Mareks disease diagnosis and risk to my flock

[Chippychick]

I had a little 10 month old D’uccle pullet begin showing neurological signs about a month ago and immediately pulled her and quarantined her away from the rest of my flock. After 3 weeks of medication, supportive care, and supplements, there was absolutely no improvement so I had her euthanized and necropsied. It was exactly what I had feared, a Mareks diagnosis (lesions in all major organs). I have her sibling (10 months old), a 13 week old pullet and a 9 week old pullet, all unvaccinated. They all lived in my outdoor coop together. I also have 6 week old silkie chicks and 2 week old chicks completely separated in brooders in my garage.

I will be vaccinating any new chicks but has anyone had success vaccinating older chicks past the critical 36 hour period?

I am aware that the vaccination just prevents some of the major symptoms from being exhibited, which I am fine with since I know I have Mareks in the flock (and do not breed so breeding for resistance is not an option). I am very concerned about losing most of my older chicks who have not been vaccinated yet. So far nobody else is symptomatic but I know it can take up to 25 weeks. I will not cull any of them unless they display symptoms so please refrain from suggesting that. I know it can live in their coop for years and I’m not willing to wait that long to have chickens again. Please help calm my fears that every one of my beloved chickens will die.

Those who have had Mareks in your flock, how did you handle it? How many total did you end up losing? Thank you!!!

 

[Ccrielly]

I had a little 10 month old D’uccle pullet begin showing neurological signs about a month ago and immediately pulled her and quarantined her away from the rest of my flock. After 3 weeks of medication, supportive care, and supplements, there was absolutely no improvement so I had her euthanized and necropsied. It was exactly what I had feared, a Mareks diagnosis (lesions in all major organs). I have her sibling (10 months old), a 13 week old pullet and a 9 week old pullet, all unvaccinated. They all lived in my outdoor coop together. I also have 6 week old silkie chicks and 2 week old chicks completely separated in brooders in my garage.

I will be vaccinating any new chicks but has anyone had success vaccinating older chicks past the critical 36 hour period?

I am aware that the vaccination just prevents some of the major symptoms from being exhibited, which I am fine with since I know I have Mareks in the flock (and do not breed so breeding for resistance is not an option). I am very concerned about losing most of my older chicks who have not been vaccinated yet. So far nobody else is symptomatic but I know it can take up to 25 weeks. I will not cull any of them unless they display symptoms so please refrain from suggesting that. I know it can live in their coop for years and I’m not willing to wait that long to have chickens again. Please help calm my fears that every one of my beloved chickens will die.

Those who have had Mareks in your flock, how did you handle it? How many total did you end up losing? Thank you!!!

 

[Ccrielly]

Hello,

Last year I bought 9 chickens and lost 5 to Marecks. My sweet Silkies were the last to go. I still have four who are now over a year old. I recently bought 4 new chicks and have them separate for now. All of the new chicks are vaccinated. I wish you luck, every time we thought we were out of the woods another chicken got sick. So sorry, hang in and hopefully you will have better results then I did.