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

[Nambroth]

Everyone,

If I have seemed grumpy at all in this thread I apologize. I am angry, but not at anyone here. I'm angry with this stupid virus. I think anyone that has had a virus like this in their flock can understand how grumpy it can make one feel. I understand that you are all trying to help and I do not shun your suggestions and ideas. I hope that we can all grow and learn together on how to best prevent and manage this ugly disease.

as far as trousers line, every large fowl cochin i have met are wonderful personalities, so if his line isn't an option, other giant cochins are something to consider, when you are ready for that. Does this mean the breeder you got him from has it in her flocks??

Thank you. This is really reassuring to know and gives me hope that I can someday have another sweet and gentle roo that is vaccinated! I understand that Marek's is not vertically transmitted-- meaning that it cannot pass from mother to egg. The breeder therefore does not necessarily have it in her flocks. The person I got Trousers from ordered hatching eggs from the breeder and put them under a broody. I hope this helps.

So sorry to hear this. More sad news on top of sad news. I know very little about Marek's, but was wondering if you have heard of Oxine as a disinfectant. It is supposed to be antiviral and safe for chickens. Perhaps this or some other method could rid your coop and yard of the virus when the time comes for you to start again with a future flock. Perhaps breeding Favorelles some day is still possible.(?)

I am also wondering just how prevalent Marek's really is. If vaccinated chickens that are exposed can shed infectious virus, then it might be in our flocks without us ever knowing. This is a sobering thought.

Oxine and OdoBan are supposed to be good antiviral disinfectants (Virucides). However, it is somewhat unrealistic to expect to purge it from my many acres of yard and woods where my chickens have been, and moreover might be environmentally irresponsible. Not to mention I grow a lot of our food and I am not keen on putting it into my vegetable gardens. However, I do plan on doing a deep clean of the coop and run, see my response below.

a thought occurred to me overnite regarding raising faverolles, if you got bantams and kept them isolated in bantam run could the soil be disinfected to enable you to do that? or would it still be risky ?

Thank you! I am not really interested in bantams, and I'm afraid that it would still be far too risky to have them in the same yard.





I'll tell you my game plan: Once the temperatures are above freezing I am going to get some oxine or this stuff: http://www.odoban.com/products/odobanr-concentrate/original-eucalyptus-scent.php and and clean out my coop really well and spray everything down and let it air out. My run is mostly gravel so I will spray it there too and rake it. I don't hope to eliminate the virus -- that seems impossible-- but just reduce the amount of it (since it is shed in dander) in the environment. It seems that birds that are not presenting symptoms shed less virus than those actively having symptoms, though all exposed birds can shed it. This level of cleaning seems to also seriously reduce the Lymphoid Leukosis virus from what I have read, unless any of my birds are shedding the virus. LL is NOT as hardy in the environment as Marek's and does not get transmitted between adult birds as often as it does chicks from what I have researched (it is usually chicks that get it either from each other if one is carrying it, or from their mother through the egg, then carry it, and it shows up after a year old). Depending on what I hear back from the diagnostic team on the virus in Trousers (and I will consult experts before I consider more birds) I will take steps to help make sure that I do everything I can. Antiviral cleaners such as Oxine or the OdoBan seem to kill it. Then I will begin searching for vaccinated large cochins... having Trousers I am convinced that they are exactly what I want in a rooster. My vet told me that it would be pretty safe bringing in birds that had been vaccinated against Marek's at day olds. There is still a risk-- but I think there is a risk in anything we do with our birds, be it from predators or disease.
If anyone sees any flaws with this plan please don't be afraid to mention it. I want to be as responsible as possible when managing this.

 

[Bitterroot]

Education can help us save out birds! I like to think that Trousers did not die in vain, and that he will help to educate us and help other birds.

From the other thread.

I knew nothing of marek's, other than reading the name in a few chicken books. This thread has raised my awareness of this awful disease, and I am grateful for that. There are no reports of it in my area, but I will be vaccinating all of my chicks against this, just in case. Your story is proof that you never know when something can pop up.

Thank you Trousers.

 

[itsmechrissy]

I've used odoban, mostly for indoor cleaning, works well. I'm not sure if you have Mennard's near you but that's where I found the best price.

 

[Nambroth]

I've used odoban, mostly for indoor cleaning, works well. I'm not sure if you have Mennard's near you but that's where I found the best price.

We don't but there are a few places I can check. If I cannot find it locally I will order it online. I have to order a lot of stuff online anyhow. I wanna make sure that I do this right, as best I can.

 

[froggiesheins]

http://www.revivalanimal.com/Oxine-Fogger-and-Oxine-AH.html

Jennifer, Revival Animal Health care is an online store you can get a good price on Oxine.

Oxine can be used two ways; with OR without the "citric-acid" activator.

This activator is what makes it kill viral spores.

Without tne activator it is just a good disinfectant but it WILL NOT kill viral spores.

And again, my heart is so heavy for you and FUD guy for this double whammy news.....poor Trousers and you too..... LOL

 

[Nambroth]

http://www.revivalanimal.com/Oxine-Fogger-and-Oxine-AH.html

Jennifer, Revival Animal Health care is an online store you can get a good price on Oxine.

Oxine can be used two ways; with OR without the "citric-acid" activator.

This activator is what makes it kill viral spores.

Without tne activator it is just a good disinfectant but it WILL NOT kill viral spores.

And again, my heart is so heavy for you and FUD guy for this double whammy news.....poor Trousers and you too..... LOL

Thank you for this valuable information. I will carefully research the product I choose so that I use it properly. I do appreciate it!

 

[SoftBoiled]

I second Bitterroot's post earlier, Trousers' illness has definitely raised my education levels around this disease, but as you pointed out, Nambroth, the world is full of sharp edges. It's just hard to fight a sharp edge that you can't see and against which you seem to have few weapons.

I am a little puzzled that your veterinarian didn't test for Marek's from the beginning, whereas you, Nambroth, raised the possibility very early on when Trousers first became unwell. Did your vet discuss this with you as a possibility? I ask this because some of us would have a high dependence on a medical opinion - but then, perhaps it just goes back to education. Everybody needs to attend Chicken School with no graduation.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

You can get Virus Cleaners!!!!

I am also going to have to do some research on this Nambroth!



P.S
I think what you are doing is great, never give up on getting chickens.
You are setting an example for all of us that ANY thing is possible.

 

[NewToFarming]

I second Bitterroot's post earlier, Trousers' illness has definitely raised my education levels around this disease, but as you pointed out, Nambroth, the world is full of sharp edges. It's just hard to fight a sharp edge that you can't see and against which you seem to have few weapons.

I am a little puzzled that your veterinarian didn't test for Marek's from the beginning, whereas you, Nambroth, raised the possibility very early on when Trousers first became unwell. Did your vet discuss this with you as a possibility? I ask this because some of us would have a high dependence on a medical opinion - but then, perhaps it just goes back to education. Everybody needs to attend Chicken School with no graduation.

I do believe there is a test for live birds but I don't think it is very reliable from what I understand. Mareks is usually diagnosed through necropsy. Mareks is a terrible virus and can present itself in many different ways like the tumors, in the feather follicles, in the eyes, general wasting away and the lameness. I don't know if I have mareks in my flock but I had some paralysis. I did send one for necropsy and it said it did not find mareks and the test came back inconclusive, but I am thinking it is since I had a few others with the same symptoms. It is a tough disease to manage because it can come from anywhere, wild birds, through the wind or if you go to the feed store and you pick it up on your shoes.

 

[Nambroth]

Necropsy can be good, and very telling, but they can run a DNA test on blood samples now that is a pretty straightforward "yes" or "No" from what I understand. Trousers had a necropsy and the DNA test. His blood draw was taken when he was still alive and caused him no discomfort. They don't need a huge amount.