I have lost 5 bantam hens, 2 bantam cockerels and 3 chickens to Marek's.
I am sharing what I have learnt as information is very sparse.
Marek's can effect poultry at ANY age.
Vaccinated birds are not safe. It doesn't always work and on top of that new strains are resilient to the vaccination
My last bantam died 5 months ago- the deaths in the Bantams started in May last year.
No new birds were added to the flock and I have no idea where it came from or how.
Hypercium, vitamins, anti-biotics, baby ibuprofen, hand feeding and watering does not work.
My leg horn did recover from paralysed neck with the above treatment, only to die 6 weeks later from internal tumours
Two of my chickens were struck down when in full molt, as they were obviously weakened and Marek's is opportunistic. My other chicken that died was a big strong healthy bird.
Symptoms:
None- just go quiet and drop dead within 24-48 hours
Huddled, head under wing and lethargic
Limp, lame and then paralysis
Gaping and struggling to swallow
Green poo
Eyes closed or half closed
Dirty, sore , featherless vent
Soft, thin or rubbery eggs
Stumbling, and using wings to balance
Towards the end they always have classic Marek's sign of curled foot / claw
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
I am sharing what I have learnt as information is very sparse.
Marek's can effect poultry at ANY age.
Vaccinated birds are not safe. It doesn't always work and on top of that new strains are resilient to the vaccination
My last bantam died 5 months ago- the deaths in the Bantams started in May last year.
No new birds were added to the flock and I have no idea where it came from or how.
Hypercium, vitamins, anti-biotics, baby ibuprofen, hand feeding and watering does not work.
My leg horn did recover from paralysed neck with the above treatment, only to die 6 weeks later from internal tumours
Two of my chickens were struck down when in full molt, as they were obviously weakened and Marek's is opportunistic. My other chicken that died was a big strong healthy bird.
Symptoms:
None- just go quiet and drop dead within 24-48 hours
Huddled, head under wing and lethargic
Limp, lame and then paralysis
Gaping and struggling to swallow
Green poo
Eyes closed or half closed
Dirty, sore , featherless vent
Soft, thin or rubbery eggs
Stumbling, and using wings to balance
Towards the end they always have classic Marek's sign of curled foot / claw
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq