tacosta1009
Songster
- Feb 17, 2020
- 54
- 61
- 101
Hi, all.
I just needed to share my situation with people who will understand. I've been keeping chickens for 1.5 years, not long. The learning curve at times has been steep, and so has the joy!
As we speak, I believe I may have made the mistake of introducing a rooster with Marek's to my flock. I did everything I knew to do, except not bring in a new chicken to my established flock. I quarantined him for 60 days, ran fecals on him, and even took him to the vet before I began to integrate him. Then one week later one of my hens started stumbling around and walking like she was drunk. I isolated her and called the local extension office, who, of course, are suspecting Marek's. Today I noticed another one of my hens has a wing that's slightly drooping, and she had a hard time getting up the stairs into the coop tonight.
Tomorrow a member of the local poultry lab is coming to pick up the originally symptomatic bird. Unfortunately, she will be put down and tested for Marek's.
I'm devastated. I love my flock and have worked so hard to see them thrive, enjoy their little lives, and stay healthy. I am beating myself up for bringing in a rooster that wasn't 100% to begin with (he was swarming with mites and had coccidiosis). I just can't imagine watching one bird at a time go down.
Just needed to share...
So heartbroken.
I just needed to share my situation with people who will understand. I've been keeping chickens for 1.5 years, not long. The learning curve at times has been steep, and so has the joy!
As we speak, I believe I may have made the mistake of introducing a rooster with Marek's to my flock. I did everything I knew to do, except not bring in a new chicken to my established flock. I quarantined him for 60 days, ran fecals on him, and even took him to the vet before I began to integrate him. Then one week later one of my hens started stumbling around and walking like she was drunk. I isolated her and called the local extension office, who, of course, are suspecting Marek's. Today I noticed another one of my hens has a wing that's slightly drooping, and she had a hard time getting up the stairs into the coop tonight.
Tomorrow a member of the local poultry lab is coming to pick up the originally symptomatic bird. Unfortunately, she will be put down and tested for Marek's.
I'm devastated. I love my flock and have worked so hard to see them thrive, enjoy their little lives, and stay healthy. I am beating myself up for bringing in a rooster that wasn't 100% to begin with (he was swarming with mites and had coccidiosis). I just can't imagine watching one bird at a time go down.
Just needed to share...
So heartbroken.