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

[realsis]

If its found to be mareks I would definitely vaccinate and give those vaccinated birds a good amount of time to develop immunities and antibodies BEFORE letting them outside. I've read it takes a good 14 days for antibodies some say even longer so keep that in mind when vaccinating.i wish you the best.

 

[mags2009]

Thank you VERY much! I will keep everyone updated.

 

[Haunted55]

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

I would. If it's Marek's and you have birds that survive, they have a resistance built up against it. Doesn't mean they won't succumb later, but usually the ones that get through the initial outbreak have a decent life. I have original birds that are over 2 years now. As for vaccinating...it's a must from now on. Please, also, understand that after vaccinating them, the longer you keep them separated from the others, the better off you are. I keep mine away for 8 weeks and then they went into a new building until recently. 6 months and they were added into the same building as the original birds. So far, no deaths from Marek's from either group.

 

[Tammys kevin]

I think my 5 month old silkie has mareks, I found her yesterday hobbling around and falling over a lot, when she sat both of her legs stuck out in front of her. Today she can't move anything but her head I've been feeding her weetbix with honey and egg yolk, when the chemist opens I'm going to get b vitamins and st jons wort, as I've seen it mentioned as a "cure" for mareks, although the claim seemed unsubstantiated. My chickens all free range in my backyard, but we have only been here since Tuesday, is the mareks likely to come from our previous home, or from the new home?

 

[Haunted55]

I think my 5 month old silkie has mareks, I found her yesterday hobbling around and falling over a lot, when she sat both of her legs stuck out in front of her. Today she can't move anything but her head

I've been feeding her weetbix with honey and egg yolk, when the chemist opens I'm going to get b vitamins and st jons wort, as I've seen it mentioned as a "cure" for mareks, although the claim seemed unsubstantiated. My chickens all free range in my backyard, but we have only been here since Tuesday, is the mareks likely to come from our previous home, or from the new home?

Make sure you get the Super B Complex vitamins. Higher dosage of the Bs and also the added C as well. St John's Wort didn't do a thing for mine, at all. I wouldn't waste your money. If you want to add something else, go for the turmeric.

 

[seminolewind]

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...

Wouldn't that be great if a really low temp like this killed Marek's? Marek's has been around for over 100 years, and aside from a vaccine that prevents the tumors most of the time, there is very little else that has been discovered.

I know who is pooping lime green now. It's the roo. I thought he gained weight but I found the hen on the roost under him had green poo on her. I think she should move away from falling green poop.

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
I got that nutritional yeast off Amazon and it's loaded with all the B's. Way above our daily requirements . I sprinkle it on stuff.
I'm sorry about your silkie. I didn't think I was super duper attached to my silkies when I had them, but when my 2 first ones died, I cried for hours.

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
X2. Right now I have 10 that are about 6 years old, and 3 that are almost 5 yrs old. They were already here when mine got Marek's.
I'm thinking that I may move the 3 skinny ones out into an open air pen with a cover over the top. Maybe being in a coop just made things worse. I know most can't do that, but I live in Florida. My big girl coop has always been fine tho. The last Marek's birds, (or the most) have been out of that one shed/coop. It must have a hex on it. Even as much as I've sprayed the darn thing. I'll be closing it up.

I do believe that the concentration of virus is important as well. And I've often wondered if spraying Lysol in the air in the coop every day would do anything? Maybe I will buy a few cans. Can't hurt.

 

[Tammys kevin]

I got that nutritional yeast off Amazon and it's loaded with all the B's.  Way above our daily requirements .  I sprinkle it on stuff.
I'm sorry about your silkie.  I didn't think I was super duper attached to my silkies when I had them, but when my 2 first ones died, I cried for hours.

My girl has stopped eating and drinking, and she looks very thin. I don't think she can poop, I picked her up and lots of runny poop just fell out, and there's been nothing since

 

[Haunted55]

X2. Right now I have 10 that are about 6 years old, and 3 that are almost 5 yrs old. They were already here when mine got Marek's.
I'm thinking that I may move the 3 skinny ones out into an open air pen with a cover over the top. Maybe being in a coop just made things worse. I know most can't do that, but I live in Florida. My big girl coop has always been fine tho. The last Marek's birds, (or the most) have been out of that one shed/coop. It must have a hex on it. Even as much as I've sprayed the darn thing. I'll be closing it up.

I do believe that the concentration of virus is important as well. And I've often wondered if spraying Lysol in the air in the coop every day would do anything? Maybe I will buy a few cans. Can't hurt.

Actually just the surfaces Seminole, with the Lysol. If you want an air and body purification, go for the Oxine. You can use that in a sprayer, humidifier, their drinking water....Yeah, it's an all around good thing.

With my birds, the ones that didn't get outside, they lived and developed but the ones that 'hit ground' thrived beyond my expectations. They not only survived and grew, they became sassy birds, lol. I really think there is something to the elements cleaning out the Marek's and neutralizing a lot of it's virulence. Just my observations and since I never was able to set up the lab to check these things, I cannot prove any of it except through live, healthy birds.