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

[Haunted55]

They are on the side of my yard, in a totally fenced in area 40' x 120 or so feet 6' high for most of it 4' for the last 50' or so. Only one gate, in front. I haven't seen any other animals in there, even my outside cat doesn't go in there. We really only just cut the grass there and not use that part of our yard. My garden is there. Will any of this cause a problem to my food supply? I don't sell my food or give it away. I can and freeze it for our use only.

It actually might...it might make everything grow bigger and stronger. You may also suffer from plants being pulled or eaten that you'd rather not have. Seriously, no we cannot get their herpes viruses. This isn't an issue.

My neighbor down the road about 1/2 mile has chickens too. I spoke with her several months ago, she said she has 200-250 birds. I have never seen that many birds there, maybe 50. I saw a couple of birds limping, and thought bumble foot. She said birds die, they get replaced. Now I'm thinking she probably has it in her flock. Shes an old lady, maybe 85 or so. I'm afraid to go to her place and talk with her. I changed my clothes when I came home, but who knows, I probably brought it home with me. We also got manure from her last fall to put into our garden. Did I contaminate my yard before I even had chickens?

Possibly, if she does have it there, but as I said earlier, this outbreak seems to be caused by something recent. Within the last couple of months. It is more likely that she has had an outbreak again and it could have carried on the air or by wild bird or if from the fertilizer, you may have introduced it to them after being in the garden and handling them or their feed or water. It could have been anything, no need to worry now, it's done.

I will vacuum out my truck before I leave today, in freshly washed clothes, with bags on my feet. People are gonna look at me funny, but oh well. I need to get some lysol and will clean my house and spray it down. I still have a chicken in the house, in a crate, so I will need to be vigilant from this point forward.

Do not wear the bags to the store! Lol, you don't need to do that. Just a can of Lysol will take care of any surface conatmination of your shoes both before and after the store.

I'm not sure I will continue with chickens when all is said and done. If my neighbor has it in her flock as well, my chances of raising chickens just fell to about 0% I'm thinking. This just really really sucks.

Deb

Not true. I have had Marek's in my flock for over a year now. I have even added more VACCINATED birds this year. They are still in my house now at 9 and 10 weeks waiting for a new home. I have not lost one of them to Marek's. Coccidiosis, but not Marek's. My survivors and their young, yep, hatched their eggs and only lost 1 definitely to Marek's, are doing just fine. I get eggs everyday and they are happy. Yes it does suck that it happened, but it's not the end for your birds or your chances of having them. It just gets different from here on out.

I can recommend a couple of things to help with the soil and the spread at your place. Lime for the yard and garden and/or wood ash. For their enclosed run, if they have one, woodash or barn lime. Just sprinkle it onto the ground in there and scratch it in with a garden rake. If you don't have it, Oxine is what I consider a must. With marek's, your birds are susceptible to all kinds of the diseases that poultry can get because of a lowered resistance. Oxine can help keep the other viruses and bacteria out of their enviroment and can even be sprayed right onto the birds in it's unactive state. I'll give you some links to look at if you haven't seen them already.
http://www.revivalanimal.com/Oxine-Fogger-and-Oxine-AH.html
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm

 

[casportpony]

The eye symptoms make me believe this is Marek's. I'm sorry. It has been my experience when the ocular form of this disease shows up, death isn't far behind. I urge you to either arrange to have a necropsy done on this bird when she passes or contact the people below to have blood testing done now. Even though I am pretty sure this is Marek's and not Lymphoid Leukosis, you will want to know what else may be going on in the bird and possibly the rest of your flock.

......................................................snip...................................................................

I know that this has been true with a few of you guys, but it's not what I've noticed in my flock... In my flock, it's the ones with the ocular changes that live the longest.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

So many people have chicken diseases and have no idea what they have. The fact that you are trying to figure it out and deal with it in a responsible way puts you head and shoulders above so many. I remember a while ago chatting with a 4-h mom who was really casual about her daughter's chickens dieing of unknown causes...they are replaceable to so many people so they don't find out WHY. And these chickens were being SHOWN. scares the crap out of me.

I wish I could reach through the computer and give you a great big hug.

So true... Necropsies on backyard chickens, turkeys and waterfowl are free here in CA, but most chickens owners don't even know about it.

-Kathy

 

[Haunted55]

So many people have chicken diseases and have no idea what they have. The fact that you are trying to figure it out and deal with it in a responsible way puts you head and shoulders above so many. I remember a while ago chatting with a 4-h mom who was really casual about her daughter's chickens dieing of unknown causes...they are replaceable to so many people so they don't find out WHY. And these chickens were being SHOWN. scares the crap out of me.

I wish I could reach through the computer and give you a great big hug.

I've run into this as well and even had someone very involved with the adult end of 4-H ask me when my chickens would be 'over' the Marek's. I have Dark Cornish and they want me to show them....umm yeah. I've been told to cull them all and start over. Really? To what end? It's already here so what possible good would come from that? Even birds who have been vaccinated can sometimes fall victim to this. I kinda look at it this way, I was given this to deal with, for whatever reason, and that is what I am trying to do. Some days better than others, but I learn something new everyday. We, who already have it, live with a heightened awareness of the potentials with this disease. We know it's a matter of time before something comes up, be it a secondary infection or a direct hit from the Marek's. We get it and as stupid as it sounds, this is why I say that in many ways we are the lucky ones. Our heads can't hide from the reality we deal with everyday. Even better, we have the ability to produce chickens who can fight off this disease. From the things I have found, by the 8th generation, you're basically Marek's free. The wording is a little off but you will have birds immune to Marek's and they no longer shed the virus.

 

[Haunted55]

I know that this has been true with a few of you guys, but it's not what I've noticed in my flock... In my flock, it's the ones with the ocular changes that live the longest.

-Kathy

Casport, you are lucky in that. As you know most of the time I have to cull the poor things because of the blindness and have only had a couple who have been allowed to go to the end. Maybe that's the difference, do yours actually lose their vision? Mine do within a week after the change or they will just drop. I'd really like to figure this one out or have someone explain it to me.

 

[hogster160]

Thanks for those links, I did not have them and will look into getting some oxine.

I only have 2 acres, and really only use 1, the other acre is used to grow feed. So do you think I can still do it? Raise a second flock? I'd also need a rooster to get fertile eggs, and so on. I'm guessing another coop as well. Hmmm I wonder if my hubby will go for this? I think hes ready to throw in the towel lol. We really only wanted a few chickens for some eggs lol, now it sounds like if we want to continue, we will have lots of chickens. Can we still get growers? or will they fall to MD as well? ugh! How long did it take to get to the 8th generation? I really wasn't planning on hatching my own but if I can and get them to be safe from MD I might try it.

 

[hogster160]

Well I will let you know how mine do, I have 2. One her pupils are just kind of bleeding into the cornea, the other looks like its all pupil, but hasn't changed to gray yet. I want to say I found that Tuesday.

So far both have vision, I was watching them this morning. They went right to the food I put out and were also chasing centipedes from under the log I moved for them. The do appear to have vision at this time

 

[hogster160]

Haha, the garden is closed off to them at the moment. Although they have gotten a few strawberries. I have only had 2 chickens fly into the garden and they were very reluctant to leave, but leave they did lol. I tried to only put what I planted for the chickens on the perimeter of the fence, that way if they ate anything it was ok. Most of my food is in the inner part of the garden. Although our corn does take up one huge corner. They really haven't messed with that yet.

So I need a can of lysol for all my vehicles, kids too, Can I buy stock in it lol. I really won't wear the bags to the store lol, just my lame attempt at making a funny out of a bad situation

 

[hogster160]

So true... Necropsies on backyard chickens, turkeys and waterfowl are free here in CA, but most chickens owners don't even know about it.

-Kathy

I'm hoping that I find it to be true in my case. $300 for necropsy is gonna hurt the pocket book! Purdue charged $88 + $10 fee for each necropsy. Then the gas to get there, its 2 hours one way. If it is indeed free, I'll go there, but if not, I'll get the blood drawn and send it to Texas.

 

[hogster160]

So many people have chicken diseases and have no idea what they have. The fact that you are trying to figure it out and deal with it in a responsible way puts you head and shoulders above so many. I remember a while ago chatting with a 4-h mom who was really casual about her daughter's chickens dieing of unknown causes...they are replaceable to so many people so they don't find out WHY. And these chickens were being SHOWN. scares the crap out of me.

I wish I could reach through the computer and give you a great big hug.

Well, I'm trying to do the right thing. Not worth doing if its not done right. I would hate to learn that I spread this to others, it would just break my heart. I will never go to a 4H program again. I really thought all those birds had to be vaccinated out the ying yang. And the sad thing is, I really want to go and see all the different types of birds. It is indeed scarring the crap out of me lol

Thanks for the hugs it was much appreciated! Hugs back to you!

I really need to figure out how to multi quote on this system, sorry for all the posts!