Mereks

[Gary palmer]

Is there anything you can do wrong to have your chickens contract mereks? I've found two chicks dead in the past week they are about 3 months old. I found one last night not walking. I took him inside and have her in my laundry room. What now?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mareks is generally considered everywhere. Most chickens develop immunity to it. It generally doesn't kill them that quickly. They usually end up with some form of paralysis first and it takes weeks for them to die from it.

I would suspect something else on the first two, maybe something like coccidiosis. The one not walking could be Mareks or something like vitamin deficiencies. So I would try giving vitamins first.

@Wyorp Rock

 

[Gary palmer]

Ok, I'll look for vitamins tomorrow. I went to the feed store where I bought them and they just said give it Gatorade. No mention of mereks but I learned about it here. How long do you think I will have to keep her inside? I don't want the others to peck at her.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If no one is picking on it I would return it to the flock, perhaps setting up a pen for it in the coop.

 

[Gary palmer]

Is it possible for a chicken to come back from Marek's? Looks like my hen is moving around better but still having difficulty. The symptoms she had leads me to believe is is in fact Marek's with the leg extended out front and what not. Is there hope or am I just nursing a dead man walking?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Is it possible for a chicken to come back from Marek's? Looks like my hen is moving around better but still having difficulty. The symptoms she had leads me to believe is is in fact Marek's with the leg extended out front and what not. Is there hope or am I just nursing a dead man walking?

Some say they can. I have never kept one long term because I believe they can continue to shed the virus, but I could be wrong.

There are other things that can look like Mareks like leg or pelvic injuries, and different vitamin deficiencies. That's why I wait and watch.

Generally Mareks birds become weaker and more uncoordinated. Mareks is basically a cancer caused by a virus, so I'm not sure if birds that have improved truly had Mareks to begin with. It can only be truly diagnosed during a necropsy.

There is a form that affects the iris of they eye and changes it, so sometimes you can tell by that.

I personally keep a flock, not individuals, so sick birds get culled for the betterment of the flock. I do think of each as an individual, so I do get upset by it, but the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few.

 

[Gary palmer]

Thank you so much. She seems to be getting more coordinated so maybe it's not that. I'll continue to keep her separated and whatcha her. I put her out in the chicken run by herself today. I'll bring her in tonight. My first time with chickens. Thanks for the help.