What do you do when marecks strikes?

[StephJShank]

I hatch on a small hobby wise scale- and sell chicks. It's a lot of fun.

Recently I purchased a small flock (9) of polish chickens from what seemed like a clean NPIP certified and vaccinated flock. They have been under extremely strict quarantine because I found they have lice and mites. I treated them with seven dust and was in the middle of waiting to dust again when one of the chickens died. It spent 12 hours lethargic, weak, and with a raspy exhale. It expired on the drive to the vet (symptoms started the evening before) the other chickens are normal.

Long story short, I sent the chicken for a necropsy, and to my absolute horror the lab said it had marecks. I asked the doc if it could be a false positive because the bird was vaccinated but they said no.

So are my only options close the flock and euthanize the other 8? They've been isolated but who knows if the wind didn't pick up dander. I am so scared for the rest of my flock, and feel sick bringing what seems tk be perfectly healthy chickens in to cull. I am also heartbroken I can no longer hobby hatch and sell.

 

[Kiki]

I'm so sorry.
Unfortunately the vaccine doesn't actually prevent the disease.

You don't necessarily need to euthanize the other eight because they have already exposed your flock so getting rid of them may or may not help.

 

[StephJShank]

I'm so sorry.
Unfortunately the vaccine doesn't actually prevent the disease.

You don't necessarily need to euthanize the other eight because they have already exposed your flock so getting rid of them may or may not help.

Am I correct in assuming I can no longer hatch and sell?

 

[Fluffy_Feathers]

Unfortunately the vaccine doesn't actually prevent the disease.

What does the vaccine do?

 

[StephJShank]

What does the vaccine do?

Its a leaky vaccine that serves a little protection to the chickens when they get marecks, makes their symptoms less catastrophic. They are still able to be infected and shed the virus

 

[Kiki]

What does the vaccine do?

Helps to prevent some of the deadly symptoms... sometimes.

 

[Kiki]

Am I correct in assuming I can no longer hatch and sell?

Some people do. I am not a fan of those people. I believe it is wrong.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Am I correct in assuming I can no longer hatch and sell?

Ethically I wouldn't. You're going to be selling infected chicks and possibly causing the same heartbreak

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

When you say that the infected birds have been strictly isolated, what do you mean? How strict are your own biosecurity measures? How long have you had the infected birds?

Under ideal circumstances it is possible your flock hasn't yet been exposed. But it would not be ethical for you to continue to hatch and sell birds unless you can confirm Marek's hasn't infected your flock.

In addition, did the seller claim that these birds were healthy and disease free, and/or that they were NPIP? I would look into if they were actually NPIP, so if they are claiming to have something that they do not the appropriate authorities can go after them. Also if they were acting in a fraudulent manner, you could take them to small claims court, especially if you can document whatever income you have lost, plus the value of birds you have to cull.