 10 weeks. That;s going to be the way for me.