Today’s Run:  4.22 miles

I just got off the phone a couple of minutes ago from the Veterinary Laboratory of Mississippi State University, Pearl Laboratory.  This is the location where they did the autopsy on my deceased hen.

The news was not good news.  She had something called Marek’s Disease.  Marek’s disease is a highly contagious viralneoplastic disease in chickens. It is named afterJózsef Marek, a Hungarian veterinarian. Occasionally misdiagnosed as an abtissue pathology it is caused by an alphaherpesvirus known as ‘Marek’s disease virus’ (MDV) or Gallid herpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2). The disease is characterized by the presence of T celllymphoma as well as infiltration of nerves and organsby lymphocytes. (Wikipedia)

My hen had nerve infiltration and an abdominal mass.  She had been very sick.  She had also been sick when I purchased her.  And the incubation period for this is approximately three weeks.  That means that my other hens are still at risk.  I need to have an eagle eye here the next week or so for a sick hen.  Right now, everyone seems healthy and happy but birds hide illness very well~until it is too late.

Chickens/commercial chickens are supposed to be inoculated for Merak’s Disease.  That is the only known cure.  I do not think that the gentleman from whom I purchased these hens did any inoculation at all (or any worming for that matter~that is something I will have to do when their molt comes around.).

So, the next thing on my to-do list for today is to write the person from whom I purchased my chickens and deliver the bad news.  I really dislike doing things like this, but at least in writing, I am able to choose my words a bit more carefully and hopefully, NOT stick my foot in my mouth!

Wish me luck!