How long can Mareks affect my older chickens?

[roheryn]

Can they live with chickens? Or are they immune? We have lots of California Quail that roam our open space, so I think they would be nice to have some little guys

 

[Dough Hill]

If it was me I would start by Cleaning your coop throughly and pen and put your chickens somewhere else for awhile on your place and see if that helps let your coop and pen/run a rest. I do this every 5 years. I also rotate my flock every 3 years and hatch or buy baby chicks not from a box store if I can help. I never buy from someone else especially grown chickens I raise my own so I know what I have at all times been doing it like this for many years with minimal disease in my flock. I also try to raise a high Disease Tolerant chickens.

 

[Sussex19]

Can they live with chickens? Or are they immune? We have lots of California Quail that roam our open space, so I think they would be nice to have some little guys

I don't know much about quail, but this is a post by 007Sean with many disease that can be transferred between chickens and quail.
Mareks is not in the list, although I thought I might have read somewhere that they can get it if kept in close contact with infected chickens.

MG, Infectious Coryza, Infectious Bronchitis, NewCastle and a whole host of other respiratory infections/diseases. Aww, what the heck! Here ya go!

Avian Influenza​

Clinical signs of Avian Influenza include the following:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Rales
• Swelling of the face and/or wattles
• Bluish-purple discoloration of the face
• General diarrhea
• Red or white spots on the legs and comb
• Conjunctivitis

Fowl Pox​

Clinical signs of Fowlpox include the following:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Rales
• Gasping
• Discharge from the eyes
• Retarded growth
• Warts or scabs

Infectious Bronchitis​

Clinical signs of Infectious Bronchitis in chickens include the following:

• Rales
• Gasping
• Discharge from the eyes
• Discharge from the nose
• Reduced egg production
• Production of thin-shelled eggs

Quail Bronchitis​

Clinical signs of Quail Bronchitis in Bobwhite Quail include the following:

• Rales
• Sneezing
• Gasping
• Discharge from the eyes
• Inflammation of the eye
• Loose, watery diarrhea

ETA--** This is becoming more prevalent in Coturnix quail, where as they weren't affected by QB in the past.

Laryngotracheitis​

Clinical signs of Laryngotracheitis in chickens include the following:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Shaking head
• Rales
• Gasping
• Discharge from the eyes
• Discharge from the nose
• Swelling of the face and/or wattles
• Retarded growth
• General diarrhea
• Conjunctivitis
• Prostration

Newcastle Disease​

Clinical signs of Newcastle Disease include the following:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Shaking head
• Rales
• Gasping
• Discharge from the eyes
• Discharge from the nose
• Swelling of the face and/or wattles
• Bluish-purple discoloration of the face
• Retarded growth
• General diarrhea
• Green watery diarrhea
• Twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)
• Conjunctivitis
• Prostration

BACTERIAL INFECTIONS​

Antibiotics are available to combat bacterial infections. It is important to use the correct antibiotics at the correct dosage and for the prescribed period of time.

Infectious Coryza​

Clinical signs of Infectious Coryza in chickens include the following:

• Sneezing
• Shaking head
• Rales
• Discharge from the eyes
• Discharge from the nose
• Swelling of the face and/or wattles
• Retarded growth
• General diarrhea
• Conjunctivitis

Fowl Cholera​

Clinical signs of Fowl Cholera include the following:

• Darkened head
• Swollen head and wattles
• Paralysis
• Reduced egg production

Colibacillosis​

Clinical signs of Colibacillosis include the following:

• Failure to thrive
• Diarrhea
• Respiratory problems
• Lameness

Bordetellosis​

Clinical signs of Bordetellosis in turkeys, which usually manifest when birds are two to six weeks of age, include the following:

• Sneezing
• Open-mouthed breathing
• Swollen eyes

FUNGAL INFECTIONS​

Aspergillosis​

Clinical signs of Aspergillosis include the following:

• Gasping
• Bluish-purple discoloration of the face
• Paralysis
• Twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)

MYCOPLASMA INFECTIONS​

Mycoplasmas are bacteria that lack a cell wall.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum​

Clinical signs of infection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum include the following:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Shaking of the head
• Rales
• Gasping
• Discharge from the eyes
• Discharge from the nose
• Swelling of the face and/or wattles
• Retarded growth
• General diarrhea
• Prostration

Mycoplasma synoviae​

Clinical signs of infection by Mycoplasma synoviae include the following:

• Sneezing
• Shaking of the head
• Rales
• Discharge from the eyes
• Discharge from the nose
• Swelling of the face and/or wattles
• Retarded growth
• Lameness
• Green, watery diarrhea
• Swollen joints

Mycoplasma meleagridis​

Clinical signs of infection by Mycoplasma meleagridis include the following:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Rales
• Retarded growth
• Twisting of the head and neck (torticollis)

Need any more convincing that it isn't a good idea to raise/house quail with chickens or any other poultry for that matter! Almost all of the infections or diseases that chickens can have are transmittable to quail and other game birds.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can they live with chickens? Or are they immune? We have lots of California Quail that roam our open space, so I think they would be nice to have some little guys

No, I would not keep Quail with chickens.

 

[Perris]

Strangely, all my chicks were vaccinated, but somehow it still got in and destroyed my flock. I'm thinking of finding some Egyptian Fayoumi as it was mentioned they are more immune. My worry is bringing in new chicks (vaccinated) if they will just die like the others. We only have 2 hens now, and that is really not enough.

Thought I might try Virkon now even though the live birds are shedding dander. Maybe help to reduce the viral load... can't hurt I guess

Your two 4-5 years old have demonstrated their immunity or at least excellent resistance to Marek's. I would try to source a similarly robust roo, and hatch their eggs.

 

[bhaugh]

Can they live with chickens? Or are they immune? We have lots of California Quail that roam our open space, so I think they would be nice to have some little guys

Quail can be raised off the ground which may be beneficial to your situation and are not out free to be exposed to the dirt or areas the chickens have come in contact with. They will fly off if not contained.

 

[Stephine]

Just something to consider - all Mareks vaccines are not the same. Smaller hatcheries and breeders only have access to a less effective vaccine that is also very delicate and need to be handled just right. Large commercial hatcheries use a better vaccine - so it makes a difference what kind of vaccine for Mareks they got.