Plymouth Rocks and Mareks

[Melky]

So first things are suggested:
1. Buy from reputable Hatchery or breeders
2. Vaccinate one day olds
3. Adequate cleaning and ventilation
4. Separate sick birds

See attachment for more information.
May have to save to drive to read pdf attachment. Also can go to poultrysite.com and select Mareks Disease for article on Mareks. The fact that you may have some vaccinated and some not may put your flock at risk. Also you bought recently many different age groups that just by age increase risk as well as size of flock. Mareks can acquire from anywhere does not mean it came where you purchased. When purchasing new it is suggested to keep separate from current flock for a time to prevent spread of diseases till sure your new birds tolerate change with good health. Hope this article helps!

 

[jucat60]

So first things are suggested:
1. Buy from reputable Hatchery or breeders
2. Vaccinate one day olds
3. Adequate cleaning and ventilation
4. Separate sick birds

See attachment for more information.
May have to save to drive to read pdf attachment. Also can go to poultrysite.com and select Mareks Disease for article on Mareks. The fact that you may have some vaccinated and some not may put your flock at risk. Also you bought recently many different age groups that just by age increase risk as well as size of flock. Mareks can acquire from anywhere does not mean it came where you purchased. When purchasing new it is suggested to keep separate from current flock for a time to prevent spread of diseases till sure your new birds tolerate change with good health. Hope this article helps!

Thanks so much for the reply. I do not know where this horror has come from I have always been so diligent in cleaning coops etc .It is just horrible seeing the chickens you love succumb to this insidious killer. I just pray it does not go into my Aracuana that I have bred from tiny chicks.

 

[Melky]

As article describes need to disinfect and throw out mulch or bedding where infected birds were. Clean out runs. May have to kill sick birds to prevent spread as you can not save them. Follow your vets advice. Best of luck! Prayers

 

[jucat60]

As article describes need to disinfect and throw out mulch or bedding where infected birds were. Clean out runs. May have to kill sick birds to prevent spread as you can not save them. Follow your vets advice. Best of luck! Prayers

Thanks so much I have just another pullet appear to have a respiratory infection have her separated giving her Tylan 50 oral. Taking her to the vet tomorrow.I guess this could be related too I know this can compromise immunity and make chickens more susceptible to other things. I have no issues at all with all my others just the Plymouth.

 

[Melky]

This article recommends to vaccinate remaining flock once detected with Mareks vaccine. I would try that as well.

 

[rebrascora]

I'm sorry but I totally failed to follow that explanation of your flock's history.

I originally before this started had 4 Plymouth pullets 3 hens and 2 young roosters.

Were these all P Rocks or were only the pullets PRs and the hens and roosters another breed? Were did these birds come from and how many of them survived the fox attack... just the one 3 year old hen? Did you have any other breeds at that time?
You then bought 2 10week old cockerels from one place (or were these the 2 young roosters (cockerels??) you mention above?), 4 8week old (pullets?) from another breeder and then 2 18month old hens.... did the hens come from a third place or the same place as the 8 week olds or the cockerels? Essentially, did you source these birds from 2 or 3 different locations and have you checked with each one regarding Marek's?
That said a breeder is unlikely to admit to having Marek's in their flock.... they would just be shooting themselves in the foot. They may deliberately have never had a necropsy done so that they can say with a clear conscience that they don't have it.

Having 2 adolescent cockerels in a pen with a few hens and pullets will really stress them all, and stress triggers Marek's, so once the hormones kicked in you started seeing problems. That is pretty normal with Marek's.
Do you have cockerels in with your other birds... the araucanas etc? Mature roosters are another matter, so it is important to understand the terminology and use it correctly. Do you have adolescent birds in your other breed flock?

Without fully understanding your set up and flock history, it is really hard to advise and even then, Marek's can vary so much in how it exhibits and how aggressive the strain is that you have.

Were your other birds that are vaccinated, inoculated at hatch before you got them? How far away from the P Rocks are they? Upwind or down wind? Have you practiced any biosecurity between the flocks?
If the other breeds are adult, there is less chance of them developing symptoms, or you may see the odd one as they start to moult next year. There are just too many variables to predict.

 

[Thechickentrainer1999]

How old are they and have you tried giving them coloidial silver? I've read reports that it can possibly cure it. Praying for you. GOD is with you no matter what happens; always and forever. Never stop praying.

 

[jucat60]

How old are they and have you tried giving them coloidial silver? I've read reports that it can possibly cure it. Praying for you. GOD is with you no matter what happens; always and forever. Never stop praying.

Thanks so much the pullets now are about 7 months old. No I have not heard of coloidal silver . Bless you and yes I believe God is with us x

 

[jucat60]

I'm sorry but I totally failed to follow that explanation of your flock's history.



Were these all P Rocks or were only the pullets PRs and the hens and roosters another breed? Were did these birds come from and how many of them survived the fox attack... just the one 3 year old hen? Did you have any other breeds at that time?
You then bought 2 10week old cockerels from one place (or were these the 2 young roosters (cockerels??) you mention above?), 4 8week old (pullets?) from another breeder and then 2 18month old hens.... did the hens come from a third place or the same place as the 8 week olds or the cockerels? Essentially, did you source these birds from 2 or 3 different locations and have you checked with each one regarding Marek's?
That said a breeder is unlikely to admit to having Marek's in their flock.... they would just be shooting themselves in the foot. They may deliberately have never had a necropsy done so that they can say with a clear conscience that they don't have it.

Having 2 adolescent cockerels in a pen with a few hens and pullets will really stress them all, and stress triggers Marek's, so once the hormones kicked in you started seeing problems. That is pretty normal with Marek's.
Do you have cockerels in with your other birds... the araucanas etc? Mature roosters are another matter, so it is important to understand the terminology and use it correctly. Do you have adolescent birds in your other breed flock?

Without fully understanding your set up and flock history, it is really hard to advise and even then, Marek's can vary so much in how it exhibits and how aggressive the strain is that you have.

Were your other birds that are vaccinated, inoculated at hatch before you got them? How far away from the P Rocks are they? Upwind or down wind? Have you practiced any biosecurity between the flocks?
If the other breeds are adult, there is less chance of them developing symptoms, or you may see the odd one as they start to moult next year. There are just too many variables to predict.

 

[jucat60]

I'm sorry but I totally failed to follow that explanation of your flock's history.



Were these all P Rocks or were only the pullets PRs and the hens and roosters another breed? Were did these birds come from and how many of them survived the fox attack... just the one 3 year old hen? Did you have any other breeds at that time?
You then bought 2 10week old cockerels from one place (or were these the 2 young roosters (cockerels??) you mention above?), 4 8week old (pullets?) from another breeder and then 2 18month old hens.... did the hens come from a third place or the same place as the 8 week olds or the cockerels? Essentially, did you source these birds from 2 or 3 different locations and have you checked with each one regarding Marek's?
That said a breeder is unlikely to admit to having Marek's in their flock.... they would just be shooting themselves in the foot. They may deliberately have never had a necropsy done so that they can say with a clear conscience that they don't have it.

Having 2 adolescent cockerels in a pen with a few hens and pullets will really stress them all, and stress triggers Marek's, so once the hormones kicked in you started seeing problems. That is pretty normal with Marek's.
Do you have cockerels in with your other birds... the araucanas etc? Mature roosters are another matter, so it is important to understand the terminology and use it correctly. Do you have adolescent birds in your other breed flock?

Without fully understanding your set up and flock history, it is really hard to advise and even then, Marek's can vary so much in how it exhibits and how aggressive the strain is that you have.

Were your other birds that are vaccinated, inoculated at hatch before you got them? How far away from the P Rocks are they? Upwind or down wind? Have you practiced any biosecurity between the flocks?
If the other breeds are adult, there is less chance of them developing symptoms, or you may see the odd one as they start to moult next year. There are just too many variables to predict.