carriebain, Marek's is inevitable for all of us. If we have adult chickens who have not displayed symptoms, they are resistant. Certain strains are more resistant than others even within a breed - last year I lost every single one of the 25 Speckled Sussex I purchased from a breeder - absolutely stunning birds, it just about broke my heart.
Birds between the ages of 5 weeks and 5 months of age are the most susceptible. It is rare to have one survive once symptomatic. I have one that has survived and recovered, a RIR hen, thanks to my very DH who nursed her through it, and thanks also to the will to live this particular bird has - she started laying during recovery! She was also older than 5 months when she became symptomatic, so was physically more capable of fighting the virus. She is still not 100% so sleeps in the house at night, but she goes out to her own run every day, walks, and gets stronger and stronger. We think the reason she survived is that at her lowest point, we ground up grower crumble with my stick blender, mixed it with water to make a pretty runny paste, and started hand feeding her. Two days later she seemed to be a little perkier, and started eating her mush right from the container - she would eat a couple of ounces at a time. She also got Poly Vi Sol twice a day, 1 cc each time.
The harsh reality is, 99% are going to die no matter what you do. The survivors are rarely able to live normal lives. There is no way to avoid exposure, and my personal choice has been to raise a resistant flock, rather than vaccinate every single chick at hatch.
All that said, I am deeply sympathetic and strongly encourage you to hatch from your adult, healthy birds. Unless they came to you vaccinated, they are resistant.
Birds between the ages of 5 weeks and 5 months of age are the most susceptible. It is rare to have one survive once symptomatic. I have one that has survived and recovered, a RIR hen, thanks to my very DH who nursed her through it, and thanks also to the will to live this particular bird has - she started laying during recovery! She was also older than 5 months when she became symptomatic, so was physically more capable of fighting the virus. She is still not 100% so sleeps in the house at night, but she goes out to her own run every day, walks, and gets stronger and stronger. We think the reason she survived is that at her lowest point, we ground up grower crumble with my stick blender, mixed it with water to make a pretty runny paste, and started hand feeding her. Two days later she seemed to be a little perkier, and started eating her mush right from the container - she would eat a couple of ounces at a time. She also got Poly Vi Sol twice a day, 1 cc each time.
The harsh reality is, 99% are going to die no matter what you do. The survivors are rarely able to live normal lives. There is no way to avoid exposure, and my personal choice has been to raise a resistant flock, rather than vaccinate every single chick at hatch.
All that said, I am deeply sympathetic and strongly encourage you to hatch from your adult, healthy birds. Unless they came to you vaccinated, they are resistant.
I got some eggs today, thought I knew where they came from..now I'm not sure..no real return address on it..what? It says, Meryweather Northbridge..that's all....?? 
