Arizona Chickens

[starri33]

I'm still here, I can't leave my favorite people here on BYC. I have been a bit stressed by sadness and decisions and was being melodramatic. Just smack me when I do that

So happy you are not disappearing, .. I'll disappear off FB sometimes, even as the owner/admin of a couple of free-for-all groups, I still get sick of it. To much stress going on in my life to deal with that all the time, 3 dogs, 18 chickens, 9 chicks and a husband with health issues, my brother who has health issues, TBI from the military. We won't even talk about my own..lol.. If I were closer, I wouldn't smack you, I'd give you a hug.

 

[igorsMistress]

With great sadness I'm letting you guys know I culled my flock of older birds last night, including my beloved Fugly.

The back story is long, suffice to say I suspect Marek's. Upon doing a lot of research I learned that our typical conditions here are ripe for allowing the virus to take hold. Dry and dusty.

This may seem exteme to some of you, but I'm not one to baby an animal that's failing. I also have chicks to consider and as long as a sick bird is alive it's shedding the virus.

I'm now in the clean up phase. I have the main coop closed off and Virkon S is on the way. Bleach will not kill this virus on porous surfaces. I'll ne learning about using lime on the coop floor next.

I'm not looking for sympathy here guys. I want you to know that this is a crappy virus and with our dry, dusty conditions it can be a real threat that has no cure. That being said, I loved them all very much and miss them terribly.

 

[starri33]

I am so sorry to hear this, I know how much you love them.

 

[igorsMistress]

So happy you are not disappearing, .. I'll disappear off FB sometimes, even as the owner/admin of a couple of free-for-all groups, I still get sick of it. To much stress going on in my life to deal with that all the time, 3 dogs, 18 chickens, 9 chicks and a husband with health issues, my brother who has health issues, TBI from the military. We won't even talk about my own..lol.. If I were closer, I wouldn't smack you, I'd give you a hug.

I am so sorry to hear this, I know how much you love them.

 

[FeatherPugs]

Sorry to hear this. Sucks big chunks. You know you have become our go-to person for Mareks right? Can you verify with a Vet or would that bring the FEDS down to be checking? Thinking of the Virulent NC in Coco County. Still sucks big chunks!

 

[starri33]

Question, has anyone used hen saddles? I've got a couple of my hens who are really looking rough, feathers gone from the back and just above the tail feathers. I've ordered some and they should be in here in the next few days, I know I am going to need to get the girls off of their perches at night to get them on. lol, will probably sound like their is a fox in the hen house.

 

[BlueBaby]

Question, has anyone used hen saddles? I've got a couple of my hens who are really looking rough, feathers gone from the back and just above the tail feathers. I've ordered some and they should be in here in the next few days, I know I am going to need to get the girls off of their perches at night to get them on. lol, will probably sound like their is a fox in the hen house.

I bought 6 (two 3 pack's) of them off of Amazon, but they are sitting in a drawer, as I haven't had to use them on my girl's yet. Charley hasn't been rough on my girl's. When I used to have Australorp's, those boy's were rough on their hen's, though. I sold my Australorp flock to a lady in Colorado, because she wanted the B/B/S one's, and I figured they would do better in a place with cooler summer's than here.

 

[starri33]

The girls were still tore up from Billy Bob before he went to the great run in the sky for attacking me. Speed Racer has now taken over the roo position, with him I think it's because he's not really up to speed on his technique. He's not quite a year yet. I want to give the girls a chance to get their feathers back. when I get them on them, I will take some pictures.

 

[igorsMistress]

Sorry to hear this. Sucks big chunks. You know you have become our go-to person for Mareks right? Can you verify with a Vet or would that bring the FEDS down to be checking? Thinking of the Virulent NC in Coco County. Still sucks big chunks!

Thank you, it does suck big chunks! No it wouldn't bring down the feds lol. Not like vND would the State.

I can't afford testing right now, we just put a huge chunk of money on a bill after buying feed and groceries so the money is already gone. Can't freeze the bodies until I can send for testing either.

I'm making a guess based on an overall picture of my flock and symptoms compared to likely causes and those I can absolutely eliminate. Marek's is the most likely.

I really can only direct to articles here and online that I've read. I don't vaccinate or feed medicated food. I don't keep sick birds and this whole situation is why I should have had a harder heart to begin with. At least that's my current train of thought.

 

[igorsMistress]

On the plus side, these little punks are out there running around and I can't help but smile. I do believe this little one in the front is a slow feathering type chick and it's awfully roosterish acting.