Mareks experience needed. prelim results pg 9

[NewToFarming]

I had to reschedule the vet appointment for Lyle until Wednesday so no clue on him yet but now this morning I have a 3-4 week old chick with a weak leg and seems tired. Can a chick this young contract Mareks? I had thought it was like the 3 to 4 month old range?

 

[klf73]

Mine started leg issues at 4 weeks...

 

[NewToFarming]

Dang it!!! The more time goes on, the more I believe it to be Mareks!

This chick was hatched by a broody. Could it still have gotten Mareks's if this is what is going on with my flock?

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:

Yes, there's the common age, 8-25 weeks. Then there's the older-than-that. I had a few at less than 8 months, and 2 at 2 years old.
One 2 year old got it about 2 months after exposure and one got it almost a year after.

Uncommon is less than 8 weeks, uncommon is at 2 weeks. Some strains develop quickly. At 2 weeks old, the virus has already started to grow.

I'm getting this information from some university reference book-1,000 pages. Try running a search for an author named Y. M. Saif. He's an editor in chief, and the most info I have found.

 

[seminolewind]

Lisa, it's hard to say. I was able to follow a history leading to 1 pullet who was the only one who was not hatched here by me. And then after 2 years of a chicken wasting away every few months, (younger ones than my original flock). No clue until I had an 8 week old chick got classic symptoms about 1 every week, but a few just wasted away without paralysis. And I finally knew-no doubt in my mind. And what's happening to Krista made me think hard about Having Marek's.

Keep a history and symptoms. Or send a dead bird out.

 

[seminolewind]

Knock on wood, I still have 3. It's been almost 2 weeks and they look good. They're nice birds.

I have 9 more Polish in the bator, and vaccine in the fridge.

 

[NewToFarming]

I agree, following this thread has really made me want to look further into this, that is for sure!
My original flock were hatchery end of may as day old chicks last year. They continue to be fine. I then added young silkies in early july, then 2 orp girls in august who con't to be fine. I then add 8 week old chicks in November. My first problem was a pullet in February that hatched in December and she showed symptom end of February. No other problems until Lyle and no the little chick. I was thinking it to be in the soil maybe but also think some before this should have shown something?

 

[RHRanch]

So - not trying to hijack this thread or anything, but I was wondering what the best way to avoid this problem is. I have never had Mareks in my flock (But I have always kept turkeys), but have been asked to sell & ship adult birds before. Do you think it's best to vaccinate your birds if you plan to ship and sell? Would that be safe for unvaccinated flocks to recieve vaccinated birds? I have always kept turkeys in my flock, but no longer have any, so this is a new concern for me as a seller. I just want to provide the best safest birds for my buyers, and I thought this is kind of topical.

 

[JusticeFamilyFarm]

I am so sorry you all are going through this. I do have a question for those of you who have culled and had a necropsy done, if you don't mind... how did you cull them? I have a pullet who I believe has Marek's, but she is still alive. We are to ship her today for a necropsy, so we have to cull her (she is not doing well at all). I don't know if there are certain ways of culling that will not be ok for the necropsy procedure? They said if we could deliver her ourselves, they would euthanize her before the testing, but it's a 3 hour drive and my mom (babysitter) is out of town, so I have 2 little ones who won't tolerate the drive too well. So, shipping it is- but she must be culled first. My husband will use the ax, but I wasn't sure if that would be ok to them ship her in for the necropsy. I'm sorry to add this into your thread, but any advice would be appreciated. Again, I am sorry for all of your losses and experience with this horrible disease.

 

[nonsuch]

I had my Pullet humanely euthanized at the Vet's office. They then packaged and shipped her to our State Lab for a post mortem. He assured me it would be by injection in the leg.