Chicken Unable to Balance/Walk Around Normally

[NoRoomForGhosts]

Sorry about the Mareks. We cull as necessary. Those showing symptoms are actively shedding the virus so we remove them. Those that are healthy are fine and probably will remain fine. I don't vaccinate either. Most should develop an immunity to it.

My experiences with the tractor supply was too many roosters and a couple of Mareks birds. I don't buy from tractor supply anymore. Not saying their birds have Mareks, but they seemed more susceptible, perhaps from the extra stress of the store.

I will sometimes get one in a batch each year that becomes symptomatic. There are different strains of Mareks, with some being more deadly than others, so I wouldn't necessarily panic. See how it goes. If the rest remain fine, than I would expect it to possibly show up here and there with new young birds. If they all come down with it than culling and only getting vaccinated birds is the way to go.

Hopefully it's limited to the one bird only.

I hope so as well! Thank you so much. We were able to buy (pullets?) The ones that are for sure hens only, but thats good to know for the future that tractor supply are a bit more susceptible. Thanks again!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I hope so as well! Thank you so much. We were able to buy (pullets?) The ones that are for sure hens only, but thats good to know for the future that tractor supply are a bit more susceptible. Thanks again!

That's just been my experiences with them, so I don't know if others had it either.

Mareks is basically everywhere. It can come in on the wind and on wild birds, new birds, or even people's shoe. So at some point most have to deal with it in their flock. Many may not even know their flock carries it until a bird comes down with it.

Keeping stress low can help your young ones develop immunity as stressed birds are more likely to get sick. Generally if I don't see signs by 5 months of age I don't worry about it anymore until the next year's batch.