Whether to get more chickens as companions to a hen dying of Marek’s

[Chasiubao]

We started with 4 pullets, but 2 died (one of cocci but we later discovered had Marek’s, the 2nd has paralysis from Marek’s so we put her down).

Of the other 2 we have, one has a limp and generally hasn’t matured very fast. The other has a large tumor on her chest confirmed to be a lymphoma (probably related to Marek’s). They are acting normal for now, but the vet said when their health starts to take a downturn to bring them in to say goodbye. At this point it’s hard to say how much time either hen has, and it feels strange to put them down at the same time if one could live a few months longer.

We are concerned for when one dies, if the other will be lonely. If we should add more Marek-vaccinated hens to our flock, or if that’s a death sentence to our new flock members. Or adds more potential danger to our already compromised hen.

Has anyone else been in this situation? What did you do?

 

[Beau plus penny]

We started with 4 pullets, but 2 died (one of cocci but we later discovered had Marek’s, the 2nd has paralysis from Marek’s so we put her down).

Of the other 2 we have, one has a limp and generally hasn’t matured very fast. The other has a large tumor on her chest confirmed to be a lymphoma (probably related to Marek’s). They are acting normal for now, but the vet said when their health starts to take a downturn to bring them in to say goodbye. At this point it’s hard to say how much time either hen has, and it feels strange to put them down at the same time if one could live a few months longer.

We are concerned for when one dies, if the other will be lonely. If we should add more Marek-vaccinated hens to our flock, or if that’s a death sentence to our new flock members. Or adds more potential danger to our already compromised hen.

Has anyone else been in this situation? What did you do?

For me my chickens are my babies so i would definitely give her companions to make this moments more enjoyable as she is nearing the end if you are super attached your hen i would make sure to make these last moments special.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not add a companion. The new one would also get Mareks and be a carrier for life. Was Mareks confirmed with testing after a necropsy? Sorry about your chicken. Perhaps you could put a mirror in with her, and spend some time with her daily.

 

[Chasiubao]

Yes the first two who died had necropsies confirming Marek’s. As far as I know it’s extremely hard to rid Marek’s once you have it. We would absolutely clean the coop and run, but the chickens have been all over the yard so I don’t see how we could sanitize it.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Yes the first two who died had necropsies confirming Marek’s. As far as I know it’s extremely hard to rid Marek’s once you have it. We would absolutely clean the coop and run, but the chickens have been all over the yard so I don’t see how we could sanitize it.

I agree with @Eggcessive. Any new ones you add can and will get it, even if they're vaccinated. (Being vaccinated against it doesn't stop them from getting it, it only hides the symptoms. Some case will show symptoms and may have it worse.) As far as getting rid of the disease, you should quarantine the coop for seven years. (I don't know if bleaching the coop would help kill off the disease, but maybe.) If you want chickens before that, you could build a new coop in a part of the yard that the chickens didn't go to much, and maybe scratch the top layer of dirt off to clean the area. (I still think a quarantine time would be ideal, even if it's for a year.)

From what I read in your first post, it sounds like both are already showing symptoms. Personally, I think when you bring in one, then you ought to bring in the other. Even if the other isn't as bad, the stress of being alone will most likely worsen its symptoms, as will adding new flock mates. If you did add some vaccinated flock mates (which again, the stress they'll cause will increase the survivors' symptoms), I highly recommend keeping them as a closed flock and for life, whether or not they ever show symptoms themselves because they'll be carriers.

 

[chickengr]

We started with 4 pullets, but 2 died (one of cocci but we later discovered had Marek’s, the 2nd has paralysis from Marek’s so we put her down).

Of the other 2 we have, one has a limp and generally hasn’t matured very fast. The other has a large tumor on her chest confirmed to be a lymphoma (probably related to Marek’s). They are acting normal for now, but the vet said when their health starts to take a downturn to bring them in to say goodbye. At this point it’s hard to say how much time either hen has, and it feels strange to put them down at the same time if one could live a few months longer.

We are concerned for when one dies, if the other will be lonely. If we should add more Marek-vaccinated hens to our flock, or if that’s a death sentence to our new flock members. Or adds more potential danger to our already compromised hen.

Has anyone else been in this situation? What did you do?

as far as I know only egyptian fayoumis are resistant to Marek's and many other diseases. if you can get 2 pullets so when one day your sick bird dies you will have 2 chickens left.

 

[WingItRanch]

I personally wouldn't add any more to your flock. You would just be getting more chickens sick (vaccine doesn't prevent Mareks). Also, adding any new chickens will cause undue stress to your current hens. The intigration may actually cause them to go downhill even more from stress and if they're exhibiting signs of illness, the new chickens will detect that and may bully your original ones.

Do what you feel is right. I personally would put them both down if they're quality of life is affected by the disease. I also second the suggestion of not bringing in any new flock until you can eradicate the disease in your coop and soil.

I'm sorry you're going through this.

 

[NetherLeeFarm]

Hey there. So sorry that you're dealing with this! If you have two left and both are showing symptoms, although I know that it's hard (I really do know - I've been through a very similar situation as you), I agree that both should be put down at the same time. The stress of being a solo chicken isn't kind to her, and she's already likely suffering anyway.

But you can start over fairly quickly, which does help with the grieving process. Marek's is endemic which means many of us likely already have it in our flock or at least on our property and don't know it. Why some chickens develop the lesions with it and some don't is still not fully understood. It could be stress, genetics, or a combination of several factors.

After these ladies are no longer with you, I'd go ahead and do a good clean out and disinfect as much as possible. Doing so greatly reduces the virus load and any new hen's exposure. Afterward, only bring in vaccinated chicks or hens from here on out.

You'll need to give newly vaccinated chicks several weeks in quarantine to build up resistance before adding them to the coop, but this is easy to do in a sterilized brooder that's separated from the coop.

Many of us have rebuilt our flocks after Marak's with great success. I think there's an article here that someone wrote about their success after Marak's but for some odd reason my search isn't working at the moment. If I find it, I'll try to remember to come back and share it here.

 

[NetherLeeFarm]

I personally wouldn't add any more to your flock. You would just be getting more chickens sick (vaccine doesn't prevent Mareks).

This is sort of correct - the vaccine doesn't prevent chickens from contracting and transmitting the virus, but it does prevent a hen from reacting to the virus and getting sick. Correctly vaccinated chickens can live a long, healthy life even on a Marak's positive property.

 

[WingItRanch]

This is sort of correct - the vaccine doesn't prevent chickens from contracting and transmitting the virus, but it does prevent a hen from reacting to the virus and getting sick. Correctly vaccinated chickens can live a long, healthy life even on a Marak's positive property.

I could be wrong but I don't believe the vaccine guarantees there will be no symptoms. It just drastically reduces the chance of symptoms such as tumors.