My broody hen died of mareks, will her chicks?

[Chicklvr]

I have very small backyard ‘flock’. I had 2 hens, one Brahma was constantly broody so I finally decided I would like to expand my flock and I bought her some fertilized eggs. She took to them immediately and 7 chicks were hatched.
The chicks are just 3 weeks old and tragedy struck over the past couple of days. ‘Mom’ got classic symptoms of paralyzing mareks, I took to avian vet and she had to be put down today.

I’m crushed and now have 7 orphan chicks and 1 lone hen, a Swedish flower hen, who has been around the chicks since they were hatched and never shown any hostile or pecking behaviors toward the chicks.

I have read as much as I can about mareks and know my chicks and last hen are carriers.
Will the chicks die too? Do I need to have all the chicks put down?
This just happened today; the chicks are separated right now, but I don’t have a large enough brooder since I my broody was raising chicks. Can they go back in the coop/run with the lone hen and a heater plate?

I feel devastated. This was the first time I hatched or have tried to raise chicks. I read that stressors can cause the mareks already latent in the chickens to flare into full blown disease. I’m assuming this is what happened with my broody, stresses of motherhood. I live in NC, and read that mareks is pretty much endemic here. Ive read the pros and cons arguments on vaccinating chicks and don’t know what to think right now but this experience is terrible and very sad. I don’t want to give up on chickens, I love them. But will I be subject to watching all my chicks die of mareks?

 

[nuthatched]

Did you test the hen to verify whether or not she had mereks or not? The moment they hatched under her, they were exposed. It's too late for the vaccine. Does that mean they will die? Not necessarily. As well as all your other chickens, they were exposed too. Mereks is very serious but it's not always a death knell.

 

[nuthatched]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[azygous]

Oh, do I ever feel for you. I've been in your shoes with another avian virus called lymphoid leucosis. It's very similar to Marek's.

You've been clobbered by a double shock, finding out your flock carries Marek's and the loss of your broody hen. It's a lot to absorb at once. Try to compartmentalize and focus on your remaining flock. Whether these chicks become symptomatic or not depends on their exposure and the viral load the hen was shedding as they were being brooded.

Recently, I also lost a broody hen after she had brooded four chicks. Three of the four chicks became symptomatic and died, but the fourth is still alive and well at age sixteen months.

These next few weeks will be a tense waiting game, but it's not a given all your chicks are doomed. The first signs will be balance issues, lameness, in spite of the chicks eating well and appearing to be feeling all right. If you can weather the interval between now and age one year, you may have dodged the bullet, although, as you are already aware, they will still carry the virus.

 

[azygous]

I just need to add that my broody hen had previously brooded another batch of chicks, and none of them became symptomatic. There is no reason to assume your chicks are going to die.

 

[Chicklvr]

I just need to add that my broody hen had previously brooded another batch of chicks, and none of them became symptomatic. There is no reason to assume your chicks are going to die.

Thank you, sounds like a long wait and see period is upon us.
Do you think I can keep the chicks in the coop with the other lone hen. She’s been quite docile around them and free ranges in the yard most of the day.

 

[Phaedra Geiermann]

If your hen did have Marek, all chicks and the other hen are now carrier for sure, as mentioned above, vaccination is too late.

Not every chick will die, some will survive, but some won't.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you, sounds like a long wait and see period is upon us.
Do you think I can keep the chicks in the coop with the other lone hen. She’s been quite docile around them and free ranges in the yard most of the day.

As long as she is not aggressive toward them, they could be together. You also could put them in a large dog crate at night, with food and water, just to be safe, until you can let them out in the morning when you are around. I don’t think that any of us can guarantee they won’t be attacked by the larger hen, but they may well be fine with her. Very sorry that your broody may have had Mareks. A blood test can be performed if you ever see one with symptoms. RAL lab and University of Georgia are 2 that I know of that will do this. The best way to get Mareks testing is by having a necropsy/autopsy done on a chicken with symptoms. Here is a link for RAL lab:
https://www.vetdna.com/application/forms/aviansubmittalform.pdf

 

[azygous]

Raising your chicks in proximity to the remaining hen is my recommendation. Chicks will bond with their flock and they with the chicks, so integration is smooth. This has been my tested experience over many years. Read this if you get time. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

 

[Chicklvr]

Raising your chicks in proximity to the remaining hen is my recommendation. Chicks will bond with their flock and they with the chicks, so integration is smooth. This has been my tested experience over many years. Read this if you get time. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

Thank you!! I have let my hen, Flora, run with the chicks while I’ve been nearby. She has been docile and patient when they run after her and when they try to scratch and peck for food right where she is foraging. She seems to want to be around them and hangs out nearby when I have the chick run closed to her.
I’m very encouraged by this and believe there will be a smooth integration.

I appreciate the encouragement and information!!