Need some encouragement please

[Engine823]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
This is the article to which they were referring. I am currently awaiting the results of a necropsy, but am not optimistic since I lost 3 birds in the last 5 days. I haven't had the paralysis issue, but mine lost interest in food, or, as with the last one, didn't want to sleep on the roost for two nights (had to take her out of a nesting box and put her on the roost) and then found her dead in the yard yesterday afternoon.
I think the 99% reference is for the birds infected when 1 flock member has the virus. Basically, you can't scrub the air. It really stinks. I am so sorry for your loss, and will pray for the rest of your birds. Simply because they have the virus doesn't mean they will succumb to it.

Oh I agree they have all been exposed to the virus. I guess what I meant when I asked the question was what the odds of the other 4 surviving. They appear to be healthy right now. However the one I just had the necropsy on died 7 months after the first one I lost. She appeared healthy right till the last 30 days.
Fingers crossed

 

[orrpeople]

Oh I agree they have all been exposed to the virus. I guess what I meant when I asked the question was what the odds of the other 4 surviving. They appear to be healthy right now. However the one I just had the necropsy on died 7 months after the first one I lost. She appeared healthy right till the last 30 days.
Fingers crossed

So many factors, it seems, go into survival. I think it mostly has to do with genetics. The vet I spoke with told me (depending on the virulence of the strain of the virus, the chicken's stress level, and the ability of the bird's system for resistance) quite a few people lose about 80% of their flock. Now, granted I'm in California where supposedly the strain is pretty lethal. I have read that the UK virus is not quite as aggressive.

 

[Engine823]

So many factors, it seems, go into survival. I think it mostly has to do with genetics. The vet I spoke with told me (depending on the virulence of the strain of the virus, the chicken's stress level, and the ability of the bird's system for resistance) quite a few people lose about 80% of their flock. Now, granted I'm in California where supposedly the strain is pretty lethal. I have read that the UK virus is not quite as aggressive.

 

[orrpeople]

You and me both.
I finally had some absolutely beautiful birds and was getting ready to set up my breeding pens when I lost three in the space of 5 days and had two last night who didn't have energy to get up on the roost. Although I don't have the official report, as someone said, "if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's probably a duck!"

 

[rebrascora]

I just typed a great long reply and then suddenly lost it. Arrgh!

No one can say when/if your next bird will get sick with this, but try to put it into perspective in that every living creature will die and it is all a question of timescales and quality of life.
The fact that you have had 7months between your first two outbreaks(deaths) in a flock of youngsters is a positive sign.... usually you get 2 or 3 sick with it within a few weeks of each other. The remaining birds may have some resistance. What is known is that stress can trigger an outbreak, so keeping them as happy and stress free as possible is important. Some things like hormones, seasonal changes and moulting are beyond your control, but good nutrition, plenty to keep them occupied (things to scratch and peck at) and a safe and stable environment (chickens are easily stressed by change) needs to be part of your management system. You might want to look into fermenting their feed if you do not do so already. This helps keep their gut healthy, which means they can absorb the nutrients from their food better. One of the symptoms of Marek's is that it compromises the immune system, so giving foods or supplements to support the immune system can help keep them healthy. Greens hung up for them to peck at, an occasional vitamin supplement in their water etc.

I hope that has given you some hope and food for thought. If you decide that you want to expand your flock at some point in the future perhaps to replace your losses, consider waiting until one of your girls goes broody and giving her some fertile eggs from a breeder with a Marek's resistant flock. Chicks raised by a broody generally have stronger immune systems and they do not suffer integration stress because they are part of the flock from the day they hatch. Not saying that some of them won't get Marek's but they have a better chance in my experience.

I'm not a fan of the vaccination, partly because the vaccine available to backyard flocks is leaky and may well be responsible for the hotter strains of the virus that are rife in the USA. Also, it is important that vaccinated chicks are kept clear of the virus for the first few weeks of life. This means quite strict biosecurity if your main flock has been infected, which is not always possible.

Good luck with your remaining flock and I hope my post has given you some hope.

Regards

Barbara

PS. I broody hatched and raised 56 chicks last year and only 3 showed Marek's symptoms. Two died and one recovered.

 

[orrpeople]

I just typed a great long reply and then suddenly lost it. Arrgh!

No one can say when/if your next bird will get sick with this, but try to put it into perspective in that every living creature will die and it is all a question of timescales and quality of life.
The fact that you have had 7months between your first two outbreaks(deaths) in a flock of youngsters is a positive sign.... usually you get 2 or 3 sick with it within a few weeks of each other. The remaining birds may have some resistance. What is known is that stress can trigger an outbreak, so keeping them as happy and stress free as possible is important. Some things like hormones, seasonal changes and moulting are beyond your control, but good nutrition, plenty to keep them occupied (things to scratch and peck at) and a safe and stable environment (chickens are easily stressed by change) needs to be part of your management system. You might want to look into fermenting their feed if you do not do so already. This helps keep their gut healthy, which means they can absorb the nutrients from their food better. One of the symptoms of Marek's is that it compromises the immune system, so giving foods or supplements to support the immune system can help keep them healthy. Greens hung up for them to peck at, an occasional vitamin supplement in their water etc.

I hope that has given you some hope and food for thought. If you decide that you want to expand your flock at some point in the future perhaps to replace your losses, consider waiting until one of your girls goes broody and giving her some fertile eggs from a breeder with a Marek's resistant flock. Chicks raised by a broody generally have stronger immune systems and they do not suffer integration stress because they are part of the flock from the day they hatch. Not saying that some of them won't get Marek's but they have a better chance in my experience.

I'm not a fan of the vaccination, partly because the vaccine available to backyard flocks is leaky and may well be responsible for the hotter strains of the virus that are rife in the USA. Also, it is important that vaccinated chicks are kept clear of the virus for the first few weeks of life. This means quite strict biosecurity if your main flock has been infected, which is not always possible.

Good luck with your remaining flock and I hope my post has given you some hope.

Regards

Barbara

PS. I broody hatched and raised 56 chicks last year and only 3 showed Marek's symptoms. Two died and one recovered.

It has been so good to read the thoughtful responses you give to those of us in the throes of "Dang, is this really happening?"
My question is when you have the disease, you can only keep a closed flock. So what do you do with extra birds you hatch? (I guess eat them...anything else?)

 

[rebrascora]

Yes the surplus cockerels get eaten and sadly I have had quite a few losses this year to foxes and can now no longer free range. The stress of being penned unfortunately seems to have triggered a couple of older birds 2-4yr olds to come down with Marek's, which kind of makes you wonder which is better.... death by fox or Marek's? I also had some in a separate location away from my Marek's flock that I rehomed.

I got rather carried away with the dreaded "chicken maths" last year and I've completely reined that back this year, which has been very hard as most of the joy of chicken keeping is in seeing baby chicks and their broody mothers. You get to a point though where, much as you love them, you become somewhat of a slave to them, especially when you also have other animals, and it is very tying, so I am trying to be very disciplined about curbing the "chicken maths" for now.

 

[Engine823]

I just typed a great long reply and then suddenly lost it. Arrgh!

No one can say when/if your next bird will get sick with this, but try to put it into perspective in that every living creature will die and it is all a question of timescales and quality of life.
The fact that you have had 7months between your first two outbreaks(deaths) in a flock of youngsters is a positive sign.... usually you get 2 or 3 sick with it within a few weeks of each other. The remaining birds may have some resistance. What is known is that stress can trigger an outbreak, so keeping them as happy and stress free as possible is important. Some things like hormones, seasonal changes and moulting are beyond your control, but good nutrition, plenty to keep them occupied (things to scratch and peck at) and a safe and stable environment (chickens are easily stressed by change) needs to be part of your management system. You might want to look into fermenting their feed if you do not do so already. This helps keep their gut healthy, which means they can absorb the nutrients from their food better. One of the symptoms of Marek's is that it compromises the immune system, so giving foods or supplements to support the immune system can help keep them healthy. Greens hung up for them to peck at, an occasional vitamin supplement in their water etc.

I hope that has given you some hope and food for thought. If you decide that you want to expand your flock at some point in the future perhaps to replace your losses, consider waiting until one of your girls goes broody and giving her some fertile eggs from a breeder with a Marek's resistant flock. Chicks raised by a broody generally have stronger immune systems and they do not suffer integration stress because they are part of the flock from the day they hatch. Not saying that some of them won't get Marek's but they have a better chance in my experience.

I'm not a fan of the vaccination, partly because the vaccine available to backyard flocks is leaky and may well be responsible for the hotter strains of the virus that are rife in the USA. Also, it is important that vaccinated chicks are kept clear of the virus for the first few weeks of life. This means quite strict biosecurity if your main flock has been infected, which is not always possible.

Good luck with your remaining flock and I hope my post has given you some hope.

Regards

Barbara

PS. I broody hatched and raised 56 chicks last year and only 3 showed Marek's symptoms. Two died and one recovered.

Thank you for the reply. Yes I did have a long period between the two deaths that I have had in my hens. Obviously the second one was confirmed through necropsy to have either Mareck's or Avian Lecosa. Probably didn't spell that correctly. The other 4 hens are between 1 - 1 1/2 years old and appear in fine spirits and very healthy. Of course the others did as well until the last little bit.
I scrubbed and cleaned the coop as I mentioned in another post and I always remove any manure every day and replace bedding every few weeks. My hens free range almost every day but hawks are always a issue. I have never lost any to hawks but we have had a couple of close calls.
I feed a 18% protein laying pellet which is available 24-7 and I also provide oyster shell and grit available 24-7. Every couple of days I give cracked corn as a treat and something to scratch at.
Probiotics and electylyes are given often in their water. The electylyes have vitamens in it. They are loved and pampered everyday.
Also give scraps sometimes.

 

[casportpony]

Oh I agree they have all been exposed to the virus. I guess what I meant when I asked the question was what the odds of the other 4 surviving. They appear to be healthy right now. However the one I just had the necropsy on died 7 months after the first one I lost. She appeared healthy right till the last 30 days.
Fingers crossed

The others could live a long time, so don't worry too much about it.

 

[Kiki]

Yes the surplus cockerels get eaten and sadly I have had quite a few losses this year to foxes and can now no longer free range. The stress of being penned unfortunately seems to have triggered a couple of older birds 2-4yr olds to come down with Marek's, which kind of makes you wonder which is better.... death by fox or Marek's? I also had some in a separate location away from my Marek's flock that I rehomed.

I got rather carried away with the dreaded "chicken maths" last year and I've completely reined that back this year, which has been very hard as most of the joy of chicken keeping is in seeing baby chicks and their broody mothers. You get to a point though where, much as you love them, you become somewhat of a slave to them, especially when you also have other animals, and it is very tying, so I am trying to be very disciplined about curbing the "chicken maths" for now.