Single silkie post-Mareks - Options?

[member 615286]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone could give me some guidance...
I had three 7-month old silkies. One was euthanized last week following progressing paralysis, assumed from Marek's (however the test has not come back yet to confirm).
A second is showing similar symptoms, (progressing paralysis).
Assuming she goes too, and the third is also infected but either has delayed symptoms onset, or does not end up affected(?), what should I do?
My novice understanding is silkies should not be kept alone. And that I can not introduce new chickens if they/she is infected. And should not introduce her to someone else's flock.
In which case, should I put her down too? Or keep her alone? Other considerations?

*Thank you*
(note: new to chickens, have learned a lot, will vaccinate in the future)

 

[Silkie Princess]

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous

 

[azygous]

It is strictly your decision, but I suggest having a necropsy done on your latest sickest pullet first so you know what you are dealing with.

It is not true that you cannot introduce new birds into your flock if you have either Marek's or lymphoid leucosis. There are just precautions you need to be aware of. You are correct, however, that no birds must leave your flock as it will spread the disease.

Are you closer to Rocky Ford or Fort Collins? What I did the last time I had a bird necropsied, is I boxed her up alive but comfortably with lots of towels to cushion her during the car trip, and I drove her to the Rocky Ford lab where they took her form me and humanely euthanized her. I had the results later that day. They can tell you what virus your pullet might have and they can confirm it by sending tissue samples to Fort Collins where the pathology lab is located. The total cost is around $200 for necropsy and pathology tests.

 

[member 615286]

It is strictly your decision, but I suggest having a necropsy done on your latest sickest pullet first so you know what you are dealing with.

It is not true that you cannot introduce new birds into your flock if you have either Marek's or lymphoid leucosis. There are just precautions you need to be aware of. You are correct, however, that no birds must leave your flock as it will spread the disease.

Are you closer to Rocky Ford or Fort Collins? What I did the last time I had a bird necropsied, is I boxed her up alive but comfortably with lots of towels to cushion her during the car trip, and I drove her to the Rocky Ford lab where they took her form me and humanely euthanized her. I had the results later that day. They can tell you what virus your pullet might have and they can confirm it by sending tissue samples to Fort Collins where the pathology lab is located. The total cost is around $200 for necropsy and pathology tests.

Thanks, this is really helpful. The silkie that was euthanized last week by the vet in Longmont, CO had a blood sample sent off (to confirm Mareks, the vet felt confident but it will take several weeks (?) to get results back, as it was sent out of state). However seeing the second decline I am just wondering what to do.
Fort Collins is not far. I will call them, thank you. I was not happy with my experience at the vet in Longmont at all
Maybe I should wait to cross this bridge if/when I get there but wanting to be proactive in the event the second with symptoms goes as well, and not wanting to leave the one alone. Any guidance for finding additional birds to add should she end up a flock of one? I will also do a lot of research on this but if you have a place for me to start, Id really appreciate it.
Thanks for the help

 

[member 615286]

It is strictly your decision, but I suggest having a necropsy done on your latest sickest pullet first so you know what you are dealing with.

It is not true that you cannot introduce new birds into your flock if you have either Marek's or lymphoid leucosis. There are just precautions you need to be aware of. You are correct, however, that no birds must leave your flock as it will spread the disease.

Are you closer to Rocky Ford or Fort Collins? What I did the last time I had a bird necropsied, is I boxed her up alive but comfortably with lots of towels to cushion her during the car trip, and I drove her to the Rocky Ford lab where they took her form me and humanely euthanized her. I had the results later that day. They can tell you what virus your pullet might have and they can confirm it by sending tissue samples to Fort Collins where the pathology lab is located. The total cost is around $200 for necropsy and pathology tests.

There were many reasons I was upset with my experience last week with the vet who euthanized her. I tried to understand the right thing to do for her, after he suggested I take her home and leave her in a box (I understand why if in a big flock but she wasnt) but he also shared she probably wouldnt make it more than a few days/week, so I chose to have her put down. I just didnt know what was the right thing to do. It didnt seem humane to bring her home and leave her in a box in the coop. But I read later that they can live for weeks or months paralyzed, perfectly content, if cared for properly (which I could have). Any input on what to do in this case if the others also end up paralyzed would be confirming for me. The vet was not very empathetic or helpful answering my questions about her quality of life And I am still a little unsure how long to let the second go before bringing her to fort collins assuming this is the direction its headed. Thank you again youve been so helpful

 

[azygous]

It really depends on which virus your flock is carrying. If it's Marek's, it's very simple. Just have new chicks or birds vaccinated for it, observe the two-week quarantine during which resistance is acquired, then introduce the vaccinated birds to the flock.

If it's leucosis that your flock carries, I can answer most questions you have about it since I've been dealing with it in my flock for fourteen years. There is no vaccination, but healthy birds develop resistance to the virus, and almost never show symptoms.

There are precautions to take with hatching eggs from your flock and having a broody incubate and brood chicks which I've had to learn the heart breaking hard way. LL is both trickier to deal with but much less likely to affect healthy adult birds than Marek's.

Have you read my thread on my three pullets coming down with paralysis and how I treated them? https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...update-now-another-pullet-going-lame.1432738/ I made a chicken wheel chair that helped prolong quality of life for afflicted pullets. I euthanized when the pullet could no longer hold her head up to eat. I only tube feed to get a chicken through a crisis but not as a means of prolonging life.

 

[member 615286]

It really depends on which virus your flock is carrying. If it's Marek's, it's very simple. Just have new chicks or birds vaccinated for it, observe the two-week quarantine during which resistance is acquired, then introduce the vaccinated birds to the flock.

If it's leucosis that your flock carries, I can answer most questions you have about it since I've been dealing with it in my flock for fourteen years. There is no vaccination, but healthy birds develop resistance to the virus, and almost never show symptoms.

There are precautions to take with hatching eggs from your flock and having a broody incubate and brood chicks which I've had to learn the heart breaking hard way. LL is both trickier to deal with but much less likely to affect healthy adult birds than Marek's.

Have you read my thread on my three pullets coming down with paralysis and how I treated them? https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...update-now-another-pullet-going-lame.1432738/ I made a chicken wheel chair that helped prolong quality of life for afflicted pullets. I euthanized when the pullet could no longer hold her head up to eat. I only tube feed to get a chicken through a crisis but not as a means of prolonging life.

It is Mareks. The second is showing paralysis and will be put down. Leaving one.
I would not be surprised if she doesn’t show symptoms (but shouldn’t be a flock of one, I understand?).
If you have any thoughts for caring for her, thank you for sharing.

 

[mamajos]

@microchick has had Mareks in her flock for several years and has written about her journey with it. I may have it in mine-not positive yet, but pretty sure. Maybe she can answer some questions for you.

 

[microchick]

Thank you @mamajos.

I hate to plug my article but yes, I hope you read it and if you have any questions I'll be glad to answer them to the best of my ability.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/

One hen is going to be miserable. She may survive this outbreak for you. There is the thought that the older a bird is the less susceptible they are to Marek's disease. Young birds can show the first signs of infection at 9 weeks. My birds never showed symptoms of early infection with the exception of one 9 week old who developed paralysis in both legs.

I'll have to go back and read the thread but maybe if you can find an older bird or two that have been vaccinated you would be able to come up with some companionship for your remaining survivor. Bringing in vaccinated birds and finding local resistant birds frankly saved my flock along with my chicken hobby. I know there are people with the opinion that vaccination just causes new strains of MD to pop up but when it is your only option, you go with it and hope for the best.

 

[azygous]

A single hen can endure for a while as long as she receives attention. She would respond best to chicks and would have no problem accepting them. It's also easier to quarantine vaccinated baby chicks during the two week period it requires for them to build resistance to the virus.

Marek's vaccine doesn't immunize. It encourages the vaccinated birds to develop resistance. They can still become infected with the virus and can still pass it on to unvaccinated birds. They usually won't get sick, though.