Marek's in my flock.

[mithious]

I have read where some people take the used litter out of turkey coops and use it in their chicken coops to build up immunity in their flocks, since turkeys seem immune to it.

It's not that turkey's are immune to mareks, it is that turkey mareks, which is used in the only vaccine we, as backyard chicken keepers, can get, is not a virus that chickens can get, thus making the turkey droppings, kinda like a vaccine and the hope is that the dropping will produce a vaccine like reaction in chickens.. The turkey version of mareks does make the turkeys sick and acts the same way as chicken mareks, cow mareks, ect, since this is a herpes virus, with I think 9 different strains?....yes, some breeders are experimenting with using the turkey droppings as a "vaccine" for their flocks, rather than buy the turkey vaccine. There are 3 vaccines for mareks, one of which is made from the turkey mareks virus.

 

[mithious]

Recently we found out that our birds are infected with Marek's. I had 15 Jersey Giant cockerels to be raised for meat, and 6 various layer breeds of the same age. (18 weeks now I believe) Probably 2 months ago is when we had our first loss. We thought it was an isolated incident until about half of my Giants got sick. We took a couple birds to our local Avian Health lab to be necropsied, and they suspected and confirmed the Marek's diagnosis.
Every single bird that displayed symptoms have since passed away. (Over half of my flock) And the rest of the flock are carriers now along with my adult layers, most likely. We have no idea where we got it since we had not introduced any new chickens to the flock or to my laying flock. And I have raised several batches of chicks in this same coop/land within the last year without any issue, so we know it came here recently.

NOW- some of the seemingly healthy chickens are displaying signs of leg paralysis... and (from what I read) they might not even be edible if they have tumors. So my husband and I are trying to decide if we should put down the whole flock and start over next year, or just put them down as they display symptoms. This is not a decision we take lightly, a couple of my chickens are pretty much pet status. The vet who did the necropsies assured me that we don't have to destroy our flock, but she also said it only lasts a couple months after the chickens are gone, and everything else I've read says at least a year.

My questions are: If Marek's came to our property without a chicken "host," how easily can it leave our property? 2 of my sisters also raise chickens and my fear is that we could carry it to their flocks on our skin/clothes/shoes... is that possible?
Is keeping a flock of Marek's carriers responsible? I mean with it being such a highly contagious and DEVASTATING disease... I would feel horrible if we are spreading it around by letting our chickens live, if that makes sense.

Any feedback is appreciated... Whatever else it is, Marek's disease is overwhelming and stress inducing, at least for us!

I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. My guess, would be a wild bird brought it onto your property. Oxine, although expensive, can help, get rid of mareks on your property, although it can last for years on your land, and is now, all over...your house, your car, everywhere, you have been. There are no 100% positives with mareks. It is a herpes virus, and yes, you can carry it on your person. It is primarily spread by the chicken dander and can be spread on the wind, for miles also. This is one of the biggies, in the chicken world, and one of the hardest to eradicate from your land. As wild birds can carry it, it can be virtually anywhere, or if you have other chicken keepers in your area, it could've come on the wind also. You could've tracked it onto your property from a fair, a feedstore, or just about anywhere, since other chicken keepers, go to the same places we all do....although that risk is much lower than a wild bird bringing it, or a neighbor having it in their flock, or a friend that stopped by, that unkowningly has it in their flock. You see, vaccinating a chicken for mareks does not stop them from contracting the disease, it just stops them from developing the tumors, that kill them...they are cancerous tumors..so a vaccinated flock could be full of carriers and not even know it...there are so many ways to get this horrible disease.

Yes, mareks is a devastating disease,and there are many, right here on BYC that have it in their flocks now..there is a great link, one of many, that can get you intouch with others and help with ideas, support, and suggestions I can not. You might want to try that thread and start at the end, as those are the newest posts...it's called mareks in the flock not an emergency. There are lots of really nice people on the thread with great info and personal experience with this disease. Again, soo very sorry!!! Best wishes and hope you can find the help you are searching for with the caring people on that thread!

 

[Haunted55]

It's not that turkey's are immune to mareks, it is that turkey mareks, which is used in the only vaccine we, as backyard chicken keepers, can get, is not a virus that chickens can get, thus making the turkey droppings, kinda like a vaccine and the hope is that the dropping will produce a vaccine like reaction in chickens.. The turkey version of mareks does make the turkeys sick and acts the same way as chicken mareks, cow mareks, ect, since this is a herpes virus, with I think 9 different strains?....yes, some breeders are experimenting with using the turkey droppings as a "vaccine" for their flocks, rather than buy the turkey vaccine. There are 3 vaccines for mareks, one of which is made from the turkey mareks virus.

http://www.avianweb.com/mareksdisease.html

Actually, turkeys can have turkey Marek's and not have any symptoms or problems at all. Now, that said...there is something that has entered the wild turkey flock here from Europe and from what I've read and pictures I've seen, it resembles a severe skin form of chicken Marek's. And yes, our chickens are suseptible to it. It's a mutation and from first tests, seems to cross between the breeds.

 

[GingerHippie]

I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. My guess, would be a wild bird brought it onto your property. Oxine, although expensive, can help, get rid of mareks on your property, although it can last for years on your land, and is now, all over...your house, your car, everywhere, you have been. There are no 100% positives with mareks. It is a herpes virus, and yes, you can carry it on your person. It is primarily spread by the chicken dander and can be spread on the wind, for miles also. This is one of the biggies, in the chicken world, and one of the hardest to eradicate from your land. As wild birds can carry it, it can be virtually anywhere, or if you have other chicken keepers in your area, it could've come on the wind also. You could've tracked it onto your property from a fair, a feedstore, or just about anywhere, since other chicken keepers, go to the same places we all do....although that risk is much lower than a wild bird bringing it, or a neighbor having it in their flock, or a friend that stopped by, that unkowningly has it in their flock. You see, vaccinating a chicken for mareks does not stop them from contracting the disease, it just stops them from developing the tumors, that kill them...they are cancerous tumors..so a vaccinated flock could be full of carriers and not even know it...there are so many ways to get this horrible disease.

Yes, mareks is a devastating disease,and there are many, right here on BYC that have it in their flocks now..there is a great link, one of many, that can get you intouch with others and help with ideas, support, and suggestions I can not. You might want to try that thread and start at the end, as those are the newest posts...it's called mareks in the flock not an emergency. There are lots of really nice people on the thread with great info and personal experience with this disease. Again, soo very sorry!!!  Best wishes and hope you can find the help you are searching for with the caring people on that thread!

Sorry it took so long to reply! Everything you said is spot on with what I found. Even if we killed our whole flock and waited a year to start over, like you said, it could be carried back here just as easy as it did the first time.
We did choose to put down the giants we raised for meat since the chances of them having tumors was ridiculously high. I kept the 3 little hens and one roo of laying breeds. Unfortunately my White Maran Roo got the leg paralysis and died. And my favorite little pet Salmon Faverolle hen also unexpectedly died. So far the only two I have left with Marek's are a White Maran hen and a Wyandotte hen. So far they seem to be okay but I know they could basically keel over any time.