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

[BigECarter]

This thread discussed necropsies and blood tests recently. Maybe 5 pages back. I had a necropsy done on mine - probable Marek's. Given the high mortality (70%) for birds that were supposedly vaccinated, I should probably have done the blood test. I still could, but am finally not losing any so am hoping that the worst is behind me.

 

[Nambroth]

This thread discussed necropsies and blood tests recently. Maybe 5 pages back. I had a necropsy done on mine - probable Marek's. Given the high mortality (70%) for birds that were supposedly vaccinated, I should probably have done the blood test. I still could, but am finally not losing any so am hoping that the worst is behind me.

Do you have the paperwork from your necropsy? I'm curious what their findings were.

 

[ranchokelly]

I guess I'm going to give in and order the vaccine as well, even though I don't have high hopes it will work for my already affected/exposed hens. I read somewhere you can split up the two items you mix together - cut a tablet, to save some of it for later. Does anyone know about that?
Meanwhile I'm still giving them bread soaked in st. johns wort (forgive me for mentioning it! doubt it works, either, but doesn't seem to hurt and I have it) and vitamins. This weekend the feed store was closed, so I bought some baby electrolyte solution and liquid vitamins instead of "sav-a-chick".
The one I thought was improving has gotten worse, now the 2nd leg is starting to go bad so she's having a really hard time getting around. I end up holding her up over the food dish,so she can focus on eating instead of balancing.
Is this all just crazy??! Wondering if I should just put them down.

 

[BigECarter]

Do you have the paperwork from your necropsy? I'm curious what their findings were.

They uploaded backwards - hopefully they are legible after you open them. Please let me know what you think. Of my three survivors (out of 9), my cockerel isn't in great health (he seems to get tired quicker), but he is eating and growing and is a sweet boy (might be that he doesn't feel well enough to be a butt.) Poops have been less solid than the two hens', and yesterday one looked bloody, so another round of Corid. The hens aren't laying yet, but otherwise seem fine.

FYI for anyone using a state lab - I was able to ship the pullet through the health department, which seemed a bit weird. Hubby culled her (I owe him big time), took her to the health department, they couriered her to the state capital, and the next day to the poultry lab. All for $8. We had to package her - the lab gave great directions on how to package her and how to label the box. Necropsy plus extra labs was $75.

 

[schnebbles]

it's a very awful, sad thing makes me sad seeing my baby trying to get around and she can't. My vaccine shipped today and all I can do is hope it does some good for my chickens.

oh, I do have someone if I go away. Not sure we are going now but I'd keep them in the bathroom with towels and they can be easily changed and washed so it wouldn't be too bad for a sitter to do.

 

[Nambroth]

They uploaded backwards - hopefully they are legible after you open them. Please let me know what you think. Of my three survivors (out of 9), my cockerel isn't in great health (he seems to get tired quicker), but he is eating and growing and is a sweet boy (might be that he doesn't feel well enough to be a butt.) Poops have been less solid than the two hens', and yesterday one looked bloody, so another round of Corid. The hens aren't laying yet, but otherwise seem fine.

FYI for anyone using a state lab - I was able to ship the pullet through the health department, which seemed a bit weird. Hubby culled her (I owe him big time), took her to the health department, they couriered her to the state capital, and the next day to the poultry lab. All for $8. We had to package her - the lab gave great directions on how to package her and how to label the box. Necropsy plus extra labs was $75.

These findings are quite similar to the gross necropsy of my rooster-- which then went on for extensive blood testing and was confirmed with Merek's Serotype I.
My memory is terrible, forgive me (human health problems! oi!!) as you probably already mentioned it, but did you vaccinate your birds, or did a hatchery? Which hatchery if so?
I can only speculate that either 1) The birds were not vaccinated properly (this can happen accidentally), 2) Your birds were exposed to a mutation of Marek's that the vaccine was overall not effective in building resistance against or, 3) Very unlikely unless you raised them at home under carrier chickens, but there is a small possibility that it's Avian Lymphoid Leukosis Virus.
I'd lean much more heavily toward option 1 or 2..

I'm guessing the cocci findings were a result of lowered immune systems?

So sorry for you. I didn't lose what you have lost but it's still heartbreaking and a blow to know that your remaining birds "have" this disease for good.

 

[BigECarter]

I bought from a small, local hatchery. My first loss was the runt - about two weeks after I got them. They were ~2 months old. Then steadily lost one every two weeks, chasing symptoms before I finally sent one to the lab. The breeder says they were vaccinated for Marek's. He sold me some from a hatch he did to build his breeding stock, and says he has had no losses in his flocks. I am not convinced, but not much point arguing. It is what it is.

Not having raised the chicks from babies helped. We aren't as attached to them as we could be, but it sure hasn't been fun. It's been a month since we lost any - that was our original cockerel.

I have chicks coming from MacMurray next week. Vaccinated for Marek's and cocci. Fingers crossed.

 

[Bawkbawk137]

Have any of you tried a mixture of Braggs ACV, poultry vitamens and colliodal silver? I have been using it for 4 months with great success. Over the 4 months I have aquired 20 additional hens from two separate owners and all is well. They are all fattening up and getting ready for winter!

 

[BigECarter]

Have any of you tried a mixture of Braggs ACV, poultry vitamens and colliodal silver? I have been using it for 4 months with great success. Over the 4 months I have aquired 20 additional hens from two separate owners and all is well. They are all fattening up and getting ready for winter!

I sporadically give Vitamin B. That's it. Will look into the mix - Thanks for the tip!

E

 

[Bawkbawk137]

The vitamins are called Vi-tol and I get them from Agway for less than 3.00, they last a very long time..The colloidal silver I also get cheap in the liquid f

orm, it's called silver shield. Both of these given with a teaspoon of Braggs ACV has a great impact on Marek's!