Mareks

[Oklahomachick]

I have lost 4 hens in the last 6 months to mareks. I do not understand. I have read it can be in the coop. The dust? Is there any way to get rid of it? I love my girls & just hate this! I am planning to purchase about 10 day olds in May. I plan on vaccinating them for mareks at that time. In the mean time what about the hens I already have??
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Oklahoma chick

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not an expert on Mareks, but when chicks are vaccinated for it they must be kept in a Marek's-free environment for 2 weeks after the vaccine to become fully immune. Mareks survives in the environment because of the dander and dust from the feathers for at least 7 years, and maybe longer. So there is no way to clean for it. Since it can be spread by clothes, hair, hands, and shoes, care as to be taken with vaccinated chicks. You may want to read this thread, and feel free to ask questions of some of the people here will Mareks in their flocks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741957/not-an-emergency-mareks-in-the-flock
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf

 

[realsis]

When you vaccinate your new chicks make certain they are isolated from the outside and adult birds for at the very least 14 days while their immunity and antibodies build.if this time is not given although vaccinated they CAN still catch the Mareks virus because they were not given proper time for immunity before exposure. Hope this helps. As for your hens now I wish I knew of something but they're is no cure for Mareks sadly.i hope this is helpful to you and wish you the best.

 

[Oklahomachick]

Thank you all for the info on Mareks. I plan on keeping my new chicks in my laundry room for about a month.

Oklahomachick

 

[Nambroth]

Thank you all for the info on Mareks. I plan on keeping my new chicks in my laundry room for about a month.

Oklahomachick

More information here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

Be very careful to keep from bringing the dust in on your person if you can. Wash up, consider changing clothes, etc. You can't be too careful as it travels on extremely fine, tiny particles of dust and is very easy to spread.

It is worth it to clean up your coop and run as much as you can. You can't hope to get rid of the virus completely, especially since all of your chickens are carriers and shed it, but reducing the amount will help to keep you from tracking it as easily, and might help the chicks develop a better immunity once they go outside.