This chicken is not dead

[RoyalChick]

They are supposed to be 7 to 10 days old before being introduced. I've had a hen in the past take a 5 day old chick. I hope it works for you.
I'm sick of the heartbreak of having them die so I'm just going to let my flocks live until they die and that's it for me.
There are different types of Mereks, some worse than others, so maybe you'll have good luck. Do you know what type your's have?

I don’t know the type of Marek’s. Do you mean what strain? How did you find that out?
My thinking is that it is a tradeoff between time for the vaccine to take, and likelihood the hen will accept them.
This Australian study (which aligns with other similar studies) shows vaccine protection increases from day 2 to day 7 with no increase to day 10. At day 4 they were seeing 80% survival.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03079450701802230

I am very torn about whether this is the right thing to do. At 5 days she may reject them and I will still have some die of Marek’s. I know I will feel very guilty about that. But I am going to give it a go and hope for the best.

 

[RoyalChick]

Day one of my very first Batch of Chicks, and I was sure Chickens didn't sleep on their Faces.

I would have freaked out!

 

[Chickenpoonumber2]

Day one of my very first Batch of Chicks, and I was sure Chickens didn't sleep on their Faces.

I poked mine sooooo many times in the brooder! I'd walk by and it just looked like all 6 had died in various states of still doing things. A few in a pile under the lamp, one by the food, a few here and there....

 

[janiedoe]

Day one of my very first Batch of Chicks, and I was sure Chickens didn't sleep on their Faces.

How old are they now? I'll bet that one has a big personality.

 

[janiedoe]

Eating is exhausting
View attachment 4178722
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A little cutie!

 

[janiedoe]

I don’t know the type of Marek’s. Do you mean what strain? How did you find that out?
My thinking is that it is a tradeoff between time for the vaccine to take, and likelihood the hen will accept them.
This Australian study (which aligns with other similar studies) shows vaccine protection increases from day 2 to day 7 with no increase to day 10. At day 4 they were seeing 80% survival.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03079450701802230

I am very torn about whether this is the right thing to do. At 5 days she may reject them and I will still have some die of Marek’s. I know I will feel very guilty about that. But I am going to give it a go and hope for the best.

I took my last ill one to the vet. She was euthanized and they sent her body for testing. The strains diagnosed were based on tumor growth and symptoms. I know that many people have mereks in their flock and symptoms are light. Some don't lose any flock members.
I hope everything works out and your broody will take the older chicks.

 

[N F C]

Day one of my very first Batch of Chicks, and I was sure Chickens didn't sleep on their Faces.

Chicks are so cute when they do that face plant thing