Marek's Info

[Missy3b]

Because I have had Marek's confirmed in my flock, does it mean that any new birds I bring in that have not been vaccinated are suseptable to the disease? My babies have been vaccinated but I am looking for a new rooster and want to know if there is anything I can do to prevent him from getting it. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[crittersitter]

I was just reading this and thought I'd pass it along.

http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2005/spring/mareks.htm

 

[Missy3b]

I am reading conflicting messages about Marek's. I know that the best route would be to kill all my birds and disinfect the henhouse. However, it is my son's chickens and I cannot do this. My new babies are vaccinated. But I am wondering about bringing in outsiders.

 

[FireTigeris]

I wouldn't if your son is older then, 7-9 I'd tell him what was going on that you can never have new chickens and the ones you have are very sick.

 

[crtrlovr]

My own experience with this has been rough, too. To make a very long story short, after confirmed Marek's in my flock, the best advice I got was to maintain a closed flock -- none in, none out. I did not follow this; I did get some other chicks because my roo-hen ratio was WAY off and I didn't want to subject the hens to more overmating than was already happening. The chicks should even out the ratio a bit when they get bigger. As long as I am not breeding chickens for sale I can maintain the flock I have, try to keep them healthy by keeping clean surroundings and feeding high quality food & treats like yogurt & cottage cheese, using ACV in the water, etc. I should be able to have happy, healthy birds that just happen to have been exposed to a nasty virus. MoodyChicken had put up a post about using hypericum (St. John's Wort) in chickens with Marek's symptoms. I have a sweet little bantam cochin hen that I'm going to start on that today. I hope it isn't too late for her; she's one of the sweetest ones I've ever had. I wish you luck with your own chickens. Even if you have vaccinated chicks, the vaccine is approximately 90% effective, meaning you could possibly still lose some to the virus, but it's better than no protection at all. You may have a higher than average mortality rate, but just do everything you can to make sure their environment is as healthy as possible.

 

[Missy3b]

My plan is to only replace the rooster we lost. My son, who is 9, realizes that we could lose more. But nothing we can do. Then I will deal with what I have. It is a nasty disease.

 

[doxielover]

Missyb,

I don't know if this info will help but I am trying it now. Years ago a doctor educated me about the benefits of bovine colostrum to super pump up the immune system. It comes in capsule form (100 caps per bottle) for about $30.00, Symbiotics is the brand I use, ( the immune plus form), it also comes in a large plastic jar of loose powder. I open one capsule of the colostrum and mix it in a syrynge with 1 teaspoon of warm water. Then I shake it vigorously to mix, and I slowly get it into the birds mouth, once a day. Symbiotics has a web site if you want to check them out. Google bovine colostrum and you will find them. Beware though, make sure any colostrum you buy is from New Zealand, not the USA because in New Zealand they do not use any hormones or antibiotics in their cattle. I used colostrum 4 years ago to treat my dad's pekingneese dog who was diagnosed by a specialist with squamous cell carcinoma on her nose. She had a broccolic floret sized tumor on her nose. I did some reading and found that boosting the immune system is key to fighting cancer, so I gave it a shot. Mixed one capsule of the colosturm right in her food, and within a week it started to shrink so we kept her on it until it was gone. Then we continued to keep her on a maintainance dose. When I brought her back to the specialist, he declared her free of the cancer. Symbiotics asked me to send before and after photos with her story as a testimonial. I currently have one of my barred rock roosters with Marek's, (not diagnosed by a vet) but some breeders that are familiar with it. I started him a week ago on the colostrum and within a few days, he was showing signs of an increase in strength in his legs and was trying harder to stand whereas before he wasn't even trying. It's still early to tell what will happen. I also bought the hypercium homeopathic remedy and I am going to start both on that. This morning I found my sussex rooster down with the same type of paralysis, even though they have been separated for a while. Now I plan on putting all my other birds ( 3 that are 6 months old) and my new 4 week old java chicks that are still inside the house, on the colostrum to boost their immune systems and hopefully ward off getting the Marek's. Wish me luck. I am heartbroken but hopeful that I can prevent my other birds from getting it. Whole Foods Co. has the bottle of 1oo tabs of the hypercium in both 6C or 30C, I got the 30C for $6.99 a bottle so I bought 3. Good luck.

 

[tellynpeep]

Why can't you vaccinate any new birds coming into the flock?