Specific Questions about relocating and Marek's

[BlossomSilkies]

Although it has never been officially confirmed, I am quite sure that my current property has Mareks. For that reason, I don't take chickens that haven't been vax'd and I vax all chicks hatched here.

That being said. . .We are relocating to Indiana. I am not taking my current flock with us. Here are my questions:

1. Are my chickens a danger to other chickens? Thinking about when I rehome them, is doing so going to cause the new owners to become a Mareks property and/or can their un-vax'd flock be infected by my vax'd flock?

2. Do I need to worry about bringing Marek's with us when we move? I will not be bringing any flock supplies (feeders, etc) with us.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Bumping

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm not experienced with having Mareks, but if you are certain you have it on your property, I would think that your chickens could in fact carry it to another unvaccinated flock. Supposedly it is everywhere in the dust and dirt on affected farms. I would make sure they went to a place with only vaccinated birds. As for taking it with you, unless you are moving a coop, probably not.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Thank you for the reply

 

[mithious]

Hi, yes your flock can and will, if they do have mareks, infect another flock. The only way to rehome them would be to another mareks infected flock.

Yes, it is possible for you to bring it with you. Mareks is spread by the dander of the chicken, and lives a long long time. To my knowledge, Oxine is the only tried and true chemical that can possibly eradicate mareks, so your house has mareks in it, as you have been taking care of your birds, you have tracked in into your house. That being said...the chances are a bit lower for you to transfer it, but there is still a chance. For instance, a wild bird flying by, dropping dander can infect the land. See my point?

If you are trying to outrun mareks, if it were me, I'd be doing an awful lot of cleaning before moving, in the hopes that I wasn't bringing it along for the ride.

I hope you can find a farm that already has mareks that is willing to take on your birds. It would be best to cull them and not take a chance on spreading the disease, but atleast tell the other farm, flock owner that they have mareks and let them decide whether they want to take the chance! Glad you are asking the questions! Best of luck to you and with the move!

If you would like some more info from people that have it and are dealing with it now, try the thread, mareks in flock, not an emergency....lots of people there that can help guide you through this and support too!

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Blah! I certainly do not want to have to continue to deal with this issue when we move. I guess I could oxine everything on the way into the boxes and moving truck. I don't even know what oxine is, but I'll look it up.

I am going to consider culling this flock rather than risk putting someone else's birds and property in harms way. Would sure have been nice if I were shown the same consideration when the bird arrived that infected my land and flock. This just gets better and better.

Thank you for your reply, it was very helpful to me.

 

[mithious]

Blah! I certainly do not want to have to continue to deal with this issue when we move. I guess I could oxine everything on the way into the boxes and moving truck. I don't even know what oxine is, but I'll look it up.

I am going to consider culling this flock rather than risk putting someone else's birds and property in harms way. Would sure have been nice if I were shown the same consideration when the bird arrived that infected my land and flock. This just gets better and better.

Thank you for your reply, it was very helpful to me.

You are welcome KristyAz. Sorry to have to give such bad news though. Just some info I have read, Oxine, kinda expensive, can be vaporized onto the stuff you are moving...I think, memory not so great sorry, that there is a machine, that is similar to a vaporizer...some people that show birds use it on their birds at shows to try to keep them from picking up unwanted things and bringing them back home...and since it is supposed to eradicate mareks from the land..not sure how? I would think it would get it out of your stuff also.

I saw you popped over to that thread...yes, people are still active on there...I know some are pretty busy with dealing with mareks and such, but they will get back to you, so hold tight as I KNOW they can give you more info than I can!

I know, right? I can't tell you how many people there, out in this world, that have the mentality of, no not my flock, or they have a vaccinated flock, full of carriers, don't know, and inadvertently pass it on...unfortunately, there are far too many, " not in my flock" kinda people! I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. It is a fear I too have. I have read a lot of that thread, and read about the dreams that people had, just destroyed by mareks! Whole flocks culled...some really large. I think you are doing the right thing by culling and applaud your decision to not pass it on to another chicken keeper!

Best of luck with the move and all.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Thank you for the kind words

 

[mithious]

Thank you for the kind words

right back atcha!