what would you do? a merek's question...

[maranda]

Out of my little backyard flock, I only have 2 birds left, 1 is being euthanized today all due to mereks. So, I have 1 easter egger left. She is a day over 25 weeks and seems in good health. My question is, should I euthanize her also? Should I wait and see if she develops symptoms? Can a hen live on her own? We are considered getting a couple ducks after we get the coop set up for it..probably not for a couple weeks. I loved my girls....they were pets. I am so very sad about all of this

 

[Eggcessive]

I do not see any reason to put her down if she has no symptoms of Mareks. You could always get another chicken or two who have previously been vaccinated for Mareks for company, or just keep her with the new ducks. Sorry that you have been dealing with this.

 

[townchicks]

I know what I would do. I would keep her and try to find a chicken friend that needs a home. That doesn't mean that would be the right thing for you. Only you can decide if you want to deal with the heartbreak of seeing another bird go down from Mareck's or deal with the sadness and guilt of letting her go now. I say guilt, because it is possible she could have a normal life, and it is a hard call to cull her w/o knowing. If you keep her, and get another hen, and then she sickens, you are stuck again with a lone and lonely hen, that has been exposed to mareck's, and any more you get will also be. If you cull her now, then after a period of time, you could start fresh. Only you can decide how much you can take.

 

[Eggcessive]

Check your state threads in California just to see if anyone is downsizing their flock for fall, which a lot of breeders do to keep from feeding a lot of extra chickens. Explain that you need one or two, preferably vaccinated for Mareks. Are you getting Mareks testing done in addition to your necropsy on the one who was sent to the state vet? Have youhad a positive Mareks test yet on any others?
Here is a link to find your California state threads:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?query=california threads&tab=618

 

[Kylo_Hen!]

call the vet

 

[maranda]

Thank you for the advice everyone. I decided to keep her and see how it goes. I will start asking around about bringing a healthy friend home for her

 

[Eggcessive]

@casportpony and @ronott1 I think are both from CA, and might know of birds.

 

[lena_]

Good luck! Mareks is an awful disease, I so sorry for the loss of your birds. I really hope you can find her a healthy friend(or two, or three )

 

[townchicks]

Glad you are going to keep her. Good luck with all of it. Here's hoping she stays healthy. She might be one of the lucky ones.