NY chicken lover!!!!

[Purpletie3]

From everything I have read and everything I have observed. I just have to wait it out... see who survives and breed resistance in those birds. if I chose to keep chickens anymore. If we lose too many of our favorites I may just euthanized the rest... canning the whole idea of chickens. Additionally I know my chickens will never be safe as Marek's because they already have a compromised immune system.

I am so sorry you are going through this. You obviously love your birds and have been raising them as family pets. Know that they are lucky to have had someone so loving to them in their life.

 

[rancher hicks]

Okay here's the deal.
I am absolutely heartbroken at this point.
I believe my flock has contracted Merek's...
Last night was the second time I was up all night long looking for information and/or crying because of it. I now realize there is nothing I can do at this point except keep them well fed and pray I don't loose everyone. I also realize I now have a closed flock, except for those birds that are vaccinated... and still it doesn't mean all of my purchased babies will make it. It's awful to watch and at this point if one of the birds drops from paralysis we euthanize as quickly as possible because it is a devastating disease for my beloved birds to have to run all the way through to the end... the first few days aren't too bad but after that its horrible because they slowly waste away...
So far I have lost 2 Roos (Miso & Lyle) about a 6weeks ago and have lost 2 Red-stars (Babs & Ruby) this week... one we found dead and the other we euthanized when she went down... The thing is they all had and have names we know their little personalities, who is a lap chicken, who follows me through the yard chatting at me as if I missed her entire day, who was shy but sweet and who was naughty and who was nice.
I don't know if it came from the flock a 1/2 block away or if it came from the guy next store that has multiple bird feeders on his property.
This is certainly not what I had in mind when I envisioned my beautiful flock in my yard. gathering eggs and taking care of my birds. Its truly sad.

There are video's on youtube to look at. To be sure this is what you're dealing with and since you've a number of birds sick it would be worth it to have one of them tested. Many things can present as Mareks I've learned.

A "closed flock" is one in which you hatch your won't chicks and replacements and bring in no NEW birds. It's not anything to do with vaccinated birds.

It is not likely to have come from a flock 1/2 a block away.

The vaccination is not 100% effective.

If it is mareks, it's in your coop and area where your birds range. I've not read anything about what we can do other than keep a clean coop, healthy feed and clean water.

There have been articles in periodicals about Mareks and other diseases, which is why it's good to subscribe to them.

I am sorry for your loss. It can be difficult to have a flock and no trouble, even when we do our best.

 

[rancher hicks]

In other news, I am having a dickens of a time hatching Marans. I have ONE chick so far and that one I had to help out. I hope it's a roo, but there are far too many eggs not hatched.

Even Buckwheat hasn't hatched one yet. So far she's hatched an EE, but has four more eggs to go.

In the incu so far dels and Del crossed frizzles are the only ones hatched. I'm so frustrated.

 

[akaruby]

Okay here's the deal.
I am absolutely heartbroken at this point.
I believe my flock has contracted Merek's...
Last night was the second time I was up all night long looking for information and/or crying because of it. I now realize there is nothing I can do at this point except keep them well fed and pray I don't loose everyone. I also realize I now have a closed flock, except for those birds that are vaccinated... and still it doesn't mean all of my purchased babies will make it. It's awful to watch and at this point if one of the birds drops from paralysis we euthanize as quickly as possible because it is a devastating disease for my beloved birds to have to run all the way through to the end... the first few days aren't too bad but after that its horrible because they slowly waste away... 
So far I have lost 2 Roos (Miso & Lyle) about a 6weeks ago and have lost 2 Red-stars (Babs & Ruby) this week... one we found dead and the other we euthanized when she went down... The thing is they all had and have names we know their little personalities, who is a lap chicken, who follows me through the yard chatting at me as if I missed her entire day, who was shy but sweet and who was naughty and who was nice.
I don't know if it came from the flock a 1/2 block away or if it came from the guy next store that has multiple bird feeders on his property.
This is certainly not what I had in mind when I envisioned my beautiful flock in my yard. gathering eggs and taking care of my birds. Its truly sad.

I'm truly sorry for what you're going through. Mareks is a horrible thing to go through.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

My condolences for your losses and my prayers for your remaining flock. I have had no ill birds as of yet so I can even imagine. If you need a "shoulder" just send me a pm. I'm always willing to listen and offer what I can.

 

[BakerzDozen]

Safe for today and no noticeably sick birds. YAY!!!

Everyone love the cantaloupe and bananas they had for snack.

I completely understand the concept of a "closed flock" and it will remain completely closed IF my remaining rooster Chixsee lives. However, without a roo I have no hopes to breed any chicks, obviously. I have been researching Mareks for awhile and talking to other BYCer's that have and have had Mareks in their flock and or on their property.

No there is no guarantee that any vaccinated chick I bring in will live however the odds go up considerably. The death rate drops from 30 -60% to 10-20%. They immunity they receive covers all but the most damaging of the Mareks virus and in that case ALL of my chickens would be dead already.

Look at it this way... In the commercial farms where every chick get immunized because the building and the land is already contaminated and will remain that way. They can never hope to be Mareks Free. Just as my coop and land is contaminated pretty much forever. the cost associated with decontamination are astronomical. Not to mention the fact that in is most likely in the immediate environment and I can't decontaminate everyone's yard and kill all of the wild birds in the area. who knows it may have come from the spring migration!

So here's what happens now. If my Roo lives I breed for immunity. If he dies I order chicks that have been immunized then keep them in complete isolation for 2 weeks to 30 days (depending on who you talk to) Then I give them another dose of the vaccine at 5 weeks. Then I slowly introduce the chicks to the the environment and the chickens. The survivors will still breed for immunity because they have been exposed to the virus and survived. It doesn't matter that they had the vaccine... It is live in their bodies the vaccine only stops them from developing the tumors.the chicks they produce will be better equipped to live... Additionally, the chicks that are bred for immunity with or without their survivor parent being vaccinated have the same odds as the ones ordered from a breeder who gives them the vaccine before shipping ... 10-20% survivability.

Here's were the chicken industry screws everything up... They don't breed for immunity they just vaccinate stick them in overcrowded conditions and either they are egg chickens or meat chickens. The next batch is the same thing... over and over...

Oh and if we have another bird die of the same symptoms we are sending it for necropsy. As I said I am new to chickens and had to do a lot of research to come up the most likely cause of the deaths. I also had to watch a chicken get close to death, write down observations, times, check for mold in there waterer, food stuffs etc.

 

[boskelli1571]

Safe for today and no noticeably sick birds. YAY!!!

Everyone love the cantaloupe and bananas they had for snack.

I completely understand the concept of a "closed flock" and it will remain completely closed IF my remaining rooster Chixsee lives. However, without a roo I have no hopes to breed any chicks, obviously. I have been researching Mareks for awhile and talking to other BYCer's that have and have had Mareks in their flock and or on their property.

No there is no guarantee that any vaccinated chick I bring in will live however the odds go up considerably. The death rate drops from 30 -60% to 10-20%. They immunity they receive covers all but the most damaging of the Mareks virus and in that case ALL of my chickens would be dead already.

Look at it this way... In the commercial farms where every chick get immunized because the building and the land is already contaminated and will remain that way. They can never hope to be Mareks Free. Just as my coop and land is contaminated pretty much forever. the cost associated with decontamination are astronomical. Not to mention the fact that in is most likely in the immediate environment and I can't decontaminate everyone's yard and kill all of the wild birds in the area. who knows it may have come from the spring migration!

So here's what happens now. If my Roo lives I breed for immunity. If he dies I order chicks that have been immunized then keep them in complete isolation for 2 weeks to 30 days (depending on who you talk to) Then I give them another dose of the vaccine at 5 weeks. Then I slowly introduce the chicks to the the environment and the chickens. The survivors will still breed for immunity because they have been exposed to the virus and survived. It doesn't matter that they had the vaccine... It is live in their bodies the vaccine only stops them from developing the tumors.the chicks they produce will be better equipped to live... Additionally, the chicks that are bred for immunity with or without their survivor parent being vaccinated have the same odds as the ones ordered from a breeder who gives them the vaccine before shipping ... 10-20% survivability.

Here's were the chicken industry screws everything up... They don't breed for immunity they just vaccinate stick them in overcrowded conditions and either they are egg chickens or meat chickens. The next batch is the same thing... over and over...

Oh and if we have another bird die of the same symptoms we are sending it for necropsy. As I said I am new to chickens and had to do a lot of research to come up the most likely cause of the deaths. I also had to watch a chicken get close to death, write down observations, times, check for mold in there waterer, food stuffs etc.

Sounds like you have done lots of research! Everything I have read comes back to the basic concept - breed for immunity. I am touching wood, got my fingers crossed etc. I have been fortunate so far. However, I want to start a breeding program next year..... anyway - hoping you are over the worst of it! Hang in there gal!

 

[BakerzDozen]

Sounds like you have done lots of research! Everything I have read comes back to the basic concept - breed for immunity.  I am touching wood, got my fingers crossed etc. I have been fortunate so far. However, I want to start a breeding program next year..... anyway - hoping you are over the worst of it! Hang in there gal!

Hi... here are my thoughts on the topic of Mareks.
if you don't have it on your property now it's coming. Getting or giving any new chicks the vaccine WILL NOT give your other birds of any age Mareks... It will however insure that your new chicks will be 80% more likely to survive if they get exposed at any point in their lives. Meanwhile of your other birds have a 60% chance that they will die.
I feel that it is in retrospect the only option. You would be ahead of the game in starting Mareks resistant birds in every pen you have and in every breed you have or want to purchase.
People get confused because they think if they vaccinate the other birds will get Mareks it's simply not true. The strain they immunize with is Turkey Mareks and can't infect a chicken. Just like a chicken can't infect a human. However, the genome is close enough to make the chicks immune system react and send out warrior cells to attack the virus. JMHO and I pray no one else has to watch their flock die... it's heartbreaking.

 

[featherz]

If these chickens die off ... I may never own another chicken for as long as I live... but I know I will miss them because I really love their antics. I have wanted these chickens since forever, however, prior to this point I was a single mom and nurse. My hours were erratic at best. I only now got to the point where I actually have time for them. I would therefor have to get birds that are immunized. and I don't know if this is helping or hindering the spread of the disease.

I am sorry about your poor birds.. I doubt it came from a neighbor, but you never know. I think it's pretty much everywhere. I had one bird die maybe three years ago that I suspected had mareks but then none of my other birds had any problems, even the babies. So it was likely something else (second possible diagnosis was that she ate a mushroom in the yard).. I hope it gets better soon.

 

[Pyxis]

BakerzDozen, so sorry to hear about your birds I know how you feel - I had a brush with mycoplasma a couple years ago. Luckily unlike Marek's it can be eradicated from your proper by culling the infected birds, bleaching everything down, and letting the coop sit empty for a few months. I know how horrible this must be for you.

How is little Midget doing? I know she was a favorite of you and your husband's and I hope you haven't lost her.