Mareks. Can we ever get chickens again?

[MoonFarm]

I’ve read everything I can find about Mareks and I’m still not clear on one thing. Is every chicken we get from now until forever going to (probably) get sick, suffer, and die from this horrible disease? We have lost 3 out of 4 of our small home flock. It is Mareks, confirmed by necropsy. All 4 hens were vaccinated when we got them as pullets. 2 died at about 8 months old, and our latest loss is FIVE years old. We thought she was in the clear at her age, but no, she got it too. We have only one girl left and she is alone now. It has been heart breaking. We want to keep chickens and continue to have wonderful eggs from them. But is it selfish to get more knowing that our place is infected?

 

[LaFleche]

I am sorry you have to deal with this diagnosis. There are a few members here on BYC keeping a flock with confirmed Marek's.
Sadly, the so-called Marek vaccination does not prevent the infection nor does it stop them from passing it on to other birds. It only helps to slow the develpment of tumors.

If you want to get more chickens, consider Egyptian Fayoumi as they are said and scientifically proven to be immune to the Marek virus and several others.

 

[MoonFarm]

I will research that breed, thank you I would do anything to avoid putting another hen through this.

 

[FrostRanger]

On the flipside avoid silkies as they are more prone to mareks. Your other option is either breeding for resistance yourself or getting birds from someone who breeds for resistance. It's certainly not an easy thing to deal with but it doesn't necessarily mean you have to stop keeping chickens altogether

 

[MoonFarm]

Thanks for the warning about Silkies. I’ll make sure not to introduce any of those. I don’t think I would try to breed for resistance myself, both because I’m inexperienced and because the hen I have left (a 5yo Olive Egger) is not broody at all. How would I go about getting some fayoumis and/or resistance bred chicks or pullets? I got our 4 girls from a local small feed store/producer.

 

[FrostRanger]

Thanks for the warning about Silkies. I’ll make sure not to introduce any of those. I don’t think I would try to breed for resistance myself, both because I’m inexperienced and because the hen I have left (a 5yo Olive Egger) is not broody at all. How would I go about getting some fayoumis and/or resistance bred chicks or pullets? I got our 4 girls from a local small feed store/producer.

Try your local poultry groups. Someone on there might be breeding for resistance and check your state's thread. I don't know offhand which hatcheries have Egyptian fayoumis but I'd check with the major hatcheries first and check if you can find a breeder locally (again, check your state's thread and any local poultry groups)

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Thanks for the warning about Silkies. I’ll make sure not to introduce any of those. I don’t think I would try to breed for resistance myself, both because I’m inexperienced and because the hen I have left (a 5yo Olive Egger) is not broody at all. How would I go about getting some fayoumis and/or resistance bred chicks or pullets? I got our 4 girls from a local small feed store/producer.

If you don’t mind having them shipped, Meyer Hatchery has Fayoumis and so does McMurray.