Our small flock has had a history of Merek's disease. Luckily, all of our two year old cochin bantams were immunized for Merek's before they left the hatchery so none of them ever got it. Only the ones I purchased later as starts contracted the disease.
I'v had a problem with Marek's also. The resistance isn't so much the breed but the individual chicken itself. Dr. GAry Butcher at the University of Fla told me that having a turkey around the flock helps the immunity of the chickens although they can get it also. But the turkey has some restistance that it passes on just by being there. I am about at the point of getting one! I have also had all my ordered chickens vaccinated for marek's and these were raised by my silkie flock where this has occurred and none has caught it, 2 years old now. However my silkies who I bred and vaccinated, some came down with it and some have not. Trying to breed out the ones with the weak immune systems can be quite discouraging. I am currently looking for a supplier of the vaccine as Mcmurray no longer carries it.
My question is this: I've been told that some breeds of chickens are resistant to Merek's.....does anyone out there know WHICH breeds those are and which ones are extremely LIKELY to get it.
EVERY chick/chicken that comes to our coop has to have had their Merek's vaccine. Even still....they may get it(it isn't 100% coverage).
By Chickfila on Wednesday, April 3, 2002 - 08:25 pm: