Question About Ducks and Geese and Mareck's

[Haunted55]

I am unsure right now but it really looks as if I may have 4 cases of Mareck's in a group of 14 and 15 wk old chickens. In this same building I have 76 other chickens, seperated by chicken wire pens and 10 geese and 10 ducks that pretty much roam the hall way freely. They are still too small to put in the duck house with my older pekins and mallards so as of right now I really do not have any choice on where they are living.

My question is this, if this is in fact Mareck's, what are their [ducks and geese] chances of getting it? I have looked everywhere trying to get this info but I am coming up with conflicting results. One site says they cannot, another says that they can but it will manifest itself in a different form. Is there anyone here who may have experience with this or know the answers?

It's breaking my heart to have to think that I am probably going to have to wipe out all of my chickens but the thought of losing my beloved geese and ducks is killing me. Please?

 

[Kevin565]

If they're are sick birds there is no way I would risk it. However, if memory serves me correct Marek's is a species related herpes virus. It would be a possible risk to Turkeys but I don't think to waterfowl.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just found this link http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=703 So sorry your having to deal with this but it looks like your ducks and geese are safe.

 

[Haunted55]

Thank-you very much for the reply. My turkeys are in another building and I do practise clean houses and not going into the turkey's after the chicken house, so they shouldn't have a problem. Crossing my fingers!

 

[Haunted55]

Oh thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!!!!! Please don't get me wrong, I love my chickens, I really do, but they just do not compare to the ducks and geese.

Tomorrow I am going to have to get the electric fence up around the duck yard and move the 6 wk olds in with the older ones. They have been introduced to the older ones a couple of times in their yard but, never stayed in their 6' x 12' house with them. There isn't enough room for them all , not until I get the addition added on but under the circunstances I don't think I have too much choice. They, even if they cannot get the disease, do not need to be around what is probably going to happen in the chicken house.

 

[Haunted55]

Just an update for this thread. I have lost one male chicken and from the posture of his body, it was classic Marek's. Now some good news! So far he is the only one. I had begun treating this group with Corid and vitamins because there had been a question of whether it was in fact Mareck's. The rest are getting better daily! A couple still have a funky gait but their combs are bright, eyes clear and they are running! Am I out of the woods yet? Nope, but I do have hope and for most days you can't ask for anything else.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to answer and send your good thoughts my way

 

[Amiga]

Thanks so much for the update! Sometimes we don't find out the rest of the story.