Avian Lymphoid Leukosis-Not good news!

Dr McGraw imported them in this country around 1950's.

How did Ideal Hatchery got their Spitzes is anyone's guess. Sometimes breeders would get out of the business and sold their flock to Ideal. Or they crossed them with Silver Laced Polish to increase the numbers. Who really knows?! the only thing I can think of is to do DNA on our Spitzhaubens and they will be able to tell if it came from the original stock of Dr McGraw.

Is this a problem with silver spangled Hamburg’s as well?

I have some eggs in my incubator for about a week and am now considering tossing them after reading this thread. (I know that sounds a bit paranoid, but I live in fear of chicken viral diseasesas there is so little that we can really do about them.)

OP I am so sorry for you losses and heartache.

There is information out there about it that you might want to read first.

http://txspace.di.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/4716/etd-tamu-2005C-VTMI-Mozisek.pdf?sequence=1

http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/36/2_Part_2/570.full.pdf

This last one seems to indicate that it is all over throughout all chicken breeds. If that is true, then I'm not sure that it matters that Spitzhaubens have it. It also indicates that males do not transmit it, so we could probably get Spitz going that are back to our beautiful Spitz by using Hamburg hens and a Spitz male over them.

EweSheep said:

Dr McGraw imported them in this country around 1950's.

How did Ideal Hatchery got their Spitzes is anyone's guess. Sometimes breeders would get out of the business and sold their flock to Ideal. Or they crossed them with Silver Laced Polish to increase the numbers. Who really knows?! the only thing I can think of is to do DNA on our Spitzhaubens and they will be able to tell if it came from the original stock of Dr McGraw.

Click to expand...

Is it possible that they got them from Europe? I know that people used to import birds willy nilly in the past. Now we can't because they're terrified we will get something from Europe.

Yes, they did import. I was told many years ago by a hatchery (and I think it was McMurrays) that they used to get a request for a breed, and if they got a few requests, they would import young stock or get eggs and start raising the birds themselves. They basically said they would do it to test the market, and if the birds sold, they would continue to breed them. If not, they would often "give" them to someone who wanted them that lived nearby. I don't know what that meant--maybe they sold them at a local auction. Anyway, if the birds sold, they continued to breed them. Now I doubt they do that because they have the birds they like to sell, and they use them.

I was shocked at the time I was told them since, as far as I can remember, there have been increasing limitations on how we can get birds into this country. It has gotten so bad now that even trying to get eggs is nearly impossible.

I wonder if the hatcheries did the breedings with other breeds to create what they call Spitzhaubens. I notice that one hatchery calls theirs "German Spitzhaubens." I didn't know there was such a thing as a "German" Spitz as I thought they were all from Switzerland. But who knows? Maybe the Germans had them too. The two countries are closely related.

I just found out my 4 1/2 month old EE pullet died from lymphoid leukosis. (she went from apparent health to lethargy, respiratory symptoms and death in a day) Necropsy showed liver tumors and she must have spiked a terminal fever as her brain was autolyzed. it has been almost two months to get the histology back and confirm it was this (as it looks a lot like Mereks) from the histology.

The others have looked OK until yesterday when my only roo (a very friendly Cream Crested Legbar 5 month old cockerel) is showing signs of illness (lethatgy and ataxia). i have raised birds for over 40 years and have never had sick chickens. These are pets and very lovely and sweet birds and I feel so helpless. This is a young (5 months old pullets: 2 EEs who are hatch sisters to the one that died, 2 Wyndotte bantam pullets (now laying), a Silkie pullet, a LF Wyndotte cross Cochin pullet and 2 hens who are 1 1/2 years old and laying daily) flock who all energetic, eating and drinking well and seem healthy.

I've been reading up on this and the sources keep refering to "resistant strains" (breeds?) but I have not been able to find any info on which strain/breeds are "resistant". Has anyone seen that?

Most sources indicate a mortality of about 4% but state that once clinical signs develop, there is nothing to be done for the unfortunate bird. It breaks my heart, but I fear the worst for my lovely Reginald the CLB roo. if the worst happens, I wonder if it makes sense to introduce an adult roo (or mear adult cockerel) under the cirmumstances? Apparently, this problem is present in many small flocks without the flocksters even being aware of it and most birds that succomb are those infected at birth or as very young chicks. Then they become symptomatic at around 4 to 6 months old (just when mine did). There has been talk on the site recently re folks downsizing on roos for the winter and regretting sending really nice young roos to "freezer camp." Just wondering if taking a 4% or so chance (or less as he would be past the age of most susceptability) would be preferable to certain death. Otherwise, it is a pretty good gig, 8 sweet young hens, being "spoiled" as pets, a sunny coop on a sun porch, shut up safe at night, out to an exercise pen at daybreak.....

I am sorry for your loss. I hope Reginald is OK.

I am not aware of who has resistant strains of the virus. It can be bred out of a flock, and then the flock closed to prevent further spread within the flock.

Also, it doesn't always show up at puberty. Your birds can be carriers and still live long lives.

I would not incubate eggs together.