lillybettybabs Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Can four week old chicks that haven't been outside and still in brooder get this disease? I have a chick fell to it's left side a couple of times yesterday and today.It has been perching on top of the electric hen so it could have injured itself when getting down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstie Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Hi, Now please don't quote me on this but I was researching Mareks a couple of weeks ago as one of my 6 weeks old chicks suddenly went down with a bad limp, not moving about much and sitting - and not knowing anything about chicken diseases took him to the vets - who suggested Mareks. Not knowing anything I looked up what it was etc and read somewhere that if you chicken can breathe then it's been exposed to Mareks! And stress etc can trigger it to show up. We ended up dispatching my little man but I spoke to my sister in law (who is a vet nurse) after we had made the decision to cull him, and she said if vets arent sure whats wrong with a chicken and it's showing symptoms then they'll call it Mareks even if it's not - she had a chicken that was ill with a bad leg and the vets said it was Mareks but he got better (now I can't remember if it was an unknown illness (like Mareks or other) or if it was her cockerel with calcium deficiency) but they can get better (info on the internet said they die from starvation as they can't get to food and water) but they will always be a source of infection. I think reading up on the Internet made the decision harder for us as the symptoms were very similar but it wasn't necessarily Mareks - we didn't do a PM (he's buried in the garden) x I really sorry i don't think this has given you anymore info then you already had but I think Im trying to say - give yours a chance as they can get hurt or have other problems that aren't just Mareks and without culling and doing a PM you'll never know if it def was. If only there was a blood test so you could make the right decision xxx hope your chick gets better x and it is just a strain from chicks being chicks x Do take necessary precautions and buy some virkon s (as this apparently kills of the disease from housing etc) Kirstie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted September 6, 2011 Author Share Posted September 6, 2011 Thanks, I worry as it's my first batch of home hatch so not vaccinated, Wishing I'd got them done now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstie Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 How is your chick? If it Mareks he/she would, I think, get worse quickly? I am totally with you with the hatching at home and no vaccination. It was my first hatch and I'm so worried about them not being vaccinated so will be looking into it next time (oh I said next time ) Hope your chicks got/getting better x Kirstie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted September 9, 2011 Author Share Posted September 9, 2011 Fit as a fiddle,I get paranoid that they aren't vaccinated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstie Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 hooray xx that's brilliant news xx This chick hatching is stressful work! relax and enjoy them xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
