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Mareks

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Husker2055:
Hello to everyone!

I'd like to get folks thoughts on Mareks disease. I'd like to know if anyone has experienced it or maybe know someone that has and what steps they taken or took to rid themselves of this problem. All input will be appreciated . If you don't want to post please feel free to contact me at 918-577-8803 or my email -bcs74450@yahoo.com .  Thank you

HarryS:
Brad,  I personally do not vaccinate.  I would prefer to breed genetically to eliminate any susceptibility to any condition or disease.

Husker2055:
Thank you very much for your input .

Birdcrazy:
Brad, If you have Mareks you will know. Symptoms are either dragging a leg or droopy dragging wings. Birds usually only live 1-3 days after signs of the disease and nothing you can do will save the bird. There is another form of Mareks which effect the eyes. Mareks disease is highly contagious with losses in the 35-75% range. The best thing you can do if it is in part of your flock, quarantine them and get them away from the rest of your flock. Let it run it's course, cremate or dispose of dead birds and hope for survivors. As Harry said there is thought on the subject that some birds are natural immune to Mareks. This could account for why some survive and other birds in the flock never show symptoms or die. In my case I bought 40 chicks one spring, after 3-4 months I started seeing symptoms and dead birds. I had no clue what was going on until I did some investigating and research. Unfortunately my case resulted in the 75% range of losses. I did have sense enough to quarantine the bought chicks from my other birds which helped immensely cutting losses in my flock of breeders and show birds. I did see a pattern on deaths from Mareks. Hardest hit were the Ameraucana bantams followed by Old English Bantams, LF Ameraucana, then my Wyandotte bantams being the least effected. Perhaps this was due to natural immunity.

I did not vaccinate any birds that year, just let it run it's course and quarantine heavily and dispose of dead birds. The next 3 years I vaccinated all my day old chicks (no adult birds) and had close to 100% no losses. I got brave 2 years ago and did not vaccinate my last hatching for a test. Results were no birds showing signs of Mareks. Last year I did not vaccinate any at all and did not have any birds getting Mareks. In doing research on Mareks I did come across one article where the person experiencing Mareks thought going over a winter kill cycle would stop the issue. The expert writing the article said Mareks can stay in the soil and rebound no matter the weather conditions for over a year and a half. That was one reason I started vaccinating chicks and hope those that did not die had natural immunity(adult birds). That has been my experience with Mareks and I would not wish it on anyone. It is horrible watching 100% of birds die that show symptoms and nothing you can do to save those birds. Living on the edge hoping it doesn't spread to your breeding and show birds.

Husker2055:
Thank you Birdcrazy .  I appreciate your input . We think we possibly could have it . Not 100% sure . Sounds to me like if someone did have it  vaccinating  chicks would  definitely pay off . Also I would think if a person wanted to that they could cull the breeder birds , as heart breaking as it is , and start over after a few years time . Again I appreciate your thoughts on the matter .

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