answer to 'mystery illness"

[Dee Dee 2]

Some of you may have read about my chickens with a mystery illness. Many offered helpful ideas and suggestions for which I thank you. When my Vet was here to 'snip' a neighbors burro I ask her to look at two roos which I had done a nucropsy on. (on the tail gate of my truck). She was unable to determine cause of death but offered to send some organ samples to pathology. The next day I had my answer. LYMPHOID LEUKOSIS. It is very late, I am very tired (pardon all the errors). Bottom line is ~ Seems I got a batch of Jersey Giants from a Hobby Farm in Georgia that were carrying the virus. So ~ once again ~ be VERY careful where you get your birds. Use ONLY reputable hatcheries or breeders with a long standing know good reputation. This whole ordeal has cost me a lot of money and untold hours of my time.

 

[chad-o]

It might help others to know where you got you birds. There would be no liability as long as you state when and where you bought. How long you had them before you had a problem. Just stick to the facts and place no blame on the grower.

 

[chooks4life]

Some of you may have read about my chickens with a mystery illness. Many offered helpful ideas and suggestions for which I thank you. When my Vet was here to 'snip' a neighbors burro I ask her to look at two roos which I had done a nucropsy on. (on the tail gate of my truck). She was unable to determine cause of death but offered to send some organ samples to pathology. The next day I had my answer. LYMPHOID LEUKOSIS. It is very late, I am very tired (pardon all the errors). Bottom line is ~ Seems I got a batch of Jersey Giants from a Hobby Farm in Georgia that were carrying the virus. So ~ once again ~ be VERY careful where you get your birds. Use ONLY reputable hatcheries or breeders with a long standing know good reputation. This whole ordeal has cost me a lot of money and untold hours of my time.

Yeah, I got leucosis from a few breeders around here. Thankfully it's almost eliminated from the flock now, but talk about wasted time and effort, not to mention the animal's suffering.

I agree with chad-o, please name the place/breeder/hatchery/whatever where you got them, and possibly contact them with the diagnosis. They may be unaware of what they are producing. Some leucosis is rapid onset and takes them down before puberty, some strikes around puberty, some takes years to develop... Plenty of people acting as distribution hubs for leucosis are totally unaware of it. Condemnation isn't useful or too logical but naming the source and sharing the information certainly is.

Best wishes and hope you have a better run in future.