Yes, yes, yes. The truth is also: backyard flocks are not yet considered important enough to help. And that is sad. I love your picture. They look so very happy. Thank you.
I'm hoping for you on those. I had a Brahma (a girl from a brood of Marans, Aracaunas and Death layers) somehow survive. She is almost ten months, laying eggs, and impervious to the disease . . . so far. I don't think we know a lot about how this virus works. Thank you for sharing!
These are the kinds of lessons I need to hear. Yes, one of the hardest losses is keeping my broody hens from hatching out their own. I will always miss that--there's just no way back. But, I'm hoping to find a road forward. Sounds as if you did find one! Thank you for giving me that tiny...
Thank you so much. I think it's a sad club to join, isn't it? I hope that one day I can forgive myself for doing this to my babies. I've thought of adding a cuddler or three--just feel so badly about bringing them in and possibly exposing them, even vaccinated. I guess I need to decide. I...
Oh my gosh!!! This didn't occur to me!!! I have Fayoumis ordered, but I never thought of crossing these to my beloved bantams. I'm trying to understand something, help me here: why would it not be an option to breed for resistance PLUS the vaccine? I know that it seems counter-intuitive, but...
Thank you! Yes, when it hit: all of my chickens who were around six months (POL) fell lame and died. The ones that made it through winter, but were super young, all just died. My second-best gal (a frizzle cochin) was over a year old--but then succumbed. None of my four-year-plus big gals...
Thank you for giving me this info and sharing your experience!! We have been vaccinating since last fall--and you are right. We are now old pros! I broke my closed flock rule only once, as well. I am still, since last summer, going through grief. My husband tries to make me feel better, but I...
Ask me anything about vaccination--I'm right here! :) As to the last sentence: I'm trying to do both. I have this idea that they can work together. Hope?
I will say that, after a few youtube videos, we became easily proficient at giving vaccines. It's a cost--but worth it. And yes, chickens will never be immune. They will only have a fighting chance. :)
I feel like I'm asking for stories and not giving: let me do that a little. We are doing great at vaccinating. It's not that hard! Jeffers.com is great and we now can whip it all together within just a few minutes. We also have done SO much research and found that the UK is doing boosters at...
Thank you for this. Real life experience is what I am looking for--I tell you, I'm letting go of raising my little bantams and it breaks my heart. These are for pets, cuddles, and loving--and I just can't be broken anymore. However, for my big egg layers--this is what I'm looking for! I am...
I've researched for six months after our diagnosis. I've leaned on our poultry department at our local university, top scientists, and local extension offices. I'm a prof, myself. And here's the one thing I cannot find anywhere:
How do we live with it if we decide not to cull??
Half of my...
We raised bantams and Marans for 10 years. Regretfully, we brought in a chicken with Marek's and my heart is broken.
I've researched for six months after our diagnosis. I've leaned on our poultry department at our local university, top scientists, and local extension offices. I'm a prof...