Living With Mareks: And Yes, that's my introduction, sadly.

[CSAchook]

My father has a Marek's positive flock. After losing two POL pullets and getting that dreaded diagnosis, he still kept all his birds remaining birds (no culling). The rest survived past POL and lived happy birdy lives until they were about 2-3 years old after which they all succumbed to either Marek's or secondary problems. Each one was humanely put down only once she could no longer care for herself. Let me emphasize those ladies had good lives, full of sunshine and tasty food.

After the death of the last of his unvaccinated birds, my dad decided to continue with chickens, but to only buy vaccinated chicks and to continue to keep a closed flock (once a chicken arrives on his property, it never leaves). And so far, his new flock of vaccinated ladies are doing great, almost 2 years in!

The one tricky part of this has been keeping the newly vaccinated chicks in a Marek's free environment for two to three weeks while they develop immunity. We solved this problem by having me brood his hatchery orders at my house (Marek's free, knock on wood), and then moving them into the coop at his place once they were a few weeks old. Alternatively though, I think you could try to segregate them indoors or in an outbuilding until they are a few weeks. You would just need to keep strict biosecurity between chicks and older birds.

Hope this helps! IMO there is still hope. My dad is still a happy chicken keeper with happy chickens.

And welcome to BYC!

 

[N F C]

Hi Kat, best wishes to you with your flock!

 

[CSAchook]

I just remembered, Dad also bought Virkon S to use for disinfecting coops and equipment. It is true trying to eliminate the disease entirely from your property is probably not possible. But Virkon S is a great and very powerful livestock-safe disinfectant that may help reduce viral load in your coops etc. Dad uses it to clean all his equipment and the coop before bringing in new, vaccinated birds.

 

[Lil Halawakee]

My father has a Marek's positive flock. After losing two POL pullets and getting that dreaded diagnosis, he still kept all his birds remaining birds (no culling). The rest survived past POL and lived happy birdy lives until they were about 2-3 years old after which they all succumbed to either Marek's or secondary problems. Each one was humanely put down only once she could no longer care for herself. Let me emphasize those ladies had good lives, full of sunshine and tasty food.

After the death of the last of his unvaccinated birds, my dad decided to continue with chickens, but to only buy vaccinated chicks and to continue to keep a closed flock (once a chicken arrives on his property, it never leaves). And so far, his new flock of vaccinated ladies are doing great, almost 2 years in!

The one tricky part of this has been keeping the newly vaccinated chicks in a Marek's free environment for two to three weeks while they develop immunity. We solved this problem by having me brood his hatchery orders at my house (Marek's free, knock on wood), and then moving them into the coop at his place once they were a few weeks old. Alternatively though, I think you could try to segregate them indoors or in an outbuilding until they are a few weeks. You would just need to keep strict biosecurity between chicks and older birds.

Hope this helps! IMO there is still hope. My dad is still a happy chicken keeper with happy chickens.

And welcome to BYC!

Thank you for this. Real life experience is what I am looking for--I tell you, I'm letting go of raising my little bantams and it breaks my heart. These are for pets, cuddles, and loving--and I just can't be broken anymore. However, for my big egg layers--this is what I'm looking for! I am keeping a closed flock now (anything else is totally unethical) and thinking of bringing in some vaccinated big gals. You are right about the tricky part--I'm thinking of paying someone to raise them out for me, as Marek's floats in the wind and the PPE I have to incorporate to raise them in the house is just not giving me enough insurance that they will not be infected.

Yes. It helps. Yes. Thank you, so very much, my chicken friend!

 

[Lil Halawakee]

I just remembered, Dad also bought Virkon S to use for disinfecting coops and equipment. It is true trying to eliminate the disease entirely from your property is probably not possible. But Virkon S is a great and very powerful livestock-safe disinfectant that may help reduce viral load in your coops etc. Dad uses it to clean all his equipment and the coop before bringing in new, vaccinated birds.

I just used this yesterday for the first time--best stuff ever!

 

[Lil Halawakee]

I feel like I'm asking for stories and not giving: let me do that a little. We are doing great at vaccinating. It's not that hard! Jeffers.com is great and we now can whip it all together within just a few minutes. We also have done SO much research and found that the UK is doing boosters at two weeks, so there's that. We are doing those. It seems that there is some sort of cloak over the conversation., but that doesn't help. If it truly is ubiquitous, then let's talk, right?

Closed flock, closed flock, closed flock would be my own advice.

I'm just hoping that we can generate true stories of life after--how it goes, what the losses are, what the hopes are, what the truth is. Thank you all for jumping in--it's almost a secret subject around where I live (Alabama). No one wants to admit that they have Marek's. That's regrettable. We have to learn from each other.

I feel very welcome here. Thank you all.

 

[Lil Halawakee]

Well, I’ve never tried vaccinating my chicks, but I have had unvaccinated ones with the vaccinated birds and unfortunately, yes, some have died or had to be put down, but others are still going strong so I think with a vaccine they would have an even better chance.

But from what I understand, they’re supposed to be kept separate for two weeks for the vaccine to take effect? And I haven’t done that, even with the hatchery ordered, vaccinated chicks, so I don’t even know if my vaccinated ones are immune. They seem to be though. It’s definitely an awful disease!

Some people do try to breed for immunity which might be an option. Though if you don’t want to cull, you’d need to have a plan for the extra roosters. I think @CSAchook has dealt with it as well? And I think @ChocolateMouse but idk if either of them has had chicks.

I will say that, after a few youtube videos, we became easily proficient at giving vaccines. It's a cost--but worth it. And yes, chickens will never be immune. They will only have a fighting chance.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens, hope you are successful in preventing new Marek's cases and providing the information we all need to keep things that way.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I will say that, after a few youtube videos, we became easily proficient at giving vaccines. It's a cost--but worth it. And yes, chickens will never be immune. They will only have a fighting chance.

I would be so scared I would hurt them haha plus it only comes in 1000 dose vials, no? Considering I’ve only hatched like less than 10 a time, that’s a lot of vaccine I might have to try it though sometime if I ever do hatch more because it definitely sucks losing them!! I’ve lost several to it. But I’m torn between vaccinating and breeding for immunity.

 

[Lil Halawakee]

Well, I’ve never tried vaccinating my chicks, but I have had unvaccinated ones with the vaccinated birds and unfortunately, yes, some have died or had to be put down, but others are still going strong so I think with a vaccine they would have an even better chance.

But from what I understand, they’re supposed to be kept separate for two weeks for the vaccine to take effect? And I haven’t done that, even with the hatchery ordered, vaccinated chicks, so I don’t even know if my vaccinated ones are immune. They seem to be though. It’s definitely an awful disease!

Some people do try to breed for immunity which might be an option. Though if you don’t want to cull, you’d need to have a plan for the extra roosters. I think @CSAchook has dealt with it as well? And I think @ChocolateMouse but idk if either of them has had chicks.

I really would love to hear more about breeding for immunity--thank you! And you are right. We would need a rooster coop or get ready to cull on that.