Mareks Disease.

[MoChara 1,632]

Yes that dreaded word! Never came across this before, until 2 weeks ago.

 

Hen showed symtoms of illness fluffed up standing still and temporary paralysis of legs. She died last Sunday.

 

Then another hen showed signs similar to her. Found her dead this morning.

 

I think my flock has an outbreak of mareks ffs!! Although the rest seem fine im not hopeful.

 

Anyone experience this horrible thing before?

 

Nicole.

[Moll. 1,770]

Mareks tends to rear it's ugly head at this time of year when birds are not at their fittest post moult and with the cold weather to contend with Mo.

Now you have it you will probably never be free from it unless you get rid of all housing and have a long break. You have to be free of all dander as it is carried in it. Some birds contract it, some dont, some die some are carriers.

Some people believe you can breed mareks resistant birds, how much of this is true i dont know. It may just be those people have carriers who have not shown the symptoms?

[MoChara 1,632]

Thanks moll. Its nice to see you back btw

 

It feels like a kick in the teeth, as of yet only symtoms/deaths have been my own June born chicks. The older birds seem ok atm. Ive my suspicion that the three eldest hens and rooster I took in a few weeks ago have brought this disease with them.

 

Devastated.

[off the tether 277]

mate save yourself a lot of time and maybe your birds instead of asking all the know it all chicken men on here myself included that will give you that many different answers you will wish you had never asked in the first place and still be no wiser go to google and write in sabong,mareks disease hope it helps

[MoChara 1,632]

Oh I have done. Been on a few different sites etc. At the end of the day the internets not going to solve the problem. But i Thought id give it a topic on here also to get other opinions on what other folks outcome was whos been in the situation and experienced it first hand. Especially seeing as its a good forum to bring light to a problem that will no doubt effect alot of poultry owners.

[off the tether 277]

just trying to help mate that's all, never to old to learn especially in the chicken game

[MoChara 1,632]

no wasnt being funny or nothing. Just stating was on for personal views not 'help' with my own chickens health etc.. thanks for your reply

[Moll. 1,770]

Mo, how very dare you ask people to share their experiences and knowledge on a forum instead of going on google...cos everything on google is real dont ye know

 

Mareks will take from 3 weeks of the bird being infected till the symptoms show, so if you had the new birds less than 3wks it probably isn't them.

[ghengis 4]

Hi mo,I came across it myself for the first time in years of keeping fowl,one of my hybrid hens sat a clutch of 10 eggs and 9 hatched,everything was going well until around 7 weeks old when i noticed 3 were lame and puffed up,I phoned a vet that I know who only deals with poultry,he called in at mine on his way home and said it was mareks,in his opinion the kindest thing to do was dispatch the ill ones and keep an eye on the rest,so far so good,I`ve had no more cases and the others are now 15 weeks old. You can get chicks vaccinated against mareks or go for a breed that doesn`t seem to get it eg:Marans or Sumatras. Sebrights and Barnevelders are very susceptible to mareks.

[MoChara 1,632]

Hi mo,I came across it myself for the first time in years of keeping fowl,one of my hybrid hens sat a clutch of 10 eggs and 9 hatched,everything was going well until around 7 weeks old when i noticed 3 were lame and puffed up,I phoned a vet that I know who only deals with poultry,he called in at mine on his way home and said it was mareks,in his opinion the kindest thing to do was dispatch the ill ones and keep an eye on the rest,so far so good,I`ve had no more cases and the others are now 15 weeks old. You can get chicks vaccinated against mareks or go for a breed that doesn`t seem to get it eg:Marans or Sumatras. Sebrights and Barnevelders are very susceptible to mareks.

 

thank you for the insight, as of yet the only other showing the usual signs is the eldest rooster, started with droopy wing and this afternoon noticed the temporary paralysis if legs so hes for it unfortunately. Its disheartening after rearing them but these things happen.

 

I heard that st johns wort can help with Mareks not cure it but ease symtoms enough to save the Bird.. heard of good success by doing this do I may try it.?? Id rather try something than sit and practically watch them succumb to it.

 

Thanks again. Nicole.

[Hardfeather 56]

Silkies are also a bad breed for mareks. I've not seen it since I was a lad but the pullets used to get it when they started laying, I guess it manifests itself through stress a bit?

[Moll. 1,770]

Mo, i dont think St Johns will help with tumours luv. Heartbreaking as it is i would just cull any birds showing signs immediately so as not to prolong their suffering, and to help prevent more dander spreading.