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

[Nambroth]

A small update to Trousers' story...

The person that I adopted Trousers from, and the suspected source of Marek's.... seems to be Marek's free! She has had a few birds from her flock tested (all negative), and most recently she tested Trousers' brother via blood test sent to Texas A&M for a full blown Marek's test. The bird tested negative.

At this time it appears that she does NOT have Marek's in her flock. Which means that the liklihood that it came in on my environment is near 100%. Her chickens and land are the only ones I'd ever visited. Both times when I dropped my roosters off at new homes I didn't actually go onto the property where the chickens were. The only exception to this is when I visited Panic Pants, but that was after Trousers had died (and I cleaned up super well afterward).
I have no neighbors with chickens, and the closest chickens I know of to my property are several miles away. In May a neighbor down the road (maybe 1/2 mile) got chicks but not until May (after Trousers died).

I can only guess that perhaps wild birds brought it in. This past winter we had heavy flocks of irregular migratory birds such as redpolls. These can migrate in unusual patterns and often migrate in large masses. NY state issued warnings that they had tested dead redpolls from this migration and they were positive for salmonella. It does not seem impossible that they may have been carrying other disease as well.
As part of my goals for my property is to restore habitat and welcome natural wild bird behavior, I don't plan on discouraging wild bird activity. In fact, the idea strikes me as a bit silly... given that Marek's tends to be carried on dander, it is silly to think I could prevent birds from even flying overhead! I will enjoy the birds and simply continue to take the best care of my Marek's flock of chickens as I can.

This is a humbling reminder that even with the best bio-security out there, disease can come into a flock when you don't expect it. Even if I never had adopted Trousers, Marek's would be here, and I just wouldn't know (and might have accidentally spread it!).

 

[Suzierd]

What about Panic Pants? Since he lived with your flock could he have had Marek's? The farmer have any trouble? Or mabe he has vaccinated birds?

 

[Nambroth]

What about Panic Pants? Since he lived with your flock could he have had Marek's? The farmer have any trouble? Or mabe he has vaccinated birds?

Maybe. It's impossible to know when the Marek's arrived here. I suspect it was over the winter/spring, after Panic went to his new home-- that would coincide with the symptoms Trousers showed, and also the bird migrations. I did talk to the farmer that took him, after I found out, and he hasn't lost any birds nor had any signs of illness. He doesn't know if his Amish flock was vaccinated (he gets two year old birds from the Amish), but probably not.

 

[drumstick diva]

Fud Lady - how are our favorite flock of ladies doing?

 

[alovingmum]

A small update to Trousers' story...

The person that I adopted Trousers from, and the suspected source of Marek's.... seems to be Marek's free! She has had a few birds from her flock tested (all negative), and most recently she tested Trousers' brother via blood test sent to Texas A&M for a full blown Marek's test. The bird tested negative.

At this time it appears that she does NOT have Marek's in her flock. Which means that the liklihood that it came in on my environment is near 100%. Her chickens and land are the only ones I'd ever visited. Both times when I dropped my roosters off at new homes I didn't actually go onto the property where the chickens were. The only exception to this is when I visited Panic Pants, but that was after Trousers had died (and I cleaned up super well afterward).
I have no neighbors with chickens, and the closest chickens I know of to my property are several miles away. In May a neighbor down the road (maybe 1/2 mile) got chicks but not until May (after Trousers died).

I can only guess that perhaps wild birds brought it in. This past winter we had heavy flocks of irregular migratory birds such as redpolls. These can migrate in unusual patterns and often migrate in large masses. NY state issued warnings that they had tested dead redpolls from this migration and they were positive for salmonella. It does not seem impossible that they may have been carrying other disease as well.
As part of my goals for my property is to restore habitat and welcome natural wild bird behavior, I don't plan on discouraging wild bird activity. In fact, the idea strikes me as a bit silly... given that Marek's tends to be carried on dander, it is silly to think I could prevent birds from even flying overhead! I will enjoy the birds and simply continue to take the best care of my Marek's flock of chickens as I can.

This is a humbling reminder that even with the best bio-security out there, disease can come into a flock when you don't expect it. Even if I never had adopted Trousers, Marek's would be here, and I just wouldn't know (and might have accidentally spread it!).

that's so sad for trousers but i think my dear chapatti, indian game rooster may have the same problem. i use homeopathy to graet lengths so i'll try hypericum and go from there; however, i'd like to mention to everyone that dis-ease names are just that. i'v found from rescuing all types and conditions that the ones that don't get sick or live the longest are the ones on the healthiest diet the longest that is raw organic free range with lots of greens and wheatgrass etc. those ones either didn't get sick if i'd had them for donkeys years or were the last to die of the dis-ease or whatever that came thru. the ones that were with me the shortest and arrived with uncompromised health were the first to drop. it was heart breaking to see them. the immune system is what keeps these birds alive and that is controlled by a healthy diet as above. i've also found if one has greywater systems (even without chemical use) along with other unsavoury 'morsels' then the birds contract anythign due to their immune system being depleted completely or somewhat depending on their original health which was initiated by a good or bad diet (refer above for good diet). hope this helps. in the meantime i'm going to try hypericum and use charcoal slurry in a dropper at night. wish i could do it in the morning too but a bit difficult job. i also have some other remedies in mind but we'll see what the Hyp will do first.