Mareks in the flock - but now we’re moving!!

[davidmpenning]

@bhawk-23
I’ve also read stories about people who have tested their soils for Mareks after cleaning and letting the land rest, but in all the internet searching I’ve done, I’ve never found any soil test that I can buy for Mareks. If I do find it, I would test our soil here after 6-12 months.

 

[RoyalChick]

@bhawk-23
I’ve also read stories about people who have tested their soils for Mareks after cleaning and letting the land rest, but in all the internet searching I’ve done, I’ve never found any soil test that I can buy for Mareks. If I do find it, I would test our soil here after 6-12 months.

The lab I have used in Texas will do an ‘environment’ PCR test for $20.
Just swab the soil or the coop.
They sell the swabs so it is more than $20 outlay but you can keep the unused swabs for future tests.
https://www.vetdna.com/

 

[Folly's place]

Look it up, but I think that the Marek's virus is killed by many disinfectants. Washing clothing in the right products will kill it, and disinfecting the garden implements that you really want to keep will do it too. Shovels, etc, could maybe also be left with the house?
And buying vaccinated chicks is a good plan! Then they need to be isolated away from the ground/ coop for two weeks to develop protection. I'd do that at your new place. Here we have chicks from hatcheries vaccinated, and any chicks hatched here not vaccinated. They are 'canaries in the coal mine' for us.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

And I don't believe that Marek's virus is 'everywhere'! In 30+ years of chicken keeping, we've been lucky enough to avoid it here. Not having nearby neighbors with 'random source' birds is a blessing...
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

And I don't believe that Marek's virus is 'everywhere'! In 30+ years of chicken keeping, we've been lucky enough to avoid it here. Not having nearby neighbors with 'random source' birds is a blessing...
Mary

Wild birds I think are the vector.

 

[davidmpenning]

The lab I have used in Texas will do an ‘environment’ PCR test for $20.
Just swab the soil or the coop.
They sell the swabs so it is more than $20 outlay but you can keep the unused swabs for future tests.
https://www.vetdna.com/

Thank you for the link! I’ve bookmarked it so I can use it later

 

[LizzzyJo]

Cull, start over, get vaccinated chicks, don’t rescue any in the future, keep your biosecurity as a main priority.

Especially because you’re looking to have a business.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I agree with starting over. And not bringing anything with, absolutely nothing. And cleaning shoes and clothing that are used for cleaning the coop or better yet, toss those too.

We have a Mareks positive flock also and a fresh start would be magnificent. But it is not possible for us right now.

Extra question, if you remove all the chicken items and burn the coop, will you inform the next owners? They will have an infected flock if they decide to get chickens so that may decide on vaccinating chicks if they do. It’s in your dirt, environment and possibly the house.

This is also my dilemma for when we sell our house.

Even if the new owners buy vaccinated chicks - if those birds have chicks themselves then their second generation will get the mereks from the grounds and materials. Even if they did vaccinate their own chicks hatched on their property (which is rare) the birds raised by broody hens will be out there with the mereks and get it before the vaccine takes hold.

 

[bhawk-23]

Even if the new owners buy vaccinated chicks - if those birds have chicks themselves then their second generation will get the mereks from the grounds and materials. Even if they did vaccinate their own chicks hatched on their property (which is rare) the birds raised by broody hens will be out there with the mereks and get it before the vaccine takes hold.

Agree. But they could always add vaccinated chicks and hope for the best. Or they may decide not to. I’m only posing the question if giving them this info for preparation is the right thing to do. We live in a town with lots of backyard flocks so I’m guessing we are not the only mareks positive flock. Also, we have a university vet program all around us. But the small and large animal clinic, some live stock barns and the exotic animal clinic that sees birds and chickens is about 1/2 mile away. A 4th year vet student cared for my flock and brought it to our property.

It would be interesting to hear what others have done if they were in this same situation.

 

[davidmpenning]

Even if the new owners buy vaccinated chicks - if those birds have chicks themselves then their second generation will get the mereks from the grounds and materials. Even if they did vaccinate their own chicks hatched on their property (which is rare) the birds raised by broody hens will be out there with the mereks and get it before the vaccine takes hold.

Depends on timeframes and cleaning. Mareks doesn’t live forever in the environment. Most studies show an average of a 6 month lifespan. Plus there are available cleaners like oxine and vikron-s that are proven to kill the virus.