So are my chickens basically considered untouchables?

[seeingreen]

My chickens aren’t vaccinated for Marek’s. I bought some from a local breeder and some from the feed-store as well as a chicken auction, which I can tell you is pretty fun to take part in. Sold a number of my excess roosters that way. I used to work at a feed store myself an none of the chicks coming through the doors were vaccinated from the hatcheries. But after reading other threads it sounds like Marek’s is so common it’s likely gone through my flock. I mean it sounds like Yonies in cattle. A waisting gut bacteria in 90% of the cattle herds. That’s nonecurable) Am I overstating this? Or is purchasing none vaccinated chicks basically sentencing them to Merak’s? With good conscience can I not sell their offspring if they never come into contact with the parents? What about all the chickens at auctions? They tell you to separate them for a bit and watch for Any pests or disease? .... but isn’t it likely they have Marek’s? Now my chickens are pretty healthy but I’ve lost some. Some of the smaller more delicate hens when they got mites. I’d treated them early on so I suspect there might have been some other factor. I never saw anything like they’re pupils not dilating and to be fair the breed though beautiful is known for being very inbred. ...but still how could I ever know for certain? ....and since they’re all adults I can’t remedy the situation.... Am I blowing this out of proportion?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mareks is a viral cancer. There are many strains, some worse than others. Vaccinated birds can still carry Mareks and spread it. Vaccinating doesn't guarantee a bird still won't get Mareks. Generally those not vaccinated either build immunity or they succumb. Bringing in birds from multiple sources ups your chances of bringing in the bad strains.

Mareks is considered everywhere. It spreads by feather dander, so it can blow in on the wind or be brought in by wild birds, or even on your shoes from those auctions.

I don't think 90% of cow herds have Johnes. It's more common in goats from what I've seen. In cattle it's fairly rare these days, but we have been out of cows for a few decades, so I could be wrong, so don't quote me.

Both are a management and husbandry issues to me. Keep a clean herd or flock, watch your sources of new stock, and cull sick animals to prevent the spread.

 

[seeingreen]

Thank you so much for answering! I have really been fretting about this!

I’m sure you are right about the cattle. I only heard it from a certain homesteading podcast. They may have overstated it a bit. I should have looked it up.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've had a few Mareks birds over the years. We cull as we see symptoms. We cull for most illness as chickens often don't fully recover, and if they do they become carriers. I keep a flock, not individual birds. People who keep a few pet birds will have a different philosophy, and different husbandry which should include a vet as an option.

Used to be farmers had around 30-100 cows. Now farms have 1000's, so it may be different now. When we farmed we never saw johnes. We never brought in any new stock either. Things may be different now, I'm not sure.

 

[coach723]

@seeingreen , if you lose a bird that you suspect may be Marek's then save the body (refrigerate, don't freeze) and send it in for necropsy. That will tell you for sure if that is an issue in your flock. Some Marek's strains are not as virulent (as previously stated) and losses are manageable. There are other things that can cause a slow wasting in birds, there really are many, many reasons birds die. When there are questions, then necropsy is the best way to get answers.
There is also debate about the Marek's vaccine, since it doesn't stop them getting the virus, it just stops the tumor formation it causes. So you can have vaccinated birds that are carriers and spreaders. Some feel that it's causing the virus to become worse. I'm not taking a side, just explaining the debate. So probably a good idea to do some reading on that to see how you feel about it all.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/tthis-chicken-vaccine-makes-virus-dangerous
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ding-for-resistance-to-mareks-disease.894589/
Necropsy resources:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...state-lab-website-info.1236884/#post-19849025