4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[nannyhenny]

I've just had a hen put down with suspected Marek's Disease. She lost the use of one wing first of all and then both wings and her legs within about 8 days. It can't be certainly diagnosed without a post-mortem so we're waiting for that result at the moment but I'm behaving as if it has been confirmed to give the other hens a better chance of avoiding it. Hoping they will be immune - most hens are, apparently.

I've had a bit of a crash course on this nasty virus and wondered if it might be useful to share the info. I found out;

- Vaccination doesn't provide full protection - a vaccinated chicken can still get the disease.

- It is a virus and spreads via feather dander, the wind, shoes, clothing, ground and direct contact. Pretty well everything, really. If you are in contact with any other flocks, e.g a neighbour's, use a shoe bath of Virkon S before you move from one to the other.

- Incubation is from 4 to 12 weeks so don't assume the other hens are ok too soon

- Poultry Shield and Nettex Ground Sanitiser are no protection against it. You will need a virucide. The easiest ones to use, I think, are Virkon S, which is the most environmentally safe one and can be bought in easy to use tablets. Use this to spray hard surfaces and the inside of coops etc. Then use Stalosan F powder for ground and run cleaning (or in bedding etc. - smells nice, too) These are both anti-bac and disinfectant as well so will do the whole job and can be used routinely as a precaution. Both are perfectly safe for the hens. As a bonus, Virkon is very good at cleaning poo and mud from things like roosting bars.

- If you suspect Marek's, isolate the hen and be prepared to have her put down. It can arrive despite all precautions!

[Luvachicken]

Sorry you have lost a hen to suspected Marek's disease.

It sounds like a difficult thing to keep away.

I hope your other girls stay Marek free.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[The Dogmother]

Disinfecting will ease your mind,but the virus is a herpes virus, and will always be there in the background of any flock. Just keep your hens healthy and stress free, and they will be less likely to succumb, it isn't a nice death, so I would cull any bird which I suspected of having it. That said, I have only ever had two cases.