Mareks Disease: Need advice

[BetsyB0101]

We had to put the little silkie down tonight. I couldn't stand to watch her suffer anymore. I could see she was having neurological problems, much like what swelling on the brain would do to people, and I couldn't get any fluids down her so I gave up. I will be getting the hyperculim to have here for the next one that gets sick. I wil also be watching my chickens very closely and at the first sign of acting the slightest bit "off", will start medicine. Maybe will do better next time. The big chicks were hard to lose, but something about losing this silkie is really bothering me. She was just so pretty and sweet. Not fair! Anyway enough of my whining and I really want to thank everyone for the wonderful advice! I will be vaccinating every chicken on the place ASAP! Thank you!

 

[rosegal]

You have to be careful where you buy hatching eggs too. I bought some on an auction and they were all deformed.

 

[seminolewind]

Amen!

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[mothernaturesdaughter]

I am so confused on Mareks. If you vaccinate it will hide symptoms and the chicken can be a carrier and pass it onto any new chickens. Same as if you keep an immune bird it can also be a carrier. If everyone is doing this then this explains why I keep reading how most all chickens have been exposed to it. If people would stop vaccinating and cull any symptomatic birds would this not make the situation much better for everyone? I can see keeping them as pets but Green Fire Farms actually has posted on their site if you are hatching chicks from their birds they should be vaccinated for Mareks and they will not replace any of their birds that come down with this........... How many other people are selling birds that have this disease on their property? Only greed could make someone do such a thing.

 

[seminolewind]

It's all very confusing because of no test available and exposed birds that have no symptoms.
Yes, vaccinated chicks can be exposed to Marek's and be carriers, but not die from the disease in 90% of correctly given vaccine.

But unvaccinated chicks can be exposed and carry the disease, but, may at some point die from the tumors. Some of mine were 2 yrs old or more before they died from Marek's. And had it, but never showed symptoms till they died.

So there is no way to tell unless you hatch your own or get vaccinated day old chicks from a hatchery, and have never bought a chick outside that or a chicken from someone.

You can't cull away the disease. If it's on your property , or one of your birds, it's too late.

Greenfire Farms is trying to protect what they sell. If they sell you eggs and you hatch them at home in a bator, and vaccinate them day one and quarantine them for 2-8 weeks (I do 8), those chicks will hopefully not die from Marek's.

If Greenfire farms vaccinates their day old chicks on day one, and you quarantine them for 2-8 weeks, they can get Marek's from your chickens but not die from it. If they sell unvaccinated chicks, it's too late, but I would vaccinate anyway and quarantine. Anyone who sells day old chicks at $100.00 a chick should be vaccinating them immediately to protect their chicks, and their reputation.

So, in a nutshell,
Vaccinate all day old chicks you hatch in your bator on day one and quarantine, or buy day old vaccinated hatchery chicks.
Once it's on your property, culling will not help.
Vaccinating will save your chicks from the tumors only.
Vaccinating is the only way to save your day old little chicks from dying of Marek's.
Always assume your flock has been exposed.