Not an Emergency...Marek's in the Flock

[Nambroth]

Kathy has a good point about the tube feeding (which is very simple).

Nambroth - thanks for clarifying the bright being almost chartreuse! I have actually seen more deep, forest green. What does that mean? That's what my last girl had, she died and I think it was mareks.

Not trying to sound terrible, but did she die quickly or was it a slow decline? It seems to get brighter green the longer that they have organ and digestive failure. My roo started dark green and it got lighter over the period of a week until he passed. That said, none of this is written in stone and each bird has the potential to display differently in its symptoms.

 

[Nambroth]

Seminole - I'm glad your polish guy is gaining weight.

What calendar are you referring to? I already informed husband I must have a chicken calendar for Christmas!

Sorry I missed this.. the BYC Calendar!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nd-ready-to-ship-only-9-with-free-us-shipping

 

[schnebbles]

it was slow, I think I had her inside nearly a month. I did start tube feeding her near the end. She is the one I hope I didn't kill by trying to give her too much liquid at once. I tried gatorade and I think I gave more than I should have. I felt so bad, but Kathy said it probably didn 't aspirate her. I guess if nothing, she was out of misery

 

[schnebbles]

oh my gosh...now I have a d'uccle with her neck sitting off to the side. I feel it and it's bent that direction. does mareks do that or could it be wry?

 

[seminolewind]

Realsis, bright green poop does not mean Marek's , it means starvation, or organ failure. If my birds are down to skin and bones, and they poop green, it's a big worry. I've had bright green, and a blue-green deep color. Hard or runny. Now one is pooping a lighter green.

I really hate to think that my one Polish hen who was vaccinated twice and had paralysis and recovered about 1.5 years ago, is wasting. Maybe I should separate her as well. How sad.

 

[seminolewind]

oh my gosh...now I have a d'uccle with her neck sitting off to the side. I feel it and it's bent that direction. does mareks do that or could it be wry?

I don't know.

 

[BigECarter]

One of my four lavender orps survived. His poops are maybe a little on the green side, but definitely not solid. He has matured into a handsome boy despite the loose poops. He's also not as lethargic as he once was. I have no idea what his long term prognosis is.

I have fully exposed my 5 week old chicks to Marek's. Two hens to one roo was not a good ratio so I now have 9 chicks from MM. I guess the next month will be the critical month for telling how well I kept them isolated and how effective the vaccine is.

 

[mags2009]

So even -30 degree temps don't kill this virus? I mean if I did cull my birds (don't want to) clean/disinfect coop and let sit all winter it won't kill it? It doesn't need a host? I love in Northern Wi and sometimes it gets -40 here! Just wondering...

 

[Haunted55]

So even -30 degree temps don't kill this virus? I mean if I did cull my birds (don't want to) clean/disinfect coop and let sit all winter it won't kill it? It doesn't need a host? I love in Northern Wi and sometimes it gets -40 here! Just wondering...

About the temps......Marek's virus has been shown to be alive in a lab at extremely low temperatures. In a lab, there is no radiation from the sun and no other outside influences to further weaken the virus. Another thing I always think about, at extreme temps., even though still alive, just how virulent would it be? Common sense has to rule here. People have culled and then left their houses empty for a couple of years and then gone on to bring chickens back into them. They've had no further problems with Marek's virus. This tells me that Marek's isn't with out a shelf life. I am not sure if there has been studies to prove this or not.

My thoughts are these, Marek's is much more prevelent than any of us ever though and I'd bet most have some form of it in their flock without symptom or their knowledge. Not all birds who get Marek's will die, shed the virus, or in any way let you know they have it. I did come across a study done on this, but will have to post the links later.

Marek's research is constantly changing and being updated. There is a lot of antiquated info out there and each study, paper, etc., has to be looked at with a healthy dosing of common sense. Does it apply to the home operation you have? Was this study completed in a lab only, or was there field study done as well? Was the study or testing done on differing varieties of chickens?

Keep one thing in mind when it comes to temperature and Marek's, as I said, testing done in a lab is controled. Normal backyard operations aren't. We get extremes in temps. and also the drying from the winds, radiation from the sun and moisture from rain, snow, fog.....it just isn't the same thing at all. While we all want an answer for what has happened to us and our birds and we scour the net and any other places of knowledge we can find, sometimes, in the end, we will find that any answers have to be found on an individual basis.

 

[mags2009]

WOW. This thing is no joke. I am going to have three of my girls necropsied on Monday. I just ordered 24 hatching eggs from Gabbard Farms for the spring. Should I: Just keep my flock,(Whats left of them, and if this is found to be Mareks) business as usual, when my chicks hatch, vaccinate myself and hope for the best?

Kerry