To cull or not to cull???

[kylieschooks]

Mareks typically only affects young birds so the best thing you could do is not bring in any new young birds. Mareks is not transferable through eggs so when/if you get new chicks you will want them vaccinated for Mareks and you will want to quarantine the chicks away from the other birds for atleast 6 weeks. As for your current birds they should be fine. They are probably carriers for Mareks but they will not show symptoms unless put under heavy stress. You did the right thing culling the sick bird now just continue to care for your birds in a good manner like you have been and try not to worry to much. A [COLOR=333333]necropsy is obviously a very good idea as well.[/COLOR]

Just got 2 new young pullets (16 weeks) few days ago :-( paid a fortune for them as well, blue egg layers :-( so they got no hope then???

:-(

 

[kylieschooks]

The

Mareks typically only affects young birds so the best thing you could do is not bring in any new young birds. Mareks is not transferable through eggs so when/if you get new chicks you will want them vaccinated for Mareks and you will want to quarantine the chicks away from the other birds for atleast 6 weeks. As for your current birds they should be fine. They are probably carriers for Mareks but they will not show symptoms unless put under heavy stress. You did the right thing culling the sick bird now just continue to care for your birds in a good manner like you have been and try not to worry to much. A [COLOR=333333]necropsy is obviously a very good idea as well.[/COLOR]

They are all pullets, so does this mean they are all at risk?

 

[DonnerSurvivor]

The
They are all pullets, so does this mean they are all at risk?

I think you are worrying to much. At this point you just need to give you flock good care and hope for the best. By 16 weeks old im guessing they will be fine. Mareks typically affects chicks from 2-16 weeks old as most older birds can develop antibodies and keep it in check. There is also a good chance your new birds were vaccinated as any future birds you get should be (if you get them as chicks).

 

[seminolewind]

Yea
Quote:
No, a bubbly or infected eye is not a symptom. The eye symptoms are eye turning gray, a pupil that isn't round, or some variance of those.