Please help with large tumor!!!

[windychicks]

UPDATE:
Violet seems to be feeling fine still, though she does spend a little more time off to herself than usual.
Meanwhile, the local vet called and said the only way he knows to test for Mareks is thru necropsy and suggests I do one if she dies. He thought the fact that she's 2 1/2 and the only one showing symptoms might point to something else, so he isn't convinced it's Mareks. But if it is, it's likely I'll lose 40-60% of my flock!

 

[windychicks]

Also, if it IS Marek's, I've read my soil will stay infected possibly for years! How do I get more chickens?? If I start with vaccinated chicks what would the chances be that they get it? I'd hate to not be able to have more chickens!

 

[chickens really]

I'm not thinking Mereks at all..Just a tumour of some kind..

 

[casportpony]

What about a breast blister? In the right area, looks like bruised tissue?

That's what I was thinking at one point.

 

[casportpony]

UPDATE:
Violet seems to be feeling fine still, though she does spend a little more time off to herself than usual.
Meanwhile, the local vet called and said the only way he knows to test for Mareks is thru necropsy and suggests I do one if she dies. He thought the fact that she's 2 1/2 and the only one showing symptoms might point to something else, so he isn't convinced it's Mareks. But if it is, it's likely I'll lose 40-60% of my flock!

If it is Marek's I doubt you will lose that many. .

 

[ronott1]

UPDATE:
Violet seems to be feeling fine still, though she does spend a little more time off to herself than usual.
Meanwhile, the local vet called and said the only way he knows to test for Mareks is thru necropsy and suggests I do one if she dies. He thought the fact that she's 2 1/2 and the only one showing symptoms might point to something else, so he isn't convinced it's Mareks. But if it is, it's likely I'll lose 40-60% of my flock!

Read up on Mareks!

All chickens get it as an initial infection. A percentage will then get cancer from it at about 2 years old. It is not a high percentage though. About 5% of all chickens will get cancer from it. It is similar to how herpes works in people. You get herpes and then 20 years later a percentage of people will get cancer.

It this is mareks cancer, it would likely be the only one to get it

 

[rebrascora]

It depends on the strain of Marek's but if that's what this is, it suggests that this is a very mild strain for you to not see any others displaying symptoms before now. As someone who has Marek's in their flock I can tell you that it is not nearly as bad as a lot of the stuff you read. I broody raised 56 chicks 2 years ago in my Marek's flock and only 3 showed symptoms and 2 died from it. I think that doesn't compare badly with chick fatality rate in any flock and none of them were vaccinated. I do occasionally get an older bird displaying symptoms of it at times of stress like moult and some survive and some die, but hens can die of all sorts of things, so don't let Marek's put you off keeping chickens. It is just something else to be aware of and learn about and manage as best you can.

 

[ronott1]

I am the same here. I had one hen die of mareks cancer at two years old. The Necropsy report painted a grim future for my chickens...Which has never happened. I do not see the initial symptoms and have had one die of the cancer.

If they die from the initial infection(Nearly all chicks get this), then you have a virulent strain at your place. If not, all chicken owners can expect about 5% get cancer at two years old. It is a fact of chicken raising. The vaccine we can give them lowers the cancer rate but does not stop the initial infection. Hatcheries and commercial egg farms have a version of the vaccine that is injected into the egg. That one protects better

 

[windychicks]

Thanks to all of you again! It sounds like Marek's isn't a total death sentence like some people seem to think. I've been reading a lot about it and many articles paint a bleak picture for sure!
Would y'all have Violet, the one with the tumor, tested for it thru necropsy?
Would you only get vaccinated chicks/chickens from here on out?

Chickens really, I like your response!

If someone knows of Marek's info that supports what some have said here (ronott1, rebrascora),'please point me in that direction. I'd like to keep on educating myself.

 

[casportpony]

If someone knows of Marek's info that supports what some have said here (ronott1, rebrascora),'please point me in that direction. I'd like to keep on educating myself.

@Nambroth wrote this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

@seminolewind and @Haunted55 have also done a lot of research.