Merek's Vaccination?

[seminolewind]

ok, lengthy question:

I received some bantams last year...mostly roos, rehomed all but one roo and one hen. saddl, my hen died at a young age of what appears to have been marek's. I was later told by the previous owner that other birds they had were passing away of what they assumed was Marek's. Later, I adopted 3 cochins. One from the same place. 2 from other places. They were all happy and fine, as well as the roo who is now just over a year old. Suddenly, last month one cochin died out of the blue- was fine one morning and dead the next. Not sure why...marek's???

Selfishly, I want more than only 3 chickens, so got an order of chicks from mcmurray this past february- made sure they were vaccinated for Marek's and I do keep them in separate parts of the yard (though just reading of the highly contageous nature of the virus) anyway, out of my vaccinated flock of 40... 1 rooster fell ill and died before 3 mo old, I had 2 hens about the same time show symptoms of marek's (the leg paralysis, droopyness, lack of appatite) But both got over it in a few days and are now fine...

My questions are:

#1) the 2 hens that were vaccinated, who showed symptoms and 'recovered', are they really recovered?? Or will they die later down the road of internal issues?? I love them dearly and it would break my heart!! are they now carriers? what about the rest of their flock? are they now all exposed and carriers?

#2) I had 3 chicks recently hatch from the origional flock of 3 (who we'll call the marek's carriers(?) I took the chickies from the broody hen after she hatched them and hand raised them inside. What is their prognosis?? Are they immune? Is it ok to place them in either flock (the vaccinated one or back w/ their parents which are unvaccinated carriers???...if the vaccinated flock produce chicks next spring...what will the statis of those chicks be???

#3) I recently took 4 new birds into my flock, 2 adults and 2 under 6 mo old. They are in with the vaccinated flock...I have no idea if any of the new 4 have been vaccinated...But since it seems that I may have carriers, and even vaccinated birds that may be carriers (or at least exposed), and there is no way on one farm to keep each flock in a sterile bubble....does it matter anymore to try and keep everyone separate? what are the chances my new birds will come down with it, living with the vaccinated group???

#4) I have 4 turkey poults and 4 guinea poults- are they at risk? I read it is very rare for them to catch Marek's however, Can they become carriers even if they cannot catch it? I want to move my origional flock of 3 (the assumed carriers) to a new, smaller spot as they currently have a large grassy space they do not seem to utalize and its getting over grown. i want to put either turkies or guineas in it as they will do a better job of keeping things 'mowed' so i dont have to go in and mow it. However, is it not safe to put anything directly where the potential carriers have been??? Or is it all rather mute at this point????

I always dreamed of having a great poultry hobby farm- not for breeding or sale just for the sheer joy of poultry. I never expected to wind up with a virus- if I even have one here...Very confused and concerned.

input welcomed....

If you vaccinate and quarantine day old chicks or hatchery chicks, I quarantine for 10 weeks and it's still no guarantee. But this is the best you can do to prevent dying. Your whole flock is exposed and carriers. As they get older, they become more resistant.

My resistant carriers hatched some of their own eggs, and those chicks are now 1.5 years old, and not a problem.

My resistant carriers hatched someone else's eggs, and starting at 6 weeks, they died one by one, paralysis or wasting. So your own eggs/chicks stand a much better chance.

Even with vaccination, you may still lose some.

I have a Polish right now that is 15 weeks, had paralysis and recovered, she lived in my bedroom for a month, and I just put her out with my silkies. She walks slow and rests more, I would be real surprised if she lived only because it's rare. She was actually one of mine that was vaccinated 2x. One at a day old, and 1 at 3 weeks old. That batch of 7, I have her and one roo, and another that's wasting. 4 died from coccidiosis, normal one day and dead the next with internal bleeding. Marek's lowers their immune system and makes them prone to opportunistic infections.

I would have to suspect improperly handled vaccine that I got.

Do not bring any chickens home. If they are not resistant they will die. Just hatch your own or buy from a hatchery vaccinated-either way.

Separating birds doesn't seem to make any difference with my already exposed/carriers flock.

It's so sad.