Mareks

[Momma_Bear]

I was wondering how you can “kill” the disease once the birds are gone? We continue to have issues and have lost 2 more and my other is going down hill. Therefore we have decided to cull and start over. We have lost more then half our flock to it. Thank yall

 

[ChickNanny13]

@rebrascora @casportpony @Wyorp Rock [USER=31813 Thank you in advance

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was wondering how you can “kill” the disease once the birds are gone? We continue to have issues and have lost 2 more and my other is going down hill. Therefore we have decided to cull and start over. We have lost more then half our flock to it. Thank yall

I'm very sorry to hear about your losses and your situation
Have you had confirmation of Marek's through testing/necropsy?

My understanding is the Marek's virus can live in the environment for several years. There may not be a way to completely kill it since it is spread through dust, dander, feathers, wild birds, etc.

You can try using Virkon S to sanitize your coop after you have cleaned it thoroughly, but I honestly don't know how long you have to let your coop "sit" empty to know how effective that would be.

@rebrascora @Nambroth and @microchick may have better suggestions for living with Marek's. If you have not read the following article, I recommend that you do. It has a lot of information that you will find useful.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[Momma_Bear]

I'm very sorry to hear about your losses and your situation
Have you had confirmation of Marek's through testing/necropsy?

My understanding is the Marek's virus can live in the environment for several years. There may not be a way to completely kill it since it is spread through dust, dander, feathers, wild birds, etc.

You can try using Virkon S to sanitize your coop after you have cleaned it thoroughly, but I honestly don't know how long you have to let your coop "sit" empty to know how effective that would be.

@rebrascora @Nambroth and @microchick may have better suggestions for living with Marek's. If you have not read the following article, I recommend that you do. It has a lot of information that you will find useful.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

Thank you! Honestly I have not. Only way to do it is to ship to the closest testing facility which is about 1.5-3hrs out. However if my 3rd goes, I just might. They had a ton of symptoms accept the symptom of inner tumors. However most of my flock is old. Very few are still young. If not mereks and something easily fixed, I will treat and sell, then start over.

 

[Momma_Bear]

I have just emailed our pet and bird veterinarian to see about getting a necropsy done.

 

[Shadrach]

I was wondering how you can “kill” the disease once the birds are gone? We continue to have issues and have lost 2 more and my other is going down hill. Therefore we have decided to cull and start over. We have lost more then half our flock to it. Thank yall

Can you move your coop? If so that would be a start.
If you can't move your coop you can use chemicals to sanitize the coop but a blow torch will do a much better job.
You could also dig out the run if you have one, better still, if possible is to soak the ground with a flammable liquid and set fire to it. Fire, correctly controlled kills just about everything.
Many years ago I had a coccidia problem around one of my coops. My coops can be moved and I just dug the ground, soaked it in petrol and burnt that area.

 

[Momma_Bear]

Can you move your coop? If so that would be a start.
If you can't move your coop you can use chemicals to sanitize the coop but a blow torch will do a much better job.
You could also dig out the run if you have one, better still, if possible is to soak the ground with a flammable liquid and set fire to it. Fire, correctly controlled kills just about everything.
Many years ago I had a coccidia problem around one of my coops. My coops can be moved and I just dug the ground, soaked it in petrol and burnt that area.

I sadly can’t do either

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you! Honestly I have not. Only way to do it is to ship to the closest testing facility which is about 1.5-3hrs out. However if my 3rd goes, I just might. They had a ton of symptoms accept the symptom of inner tumors. However most of my flock is old. Very few are still young. If not mereks and something easily fixed, I will treat and sell, then start over.

I have just emailed our pet and bird veterinarian to see about getting a necropsy done.

Where are you located?
Your state lab is likely cheaper than a vet, plus testing/necropsy is what they do
Even if you have to ship a body to them, they should be able to provide you with a way to get the shipping label (usually FedEx or UPS) - that's just added to the bill.

It would be very good to have an "official" diagnosis, that way you know for sure what you are dealing with and can move forward.

If it's something "fixable", may I ask why you would sell the birds you have and start over?

 

[Momma_Bear]

Where are you located?
Your state lab is likely cheaper than a vet, plus testing/necropsy is what they do
Even if you have to ship a body to them, they should be able to provide you with a way to get the shipping label (usually FedEx or UPS) - that's just added to the bill.

It would be very good to have an "official" diagnosis, that way you know for sure what you are dealing with and can move forward.

If it's something "fixable", may I ask why you would sell the birds you have and start over?

90% of them are older and not laying enough to keep up with the egg demand of this family. They still lay, just not quite enough. I know some people who keep as pets and laying. I mean we do for both, but more for eggs. Younger ones would go to a family member.

College Station is the state location, but I can’t make that drive n we don’t have the time to get everything to ship off. Sadly, although it’ll be more expensive, it’ll be easier for us to take to our pet n bird clinic

 

[wleigh1021]

Vetdna.com does blood testing for $20 and easy to do.