Should i worry?

[PattyRchickymomma]

I have 4 hens that are about 9 months old and have been laying for 4 months or so. My speckled sussex Betsy hasn't laid an egg in 3 days and I'm starting to worry. I just lost one of my Blue Laced Barnvelder to Mareks and I'm scared to death the other 4 are going to get sick. She doesn't seem to be sick at all or even acting strange and she is still eating. I'm just wondering if it's strange or when i should start to worry.

 

[azygous]

Do you know from a necropsy that the hen that died had Marek's? If in fact you had a chicken die from Marek's, you can expect others to eventually sicken and die as all chickens exposed to this virus will carry it. None get a pass, though not all will exhibit symptoms at the same time.

However, there are other reasons why a hen would quit laying. If you're in the northern hemisphere, it's going into fall and the days are getting short. The lessening daylight may not be sufficient to trigger egg laying.

 

[PattyRchickymomma]

No we didn't have a necropsy but I did take her to an Avian vet and that's what he said. She couldn't stand up or hold up her neck. I am in southern florida and it's pretty hot these days, i read that the heat may cause them to slow down laying.

How soon would the other chickens show symptoms if they did have Mareks?

 

[azygous]

When chickens are exposed to Marek's, you can't predict when or even if they will exhibit symptoms. It depends on the individual and their immune system. Typically, chicks exposed to it will show signs between ten weeks and ten months or sometime in the first year. But they can show symptoms at any age, and some recover and go on to live more years before finally dying.

I urge all chicken keepers in hot weather to treat for heat stress as those symptoms can mimic Marek's.