Probably Marek's... we're nearly desperate.

[Flock Leader]

I started off with 9 chickens 3 years ago. They were from a good breeder and were not vaccinated. Her birds have never had Marek's. There are no other chickens within a mile of me, and the land was vacant when we build our home. When my third hen died, at about 8 months of age, I had a necropsy done. It was Marek's.

I had more than 9 chickens by then but I had hatched them out so no disease brought in by my new birds. I vaccinated all the birds I had at the time, even though I knew they had all been exposed. I didn't lose any more birds. (But I did have one plymouth rock hen that NEVER laid another egg. She was only 9 months old, laying everyday, unitl the vaccine...weird)

The next group of chicks I bought I had vaccinated, but I have bought birds from friends, hatched out some in incubators, and had broody hens. I no longer vaccinate new birds unless they are from a hatchery. I have seen no more evidence of Marek's.

I don't know if my flock really had it or not, but it seems to have gone away. I hope you have the same outcome.

Good for you, it sounds like you've been really lucky! From sources I've read, once you have Marek's you always have it, but perhaps your new birds are resistant? I mean, if you breed your own, and you've bred from survivors... I don't know. I just really really hope we still have some chickens (and eggs!) after all is said and done.

I have not dealt with Mareks, but here is something you can study as a possible differential diagnosis (botulism):


http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/205400.htm
following quote is from the above website:

"Leg paralysis is the only sign in mild intoxications, which must be differentiated from Marek’s disease, drug and chemical toxicities, or appendicular skeletal problems. In waterfowl, botulism must be differentiated from fowl cholera and chemical toxicities, especially lead poisoning."

That is possible, but really really hard to believe... I mean, they don't get anything spoiled/rotten, and their water is changed daily, sometimes twice a day. Could they still get botulism? Of course I wish it might be so, anything but Marek's, which is really difficult to get rid of.

 

[igep]

Hi:

Thanks to everyone for all of your helpful information. I am quite sure I also have a problem with Marek's. I started out with two groups of pullets from different sources both about 12 weeks of age about three months ago.
The first group came from a farm with questionable conditions. The source had hundreds of chicks that he had bought at one day old. They had been in crowded conditions. I now suspect that this group was NOT vaccinated for Marek's. This group contained five comets, two ri reds, one americauna, and three brahmas. Out of these eleven, I have lost three comets, one ri red and three brahmas. Several of the affected pullets died suddenly with few obvious symptoms except for lethargy. About three of them started out showing paralysis of one leg which worsened until they were no longer able to sustain themselves. The rir survived the longest but eventually passed. From this group I only have one ri red, two comets and the americauna. I really did not have the money to get a necropsy and since I suspected Marek's there would be no treatment anyway. Also I cannot let them free range since I have a jack russell terrier and predators in the area.
My second group of pullets came from a much better environment and I am pretty sure that Tom had them vaccinated. In that group I have two buff orpingtons, two silver-laced Wyandottes and a white leghorn who had been laying daily until yesterday. I also have one that was laying small brown eggs until yesterday--not sure which hen it is. So far all of the girls in this group have remained healthy. I don't know whether to separate the two groups at this point--it is probably too late to prevent exposure anyway. I am trying to keep a close eye on all and will quickly pull out any that show signs of illness. I do have cages I can keep them in outside of the pen.
I am hoping that my leghorn has not stopped laying due to illness since she is my favorite. I know that it could also be due to time of year but I am trying to increase light in the coop.
I am also hoping and praying that I will not lose any more chooks.
I do not want to give up my flock and will probably let nature take its course. If anyone has any suggestions or encouragement please let me know!! I will keep you posted if any changes.

 

[Flock Leader]

I'm so sorry for the disappointment you went through! It's really heartbreaking, and in our case was especially so, since we hatched all those chicks and raised them from an egg, and the illness began to show so close to maturity and possibly EGGS, which were kind of the whole point.

Do you have a way to know for sure if your second group of chickens was vaccinated for Marek's? If you know they have, and if none of them dies, you can have a higher degree of certainty it was Marek's in the first group, and as far as I understand if you have Marek's on your property you always have it, so you'll know you must only bring in vaccinated birds, or birds known to be resistant.

Update: our pullet still has one paralyzed leg and it doesn't look to me as though she'll be around much longer, but the roo, after a few days of limping badly, just stopped and is almost back to normal again. We're keeping an eye on him.