Just completed my $3000 dream coop and planned to move young flock in. Now one has Marek’s. Now what…

[miss_shickenchit]

Based on hours of reading last night, I’m about 99% sure our 8 week old Speckled Sussex has Marek’s. If you could read below and give me your best thoughts on what to do next in my situation, I would absolutely appreciate it. I’m realistic but also…my babies…

Context: I’m new to this chicken keeping stuff but I’m informed and doing my best by my birds. This is a hobby for me as a new empty-nester. (Sadly I was not informed enough, but I keep learning.) All of my young birds have been kept in giant dogs cages that are wrapped in hardware cloth since I brought them home with the best of everything they can have. They are spoiled and the dogs are jealous. The 8 week old flock’s cage was moved outside recently (3 weeks ago) and they have had outside free range time everyday while I’m outside. The 2-3 week old younger flock has had their cage outside once, but they have not been out of the cage. The new coop is sand and litter/PDZ/DE based due to my own allergies and it’s beautiful - and will be ready tomorrow…

• Here’s our two flocks that have been kept separately, but together based on chick age since we got them:
  • 1 flock of 6: Five birds of different breeds from a local farmer - whom I just learned doesn’t vaccinate her chicks (no judgement- just wish I had known!). And, One Sapphire gem from a hatchery that I have confirmed IS vax’d for Marek’s. I got them all when less than a week old (SS, Swedish Flower, Delaware, Welsummer, Del/Welsummer mix) and they are all now 8 weeks old and a good flock together. We planned to move this flock of six 8 week old chicks into the coop fortress (Fort Yolk) tomorrow. And…of course…These 6 have been all over each other, my family, our house, and our yard. Only one is confirmed vax’d.
  • Our other smaller flock is a flock of 4 hybrids: two 3 week old Calico Princesses and two 2 week old Aquilas. All 4 of these are from our co-op and I have confirmed they have ALL been vaccinated for Marek’s. (whew!) We planned to move these four into Fort Yolk in a couple of weeks with the others after integrating them. The ten birds have only been all together one time two weeks ago for a short few mins while I cleaned cages. (I know better now.)

Here’s what’s going on, I have options below if you could help me move forward in the best way possible for the greater good

-Our SS cockerel started limping Friday. Was sure it was due to an injury (then remembered it was a different bird that was injured - it’s fine now). Saturday he was still limping, by last night (Sun), he could barely walk and now has a paralyzed wing. Sleeping constantly and not playful like just a few days ago. Not appearing to eat or drink but does still seems curious to pick at the grass if he’s plopped in it. Doesn’t complain and doesn’t appear to be in pain. Yesterday he managed to hobble and join his flockmates when they followed me. (This is before I knew how hard it is to contain Marek’s or that it was probably Marek’s - of course we isolated him immediately afterward and he is all alone now with just a hope and a prayer for company.) For what it’s worth, his poop is liquidish and has been for about a week now and as of yesterday it’s nearly all urine because he’s not eating. No treatment so far other than isolation and a treatment for worms on Saturday (because I worried that’s what the runny poop was because they just moved outside two weeks ago).

My intent is to not let him suffer, not to have any others suffer, and to not suffer myself through stress/sadness and worry. I’m prepared to cull him today if it’s best (although it is hard to know if I should wait to see for improvement - sort of like putting any pet down). (And if I should cull all the confirmed unvax’d birds…)

All that said, this is my current issue :

Now what?

So far - NONE OF THE OTHER BIRDS HAVE SYMPTOMS, both those vax’d and unvax’d. Fort Yolk is complete and the older birds need to be moved in (at least the confirmed vax’d one, right?).

Should I…

A. Just keep the SS isolated and wait and see what happens. Don’t change the plan. Move all the 8 week old birds besides the SS into the coop tomorrow and move the other younger flock into the coop in a few weeks. Assume this is Marek’s but hope for the best for the 5 unvax’d birds and accept that the vax’d birds will likely get it but at least survive. If any birds show symptoms, isolate the bird and cull it if it is suffering. Cut my losses but know I did my best at something hard that’s new to me… Assume all birds will have Marek’s now in this yard and only get vax’d birds and do not give away any birds.

OR

B. Same as A but cull the SS currently showing signs of Marek’s NOW and cull any other unvax’d birds ASAP IF they show signs of it. Cut my losses but know I did my best at something hard that’s new to me… Assume all birds will have Marek’s now in this yard and only get vax’d birds and do not give away any birds.

C. Cull the SS and ALL unvax’d birds today. Assume all the exposed birds have Marek’s and the unvax’d are likely to suffer from and/or die of it. Cull all the older flock now, whether showing signs of Marek’s or not (except for the one that is confirmed vaccinated). Slowly integrate the ONE confirmed vax’d 8 week old of the older flock with the new younger vaccinated chicks in the new coop. Cut my losses but know I did my best at something hard that’s new to me… Assume all birds will have Marek’s now in this yard and only get vax’d birds and do not give away any birds.

D. Set fire to everything and ponder midlife as I stare at the flames and cut my losses but know I did my best at something hard that’s new to me…and hope for the best.

E. Same as D but then move from my new dream home and then set fire to the new place. Wait 10 years, set it on fire again, then finally get new chicks that are vax’d and hope for the best.

 

[igorsMistress]

Theoretically the vaccinated birds shouldn’t show symptoms, the vaccine masks them but doesn’t prevent the disease. I would go with plan C as it makes the most sense.

For what it’s worth there are other things that mimic Marek’s symptoms so you might want to get a necropsy if the sick bird passes before you cull the rest. Or take him to a vet. There is a risk the vaccinated can leak the disease and make the other birds sick, but no guarantee that will happen.

I wish you the best!

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh gosh, I am so sorry! Some members live with their flocks and Mareks. It may not always be pretty but they manage. Let me tag a member who recently started the thread I linked below... @coach723

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...areks-disease-for-info.1525851/#post-25926739


My first flock turned up with MS at a very young age which is generally a culling situation. I decided not to cull and make it a learning experience. I am glad I did.

Good luck!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If it was my flock I would cull the one showing signs, immediately throw the body in the fridge and find a lab to send it to for testing before I culled any others.

 

[NanaK]

Since he is so young, have you treated him for coccidiosis? It can cause all kinds of problems esp runny poops.

From what I've read Marek's positive birds usually eat and drink normally.

 

[The chicken nurd]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[NanaK]

Also the Marek's vaccine does not prevent a bird from catching Marek's Disease. It helps prevent the tumors that the disease can cause, so a vaccinated bird can catch the disease they just won't show signs.

 

[NanaK]

Also, when a chick is vaccinated for Marek's, it needs to be quarantined for at least 2 weeks so the chick can develop the benefits from the vaccine. It takes time for immune system to respond to the vaccine.
I hope this helps. I just wouldn't make a rash decision until I was sure I KNEW what was going on with your cockeral.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If it was my flock I would cull the one showing signs, immediately throw the body in the freezer and find a lab to send it to for testing before I culled any others.

Fridge, not freezer. Don't freeze a body for necropsy

 

[miss_shickenchit]

Theoretically the vaccinated birds shouldn’t show symptoms, the vaccine masks them but doesn’t prevent the disease. I would go with plan C as it makes the most sense.

For what it’s worth there are other things that mimic Marek’s symptoms so you might want to get a necropsy if the sick bird passes before you cull the rest. Or take him to a vet. There is a risk the vaccinated can leak the disease and make the other birds sick, but no guarantee that will happen.

I wish you the best!

Thank you.

This is where I have been leaning as I would hate to see the others suffer. The challenge is knowing they can survive it, even if rarely, makes me wonder if it’s just better to see how they do and cull if needed. I have a vet in my family with chickens and she suggested that if they are just pets to me, then to take time before culling them all because you can’t “uncull”. At this point I’m just so frustrated… I was so excited about finally getting them into their new place.