[Laine21]

Last year we hatched some eggs, (pekin bantams) only 3 hatched out of 12 and they were boys. No problem we thought, so we spoke to the breeder and she offered to send (at some extra cost) some young female growers. we ordered 6, unfortunately we quickly discovered her flock had Mareks. One bird died very quickly, followed by 2 others, then one of my beautiful boys became very ill, but pulled through only to die a few months later.

The other female birds stayed healthy although one is very small, and have now started to lay. My 2 beautiful boys are now fighting so we had to separate them before they killed each other. In the past they would have a little spat and then would calm down and get on, but this time its very different.

I want to get some more females, as one of my lovely boys is on his own, but as the birds we have are undoubtedly carriers of Mareks what are my choices?
We live not far from Merseyside and have rung a few breeders, but they dont vaccinate their flocks.
Laine

[joyfull]

most purebreeds will not be vaccinated as they will be bred by small suppliers so your best option is to get hybrids from a large supplier. Hope you manage to find some 

[SusieB]

I have the same problem, well almost.  My chickens have all now died; they may have had Marek's. 

My vet has suggested re-stocking with ex-batts, as they are vaccinated.  This would be great as I would really like to continue with rescue birds.  But I am worried that they may still succomb  due to their dodgy health.  Has anybody any experience of this?  The vet says the vaccine is only tested for 18 months, as this is what's needed for battery hens, but that it is likely that it lasts well passed this length of time.

Laine21, how were yours diagnosed, as I was only offered £150 post mortems, which, I was told were likely to be inconclusive?

[joyfull]

wow that post mortem was expensive - whenever I have had them done they have cost a lot less!!. They can be inconclusive as it depends on how long the bird has been dead usually they would prefer the bird live so that they can euthanase it.
Marek's will show up in a post mortem - depending on which type there will be lesions, thickening of the nerves and depigmantation and distortion of the pupil.
If you decide to get more hens thoroughly disinfect the coop and their run area, if you can move their area. Buy hybrids that have been vaccinated and from a reputable seller. Ex batts will be vaccinated and don't need to be more susceptible to Marek's than any other birds. However acute Marek's can affect any hen at around the age of 89 weeks and most exbatts are 72 weeks when you get them so please keep that in mind.   

[SusieB]

I spent a fortune on vets fees, anti-biotics, x-rays and they all, except one, still died.  Maybe that's why they put me off spending more money, when they might not find anything.  But I do really wish I knew for definite whether or not they had Marek's.

Are vaccinated birds covered for Acute Marek's?  My chickens were ex-batts and they did start getting ill, one at a time, from 3 months after I got them. 

Are you saying all birds can get the disease, but because ex-batts are older, they get sick soon after you get them?

Joyfull, thank you for your advice.

[joyfull]

all birds can get it at that age although it may not be common for them to do so and even if they did you may just think they have died of old age. Ex batts often die not long after getting them as they have had such a stressful life but at least they have had a short time of knowing how to behave like proper chickens and not machine. Sadly younger birds are prone to other versions of Mareks and even vaccinated birds can get it if the vaccine is not administered correctly - once opened it has to be used within 1 hour otherwise it is of no use. Grumpy Dad on this forum sadly lost his birds to Mareks and was left with one. These birds were all vaccinated (he had an autopsy to prove it was Mareks) and after a short while he introduced more hens of a breed that are supposed to be more resistant to Mareks. These birds all got it and died - the original survivor now proving to be a carrier. After a while he bought some hybrids (vaccinated and from a different supplier to his original vaccinated birds) and the outcome of this is that they are all happy and healthy and living together with his original hen. So please do not give up hope.
My rescues are vaccinated but they are the only ones that are and they all live happily together.

[SusieB]

I have found somebody, who appears very reputable, who vaccinates pure breeds, so 2 of them and 2 ex-batts I think.
Thanks Joyfull for your help, I shall clean the house thoroughly (wish it wasn't so cold and wet), remove the top layer of soil in the run and keep my fingers crossed.

[joyfull]

oh thats good news, so pleased for you - keep us posted with photo's as soon as you get them 

[Laine21]

I have the same problem, well almost.  My chickens have all now died; they may have had Marek's. 

My vet has suggested re-stocking with ex-batts, as they are vaccinated.  This would be great as I would really like to continue with rescue birds.  But I am worried that they may still succomb  due to their dodgy health.  Has anybody any experience of this?  The vet says the vaccine is only tested for 18 months, as this is what's needed for battery hens, but that it is likely that it lasts well passed this length of time.

Laine21, how were yours diagnosed, as I was only offered £150 post mortems, which, I was told were likely to be inconclusive?

I actually sent some video files to one of the government vets as well as a specialist poultry vet and they were in no doubt whatsoever it was Mareks. If you click on the images below the video files should play.

[SusieB]

The poor chicks, how sad.  Mine didn't have paralysis, a couple had growths, the others got poorly and died for no apparent reason.  I suppose this makes it harder to diagnose, as there could be many causes.

[SusieB]

And sorry Laine21, I appear to have hijacked your thread!

[joyfull]

yes the paralasis is a sign of Chronic Mareks which is encountered as a neural form   . For new birds all I can suggest you can do is shop around - you may have to travel quite a distance in order to find vaccinated stock and also I wouldn't breed from them using your cockerel as the chances are he will be a carrier and I am not sure if this can be passed down to the eggs - perhaps somebody with more knowledge will be able to advise on this or have a chat with your vet.

[Laine21]

yes the paralasis is a sign of Chronic Mareks which is encountered as a neural form   . For new birds all I can suggest you can do is shop around - you may have to travel quite a distance in order to find vaccinated stock and also I wouldn't breed from them using your cockerel as the chances are he will be a carrier and I am not sure if this can be passed down to the eggs - perhaps somebody with more knowledge will be able to advise on this or have a chat with your vet.

Mareks is fortunately not passed down through the egg, so the egg and any chick hatched in an incubator is safe............until they meet up with an infected bird.
I dont intend breeding, keeping them just for the eggs to eat. The boys we hatched from eggs and would not cull, they are lovely tame boys, just dont like each other at the moment. So I need to get a few more females so they have some each to nag them!
The boys are brilliant, they have looked after the little hens and will call them over when they find food and are very protective.  We have had 4 eggs this week, 2 went into a cake for my daughters birthday, one to an elderly neighbour, and I have just collected the 4th.
Laine

[joyfull]

I love having cockerels running with the girls they really do keep things in order  .
Good luck with getting new hens xx

[french bob]

Hi, I have just watched the video of a chicken with Mareks and now I know what was ailing one of my chucks. I had to put her down 2 weeks ago. I now think a second one is going the same way. I have a photo of one of the eggs laid by this chook.

I will post the same piccy to see if anyone has seen an egg like it from a diseased bird.