Too many roosters in a flock that has been exposed to Marek’s

[SaraBrook]

I have some really gorgeous roosters and too many of them. I have a beautiful Chilean Araucana who has not been getting along with my Ayam Cemani And I also have two beautiful best buddy lavender Orpingtons who have turned out to be male, A black silkie rooster and two seramas! My problem though is that I’ve had two chickens die of Marek’s disease in my flock in the past year so I know that the virus has been here and even though everyone else is healthy, I’ve been told I should consider my flock a “Marek’s flock.” With my rooster to hen ratio all off, how could I rehome these roosters? We love them like family pets so I would only want the best for them. I’m not sure what to do!
any advice would be appreciated.

 

[bobbi-j]

How about a bachelor coop? Do you have the room and resources for one?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have some really gorgeous roosters and too many of them. I have a beautiful Chilean Araucana who has not been getting along with my Ayam Cemani And I also have two beautiful best buddy lavender Orpingtons who have turned out to be male, A black silkie rooster and two seramas! My problem though is that I’ve had two chickens die of Marek’s disease in my flock in the past year so I know that the virus has been here and even though everyone else is healthy, I’ve been told I should consider my flock a “Marek’s flock.” With my rooster to hen ratio all off, how could I rehome these roosters? We love them like family pets so I would only want the best for them. I’m not sure what to do!
any advice would be appreciated.

People are SO misinformed about Marek's..

According to my state poultry vet.. Marek's is UBIQUITOUS..

ubiquitous
[ yoo-bik-wi-tuhs ]SHOW IPA
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ubiquitous ON THESAURUS.COM
adjective
existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent:ubiquitous fog;

Guess what that means.. WE ALL HAVE MAREK'S FLOCKS!!!!

Even those of us who thought or HOPED we were desolate enough to somehow not face what the rest of the world does.

I broke down and sent in a bird and got my confirmation too.. The state vet suggested that I vaccinate all future birds!

I refuse to support big pharma OR allow Marek's to keep HIDING and possibly mutating into stronger strains.. among vaccinated birds..

They aren't welcome here.. PERIOD.. crud has gotten real for the first time this year.. after 10+ years of keeping birds.. The rubber meets the road!

I personally think vaccinated birds is the irresponsible choice for those who are actively breeding..

The opposite of the many who think a "diagnosed" flock should never sell or rehome birds... Uh.. my state vet says ALL flocks ARE diagnosed!

Please note.. that sometimes.. a quick and painless death.. IS the best for a loved one.. even a pet.. No shame in letting them feed someone else's family.. if done so responsibly. Those of us who do harvest our birds do so with peace and not malice in our hearts.. It's hard knowing something dies for us to live.. we still respect life!

Even though I eat all of my boys (including bantam Silkies) and some of the ladies eventually.. I do keep a stag pen.. as boys usually mature sooner than ladies. This is very doable but not without challenges of it's own.

There was ONE gene identified that gives natural resistance to Marek's. No way to know for sure if your birds have that gene or not.. BUT.. the more folks get educated.. the more may be willing to breed towards resistance.. and keep those stronger exposed birds in their flocks..

Marek's is NOT even considered re-portable or a threat to our national food supply chain.. unlike things such as Salmonella or New Castle's disease virus.. As much as Marek's sucks.. and hurts those who face loss from it.. it's not the scary monster it's fear mongered to be.

Yes, I'm offering my birds WITH full disclosure.. Those in the know are all in.. Those who cannot accept a death.. should consider getting only vaccinated birds.. while still knowing there birds are only HIDING the symptoms of the disease they choose to allow to proliferate undetected and NOT actually keeping their birds OR anyone else's from contracting the virus..

Sorry there is no perfect answer. Best wishes with whichever route you go!

 

[Folly's place]

We do NOT all have Marek's disease in our flocks!!!
Rehoming infected birds is irresponsible, and of course will spread this disease, and is just not acceptable. Have a bachelor flock, or dinner, don't send these birds out elsewhere.
Mary

 

[SaraBrook]

Thank you for all the answers I think we’re going try to work out a bachelor pad for them. They free range on 2 acres during the day so, We will need to figure that out but that seems like the answer that would work best for us. But for the bachelor pad itself, we just need to find a great location, a leather perch, a TV that plays cockfights and some posters of hens wearing bikinis

 

[centrarchid]

Marek's mess I deal with only shows itself sporadically and only in the fall. I think is comes in with migratory songbirds. It may cause what appears to be wry tail as well. Those effected birds survive and reproduce fine. Those that get down even for a couple days, even if they eventually get back up have greatly reduced reproductive output and have not leaved a year past when health issues noted. In my setting it clearly has a genetic component. Birds not getting it are likely resistant.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We do NOT all have Marek's disease in our flocks!!!

I knew what I was posting would be refuted by many.. who I respect, and somewhat controversial to say the least. You did great expressing your disagreement with no ugliness towards me, thank you!

I see this article is updated often and it's a fantastic resource for information for those who may not have seen it already. The author, one of our very own BYCer's doesn't agree with my take completely and that's okay, they've still presented a wealth of resourceful knowledge in an easy to comprehend manner.. For many things, experience is the mother of all teachers...
Marek's Virus FAQ

OP.. good luck with your bachelor pen.. we might all have to come hang out there, once you've got all their described amenities in place!