Vaccinated chicken died of Marek's

[Spots]

My chicks were vaccinated while being incubated (in the egg). Sadly, I just lost a 9 month old hen. She never laid eggs. She looked great until the lay days. I had no idea. Her necropsy confirmed advanced Marek's with lymphoproliferative disease in liver, kidneys and ova. Very sad.

Can this happen? What to do about others chickens (all 9 months)?

 

[Judy]

Sorry this happened to you.

I believe this can indeed happen, unfortunately, and that there is really nothing you can do about it beyond vaccination.However, I really know little about Marek's personally, except that it is a complex issue. Here are two links that will tell you a whole lot more than I know:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf

 

[seminolewind]

It just happened to me too. The hen was a year old and died. The pathologist called and stated it was Marek's and will send tissue to Texas. I don't know why she got it. She was hatchery vaccinated which is supposed to be the stronger vaccine. How sad!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

I'm sorry for your loss. Vaccines for Marek's Disease aren't always effective. In fact, even if they are effective, they only stop a severe case of the disease (such as paralysis of the wings). With your bird, the vaccine probably didn't work, thus, she died.