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

[realsis]

Mareks is virtually every where and we are ALL at risk for this disease. As I understand it there is NO place that safe. Its a race to get the vaccine and antibodies produced BEFORE exposure. You would want to vaccinate at a day old and actually keep the vaccinated bird inside away from exposure (exposure would be outside and adult birds) until the chick has had ample time to develop the antibodies and immunity. I have read this is at the very LEAST 14 days after vaccine some say even longer. Once ample time is given for antibodies to be produced then they can go outside. Most think they can vaccinate then put the chick outside and this is a mistake.. they CAN catch the disease if ample time was not given to allow antobodies to form before exposure. This is why its likely to late for older birds to be vaccinated. It will not hurt them to vaccinate but likely it will not protect them either because if they have been outside and around adult birds the chances are very high that they Are already exposed. Being exposed the vaccine will not help at that point. Its really a race to get the antibodies and immunity BEFORE the chick becomes exposed. Because Mareks is litterly every where you would want to vaccinate and give the time for antibodies production before exposure.

 

[saltandpepper2]

Well, the reason why I'm sending in sample is to test for some respiratory issues, Only $15 for the full test! just thought that If I could, I would get them tested for mareks too.

 

[mygalmyra]

Howdy Everyone,

Newbie here with a sick silkie. Waded through some of the pages and didn't locate what I was hoping for specifically, so here's a brief:

I have a small multi-breed flock of 10 hens and two roos ranging in age from 6 to 7 months. In mid summer, one of the older hens became ill and I isolated her in my studio immediately. Research points to Merek's and it claimed her in about a week despite best efforts. All has been dandy since then, until 3 days ago my lone silkie gal began to wobble, was depressed, etc. Isolation, antibiotics, vitamins (St. John's Wart will come today, thanks to this forum) have had no effect. She virtually has no legs, eats like no tomorrow when I offer food, was non-stop thirsty but that has waned. Poops were runny but look normal now. She spends her time huddled in and facing a corner of her little pen, away from the heatlamp (very cold here), almost as though she is readying herself for the great coop in the sky. I am very sad at the thought of losing Frizzle, and had hoped the one loss early on would be all.

I had another flock of healthy birds about 4 years ago who lived in the same coop. No disease at all. Then new neighbors moved in about 200 ft. upwind and are of the sort that gets animals, neglects them and when they die, oh well. Consequently, when coyotes ate all their birds, they came over and one by one picked off my 5 year old ladies. I am wondering if the disease has floated over here on the wind. They no longer speak to me as they were offended when I offered to help them learn to care for their animals. so I have no way of knowing if their birds are the carriers.

My hens are just a delight; each has a personality and is much loved. I now closely observe them daily, looking for distress, as I continue to try and help Friz. I'm wondering if it would be good to clear out all the bedding, wash down the walls with some solution, and give the flock St. John's Wart in their communal waterer as a precaution. I have been giving them the same antibiotics as Friz, just in case, but don't know if it is doing any good. A few weeks ago I saw signs of rats and took care of that. I read somewhere that they spread mites and fleas, so have given the girls a diamatatious dust bath pool to use.

I also have two very small separate flocks - 6 three month old henspurchased from a feed store, and have been hesitant to introduce them to the older birds yet. And especially since Frizzle's illness. And a juvenile silkie roo and two 2 month old chicks from a private party I was going to place separately with Friz in a garden coop, as the traditional hens were mean to her. Now I"m wondering if they chased her off because they knew she was ill long before symptoms arose.

Some of the primary flock are from the feed store and some from private parties. Friz came from a private party, as did the other hen who died. Now I wonder if I should separate all the older birds into feed store and private party flocks, or if it's too late for that. Since I didn't know about vaccinations, I feed all the flocks purina medicated pellets/crumble for their age group, they have gravel, get grain treats, organic greens, and fresh water daily. There will be much mourning here if they all die, one by one. Is it no longer safe to have any of the chickens in the original coop? Do any of the precautions I mention above make any difference?

Also, if merek's lives for several years, can the used bedding be put in the garden compost or should it be disposed of?

Thank you so much for any info.

 

[BigECarter]

I would get a necropsy done on Frizzle, if she doesn't make it. (Refrigerate her body, don't freeze.) that way you will know if it is Marek's (untreatable) or something else.

I think I read that silkies are more susceptible but don't know that for a fact. Hopefully some of your other chickens have been vaccinated.

Best wishes,
E

 

[seminolewind]

Howdy Everyone,

Newbie here with a sick silkie. Waded through some of the pages and didn't locate what I was hoping for specifically, so here's a brief:

I have a small multi-breed flock of 10 hens and two roos ranging in age from 6 to 7 months. In mid summer, one of the older hens became ill and I isolated her in my studio immediately. Research points to Merek's and it claimed her in about a week despite best efforts. All has been dandy since then, until 3 days ago my lone silkie gal began to wobble, was depressed, etc. Isolation, antibiotics, vitamins (St. John's Wart will come today, thanks to this forum) have had no effect. She virtually has no legs, eats like no tomorrow when I offer food, was non-stop thirsty but that has waned. Poops were runny but look normal now. She spends her time huddled in and facing a corner of her little pen, away from the heatlamp (very cold here), almost as though she is readying herself for the great coop in the sky. I am very sad at the thought of losing Frizzle, and had hoped the one loss early on would be all.

I had another flock of healthy birds about 4 years ago who lived in the same coop. No disease at all. Then new neighbors moved in about 200 ft. upwind and are of the sort that gets animals, neglects them and when the
y die, oh well. Consequently, when coyotes ate all their birds, they came over and one by one picked off my 5 year old ladies. I am wondering if the disease has floated over here on the wind. They no longer speak to me as they were offended when I offered to help them learn to care for their animals. so I have no way of knowing if their birds are the
carrier
My hens are just a delight; each has a personality and is much loved. I now closely observe them daily, looking for distress, as I continue to try and help Friz. I'm wondering if it would be good to clear out all the bedding, wash down the walls with some solution, and give the flock St. John's Wart in their communal waterer as a precaution. I have been giving them the same antibiotics as Friz, just in case, but don't know if it is doing any good. A few weeks ago I saw signs of rats and took care of that. I read somewhere that they spread mites and fleas, so have given the girls a diamatatious dust bath pool to use.

I also have two very small separate flocks - 6 three month old henspurchased from a feed store, and have been hesitant to introduce them to the older birds yet. And especially since Frizzle's illness. And a juvenile silkie roo and two 2 month old chicks from a private party I was going to place separately with Friz in a garden coop, as the traditional hens were mean to her. Now I"m wondering if they chased her off because they knew she was ill long before symptoms arose.

Some of the primary flock are from the feed store and some from private parties. Friz came from a private party, as did the other hen who died. Now I wonder if I should separate all the older birds into feed store and private party flocks, or if it's too late for that. Since I didn't know about vaccinations, I feed all the flocks purina medicated pellets/crumble for their age group, they have gravel, get grain treats, organic greens, and fresh water daily. Theins re will be much mourning here if they all die, one by one. Is it no longer safe to have any of the chickens in the original coop? Do any of the precautions I mention above make any difference?

Also, if merek's lives for several years, can the used bedding be put in the garden compost or should it be disposed of?

Thank you so much for any info. 

Hi. Sometimes the symptoms are vague, like it can be anything. Alot of that is elimination other illnesses. If any of your current birds on your property have it, they all have it. It will stay on property for years. I have used the poop bedding in my beds, but I now rethink that as I think that concentration of virus is a factor.

You can't do anything for your current chickens. What you can do is vaccinate day old chicks or buy hatchery vaccinated chicks. That's the best you can do. I would stop the medicated feed and feed unmedicated feed and multi B vitamins. I found some in nutritional yeast with B vitamins, and give them that.

One thing I'm keeping my eye out on is those hens of mine who live in a pen vs those who sleep in a coop. Because it seems I've had quite a few out of one of my coops get symptoms and I euthanized. I don't put any more chickens in there. The only coop I have left is all older birds, 2-6 years old, mostly 5-6 years old, and they are not a problem.

Now that I think about it, that evil coop is not getting anymore birds. I took the healthy ones out and put them in an open pen.

My neighbor has chickens as well. But I know who brought it into my flock because at the time I brought one silkie home from a breeder, all my others had been hatched at home or been day olds from a hatchery. After that pullet arrived, I lost a bird every few months. I've seen some of mine act real hungry when they waste away. So welcome to our little Marek's group, I hope it's something else in your birds. But if it's Marek's, there are alot of shoulders here.

 

[mygalmyra]

Thanks Seminolewind. And someone else also replied - having a bit of challenge getting around the forum. Appreciate the info and support. Nice to know you chicks are here.

 

[seminolewind]

Thanks. Hubby says everyone's okay. Question or opinion I think.

I lost a Polish roo, resistant parentage, a few months ago. Then I currently lost 2 hens from the same vaccinated group. Now I have a brother to the resistant parentage roo who started limping a few weeks ago. I separated him then put him back. He has good weight, and the limp has been the same, no worse . I wonder if he'll survive it or doesn't have it. But it's hard to think he doesnt have it when I have lost 3 in the recent path.

I should not keep separating like I've been doing. It really doesn't change things.

I'm still in Ocala, today we played with horse cadaver legs. Couldn't wait to wash my hands!

 

[casportpony]

@mygalmyra , Welcome to BYC!

-Kathy

 

[schnebbles]

Seminole - that sounds really, really gross! cadaver legs...

I hope your boy is ok. I am starting to think that my wry neck is actually mareks in a new disguise
Still treating to and will continue.

 

[schnebbles]

I just want to scream at the top of my lungs "I HATE MAREKS"!

I sit here crying again. this is number 4 of only 8. They are all under a year so I highly doubt this will be all. She's not gone, but she will be. I'm taking her tomorrow.