Rooster with mass in neck, possible tumor, thymus response -- Marek's

[buttonquailchic]

Oh my god... I'm so sorry for your loss... I read through this whole thread, thinking- yes! He's going to be ok! It's an avian mirical story! -until I got to page four.... I can't even tell you how sorry I am- this broke my heart especially because I had two quail that i raised from eggs pass away in the past month, and I can sympathize with your loss... I wish you the best of luck that none of your other birds- be it hens or Roos -come down with anything even remotely close to what Trousers had... He seemed like a wonderful bird, but aren't most? Birds are even better than dogs when it comes down to it.. Thank you for sharing this with us, it made my cry- and I don't cry. I know how hard this must have been for you. I wish you well.
Rest in peace Trousers.

 

[chklvr0307]

So sorry for your loss

 

[Sultan obsessed]

Super duper sad news, atleast he lives your happy memories.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Yes, my vet has sent away a blood sample and nerve samples to be tested. It's rather expensive but it's worth my peace of mind and education to know if I have it in my flock or not.

Lymphoid leukosis is not as prolific in the environment as Marek's... it is much easier to remove from an area with disinfectants, though carrier birds will always shed it. Marek's is shed through feather dander and can carry for miles on the wind! It can track in on shoes, clothing, and bedding. It's much harder to control.

Oh, so you have to take it to a vet!
We have no Avian Vets were I am, so looks like I won't be able to do it.

I had no idea you could control Lymphoid so easily, I thought it was pretty tough, guess not.

Are you able to detect Mareks in your flock with out testing? Like do the chickens show external signs? Also does Mareks just cause tumours?
I would like to get some more info on this disease.

 

[Nambroth]

Oh, so you have to take it to a vet!
We have no Avian Vets were I am, so looks like I won't be able to do it.

I had no idea you could control Lymphoid so easily, I thought it was pretty tough, guess not.

Are you able to detect Mareks in your flock with out testing? Like do the chickens show external signs? Also does Mareks just cause tumours?
I would like to get some more info on this disease.

No-- you don't have to take the bird to a vet, many states can test for you at their agricultural/livestock department. It's wise to find out if your state will necropsy and test for disease before you have a problem. If you aren't in the USA you can find out if your government offers any of these services.

LL is not 'easily' controlled.. just, not quite as impossible as Marek's seems to be.

Marek's does have symptoms that you can see, but it depends on what form it takes, and sometimes the symptoms can look like other diseases, too. Here is some information about Marek's http://nambroth.deviantart.com/art/Flight-of-Dragons-Trailer-Storyboard-360384606
This is also a good article: http://www.thecuckoopoultrystudofaustralia.com/mareks-disease.html

 

[cluckcluckluke]

No-- you don't have to take the bird to a vet, many states can test for you at their agricultural/livestock department. It's wise to find out if your state will necropsy and test for disease before you have a problem. If you aren't in the USA you can find out if your government offers any of these services.

LL is not 'easily' controlled.. just, not quite as impossible as Marek's seems to be.

Marek's does have symptoms that you can see, but it depends on what form it takes, and sometimes the symptoms can look like other diseases, too. Here is some information about Marek's http://nambroth.deviantart.com/art/Flight-of-Dragons-Trailer-Storyboard-360384606
This is also a good article: http://www.thecuckoopoultrystudofaustralia.com/mareks-disease.html

I Will try and check out my local council.
Thanks for the articles, I will have a read through them.
Good Luck. Luke.

 

[Nambroth]

Well, tonight when I was out showing my art I got the call.

Confirmed Marek's via DNA and other testing, 100% positive.

He also tested positive for ALLV, Avian Lymphoid Leukosis Virus. It was explained that this virus, as a retrovirus, attaches itself to the DNA and that it's possible that he was NOT actively shedding the vrius and that it may not have even effected him. Because they test via DNA, the 'marker' for ALLV showed up but it does not necessarily mean that the virus is active in his body. The fellow doing the DNA testing for us is going well out of his way to further test and learn if the virus was active or not.

I talked with my vet at length, and she asked me how my biosecurity was. In the end she feels strongly that he had Marek's when I adopted him, though there is no way to know for sure unless his prior owner tests. I am letting her know, of course, that the possibility is there in her flock.

So now I wait to hear on the ALLV testing. I am heartbroken that I will never be able to breed faverolles like I wanted to someday, and that my options for chickens are very narrow in the future. I am most sorry that this happened to Trousers and wish I could go back in time and vaccinate him as a chick. I know the vaccine is not 100% foolproof but it would have given him a chance.

 

[Suzierd]

My heart just sunk reading this, so sorry. If he came to you with it is it possible your girls don't have it?

 

[Nambroth]

My heart just sunk reading this, so sorry. If he came to you with it is it possible your girls don't have it?

Once you have a Marek's positive bird in your flock, you can assume that you have Marek's in your soil and in your other birds, too. My girls will probably be just fine because they were vaccinated, but they will probably shed the virus for life.

 

[NovaAman]

Oh, I am so sorry... There is a guy on here from Australia... He's going to rear his new birds in an area his old birds were not. Back dig out the top layer of soil on his old chicken yard, fill in with new soil, and disinfect and let that yard and coops lay fallow for a time... He's got mareks also in his older flock, has the vac order for the birds in his bator now...

About trousers... I am guessing that it'd be best not to hatch any of his offspring if the LL is genetic...?