Mareks experience needed. prelim results pg 9

[klf73]

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honestly, I wouldn't be concerned. I had chickens for a few years before mareks and every now and then you get a wonky egg. I was told its just their system working out the kinks, especially new layers.

 

[Lucysmom002]

yes, I agree, I wouldn't get worried solely based on a soft egg. I've had a few here, not a big deal. Give some oyster shells

 

[hokankai]

For you guys with Marek's how long did it take for it to kill the one's affected? I'm asking because I have two d'uccles that are 4 months old now, who both have leg problems. One of them suddenly got a dead leg, but she hops around okay and has had it for a month now without it getting better or worse. Her sister on the other hand has slowly been unable to hold herself up very well and kind of acts like her legs can't hold her up. She has had this problem for about 2-3 weeks now.

How long should I expect the bird to live if it ends up being Marek's? And is there any point separating them since they've been with my other birds for several months now? I got these birds at one month old from a breeder.

 

[ChickChick0811]

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I think it is that! THANK YOU!

 

[klf73]

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If you feel them they will feel skinny. No matter how much mine pigged out they got skinnier. Only one didn't die, we culled because it vibrated and shed significantly.

 

[hokankai]

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If you feel them they will feel skinny. No matter how much mine pigged out they got skinnier. Only one didn't die, we culled because it vibrated and shed significantly.

Hmm, because she looks pretty porky, but I'll have someone feel her and compare her to the others.

 

[klf73]

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If you feel them they will feel skinny. No matter how much mine pigged out they got skinnier. Only one didn't die, we culled because it vibrated and shed significantly.

Hmm, because she looks pretty porky, but I'll have someone feel her and compare her to the others.

You also need to consider a genetic thing, since they are related....could just be a defect, did you inspect for a slipped tendon?

 

[hokankai]

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Hmm, because she looks pretty porky, but I'll have someone feel her and compare her to the others.

You also need to consider a genetic thing, since they are related....could just be a defect, did you inspect for a slipped tendon?

I have not. I looked for injury in the one with a dead limb, but I didn't find anything and she doesn't even want to grip my finger. With her I thought it was an injury, because she could fly like a bird and it's possible she flew and got caught somewhere. But when the other started having issues I started asking more questions. I hope and pray it isn't Mareks...but I'm not getting my hopes up either. Their broodermate (from the same breeder that is) died of cocci last night, so I'm wondering if these birds just have poor immune systems since my other birds have not had a problem.

What would a slipped tendon look like? This girl's walking problems never included limping, it was more like her legs slowly folded underneath her until now she's walking but her belly almost touches the ground.

 

[seminolewind]

I have a question. Let's say the whole flock is exposed. Some develop symptoms, and are culled. The other ones have no symptoms. If an unsymptomatic chicken develops one symptom, is that a death sentence? Does a symptom mean "too late"?

 

[kelar]

Hi Sem - I'm assuming you are talking about Mareks here as far as symptoms. I have read that some birds develop symptoms and then recover. For whatever reason, they are able to resist the disease. However, I would also presume that if any symptoms develop and even if the bird eventually recovers from them, you now have a carrier that is shedding the disease. I had a young cockerel some years ago who was vaccinated, but developed lameness symptoms indicative of mareks. He was very weak for a while, but eventually seemed to completely recover. However, since I felt he would be a carrier, I did not want to keep him and could not in good conscience give him to someone else, I ended up having him euthanized. So I guess it comes down to whether or not you want to chance having a carrier bird in your flock - if not, then a symptom may very well be a death sentence. I didn't feel very good about it, but really felt I had no choice Of course I'd want to be sure it was not something else - in my case I was pretty sure it WAS Mareks.