DebMorgan65 Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 I had 3 Gingernut Rangers from Omlet. They were about 2 1/2 years old this past summer when one developed symptoms consistent with Marek's Disease (limping then paralysis, blindness, weight loss, diarrhea). We had her pts; the necropsy did not determine cause of death (our vet can only do a gross necropsy, rather than a microscopic one) but the vet agreed it appeared to be MD. A second hen became sick while I was still still nursing the one with MD. She was fine in the morning, sounded very congested in the late afternoon, and was dead in the coop by the next morning. The third hen is still (apparently) healthy, and laying normally. Question: I would love to get new hens in the spring. By that time it will be 7-8 months since the other two hens died. I will have to house them with the third hen. Is it safe to introduce new birds at that time, or do I need to be concerned that my older hen is a carrier for MD and will infect the new girls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted December 3, 2011 Share Posted December 3, 2011 Sorry to hear about the problems you have been having, and the loss of your hens. I am no expert, but I would have thought that your girls might have been a bit too old for Marek's to be the cause of their deaths. One of my 12 month old bantams was exhibiting what I thought were signs of Marek's, but when I took her to my avian specialist vet he said that Marek's was near the bottom of his list of possible diagnoses in view of her age. He eventually diagnosed a brain tumour or stroke as the problem, and she was PTS. Your girls' symptoms sound different too - did the vet do a PM on the second girl? Difficult to advise about introducing new girls without knowing for sure one way or the other about Marek's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Forgot to say that Omlet Gingernuts have been fully vaccinated, which makes it unlikely though not impossible that Marek's is responsible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 The situation re Omlet hens and vaccinations in the US may be different to here. However, I'd say that 2 1/2 years is pretty good going for a ginger hybrid, and the symptoms and demise don't sound all that sinister to me, in view of their age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I agree with Egluntyne. IF it was Marek's, then it is in the background of most flocks (it's a lurking herpes virus) and only really rears its head when hen is poorly, elderly or going through a particularly bad moult. It will always be there so you will need to be careful to avoid any stress amongst your new flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
