My broody hen died of mareks, will her chicks?

[azygous]

If she's an older hen, that explains her docility around the chicks. Most younger hens aren't as forgiving.

 

[NatJ]

Can they go back in the coop/run with the lone hen and a heater plate?

Since they are already 3 weeks old, they may not need the heater plate, depending on what temperatures you have right now.

 

[Chicklvr]

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

Thank you; at this time, I have the chicks in a small enclosed coop inside the run at night. I have a heat plate and water/food/aspen shavings for litter. The hen (Flora) stays in a larger coop alongside the run, while she free-ranges during the day, the chicks have the enclosed run.
I let Flora in the run with the chicks when I am there to watch them. I am trying to gradually increase the time and space Flora has w/chicks to see how how she will react. So far, so good.
Thank you also for more info on Mareks testing, the more info the better.

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.

Thank you, I shall have to read up on lymphoid leukosis too. I am trying to relax, take a day at a time and focus on raising the chicks. My broody (Sage) was a sweetie, so its been a bit sad for the past few days.

 

[Chicklvr]

Since they are already 3 weeks old, they may not need the heater plate, depending on what temperatures you have right now.

Thank you. I've noticed chicks don't go to the heater during the day, it's quite hot during the day. My main concern is for night when we can get a 20-30 degree drop and it's been rainy, so cooler too. There is room in the coop for the chicks to move away from the heat. I don't think they'll need it much longer, their feathering up pretty quickly.

 

[Chicklvr]

If she's an older hen, that explains her docility around the chicks. Most younger hens aren't as forgiving.

Flora, my hen, is not very old, maybe 2-2.5yrs however, she's been the last in the pecking order and has a 'shy' nature, but at the same time likes calm attention and treats. It seems she has been missing the company of the broody (Sage) while she was nesting. After the chicks hatched and began to be out in the run, Flora was able to be around the chicks. Sage allowed her to forage with them and there was never any hostility between them all. I hope that continues now. I keep the chicks and Flora separated when I am not there, and allow her in the run when I can supervise. She seems to miss being with company again and hangs around the run waiting for a chance to visit with the chicks. So far so good, time will tell.

 

[Chicklvr]

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

Thank you for more information on Mareks, I've been reading as much as I can.

 

[Briosafarm]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. This year I've had the same sad experience of realizing I'd introduced Marek's. You're doing the right thing by reading everything you can. My experience echoed some of the things I've read on various threads...possibly a cluster of losses around 8-12 weeks, a couple more as they reach laying age. The ones who make it past that may well live reasonably long and healthy lives. After all the research, I decided against "depopulating" and instead am focusing on making sure everything that comes in is vaccinated either at the hatchery or by doing it myself and isolating chicks in the house for three weeks. I'm feeling my way to making a schedule for worming, checking for lice/mites, treating for coccidia, probiotics, etc. In other words, trying to keep them as healthy as possible...not relying on me just noticing something wrong. I'm pretty sure I've had one of the mycoplasmas in the past (and still have some old hens who are probably immune to everything, bless them) so I'm exploring whether I want to occasionally do a round of Denegard or Tylan. I know using antibiotics without active illness is controversial...I'm just trying to work up a proactive routine to avoid illness as much as possible. Best of luck with your chicks!