Testing for mareks

[GitaBooks]

About a month and a half ago we had to euthanize a month old chick because of paralysis. I don't know what caused it, we buried her and did not have any tests done, but from what I hear the symptoms matched mareks.
I am planning on giving away some of my chickens but really don't want to infect others flocks. Where do I get diagnostic tests? How much does it cost? And how do I ship the bird?

I am going to use one of my old laying hens, who we were going to use for meat anyways, for the test. Will that be accurate? I'm not sure if she was vaccinated or not.

Thanks for any advise!

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! Your state veterinary path lab is the place to call, if you have one. There's a blood test at the Georgia state vet lab; I don't know how accurate it is. Check with the closest places first, and good luck. Mary

 

[GitaBooks]

Thanks.

 

[GitaBooks]

Do you think my flock of 62 has mareks if only one chick showed signs of paralysis? I really want the test so I can rehome some of my birds but I don't feel like I can do it in good conscience if I could be selling virus carriers.

We don't have any money to send them in for testing for another week or so. What is the chance my entire flock is truly infected?

 

[Folly's place]

I don't know, and hopefully it's not. Birds vaccinated as day-olds and isolated for two weeks or so shouldn't develop tumors. If your birds came from safe sources your chances are better too. The one neurological chick I had a few years ago tested negative for Marek's, and died of something else. Bad for her, and a big relief for me! Mary

 

[GitaBooks]

That makes me feel better. Thank you.