Breeding for resistance. Advice?

[KRack]

My flock got Marek's some months ago. I've since decided I'm not keeping a closed flock, I'm not vaccinating, and that I am going to try to breed a strong, resistant flock. Much inspiration comes from the Amish I live around who seem to have accomplished this quite well. I'm not debating the vaccine or closing my flock, those decisions are already made. I would however, welcome any advice from people who are trying the same thing, have some ideas, or have been successful in doing this.

 

[3KillerBs]

Please clarify what you mean by "I'm not keeping a closed flock."

If not keeping a closed flock means that you're letting chickens leave your property to infect others I'd call that highly irresponsible.

But if that means that you intend to bring in some of these Amish birds that have resistance and breed them with yours that could be wise.

 

[KRack]

Please clarify what you mean by "I'm not keeping a closed flock."

If not keeping a closed flock means that you're letting chickens leave your property to infect others I'd call that highly irresponsible.

But if that means that you intend to bring in some of these Amish birds that have resistance and breed them with yours that could be wise.

I plan on bringing in some Amish birds, or potentially other breeds. My birds do free range on my property and my neighbors (they have no chickens and love ours, I offered to fence them in and they asked me not to). But they don’t go elsewhere.

 

[kcult]

Totally misunderstood the thread title.

I was hoping we could breed birds to help push back against .gov.

My bad.

 

[KRack]

Totally misunderstood the thread title.

I was hoping we could breed birds to help push back against .gov.

My bad.

I can’t tell if you mean to combat food shortages, or that maybe I thought my chickens could physically battle the government.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Viva la chicken resistance!

Yeah I think getting the Amish birds is a great idea. I dont have any advice because I haven't dealt with Marek's but I will be following this so hopefully you will update as you go along

 

[kcult]

I can’t tell if you mean to combat food shortages, or that maybe I thought my chickens could physically battle the government.

I've already said too much...

 

[Mason Farm and Ranch]

I know my 2 cents on this is coming a year late, but here it goes.

It is estimated that ALL backyard flocks are positive for the virus. But having the virus doesn't help breed resistant birds.

Birds who have developed the disease and survived it will have built up the resistance that will pass on to any offspring. The problem is, Marek's Disease affects the reproductive system. They may not lay once they recover. And it takes time for them to recover. It was recommended that any bird that developed Marek's and survived beyond age 3 is the best breeding material for resistant birds.

Everyone is talking about culling sick birds. No. You need survivors to breed resistance. Yes it will be hard, time consuming and emotionally draining. If it were easy, they'd be sold at TSC or Rural King.

So, if you're trying to breed for resistance, breeding healthy birds and culling sick birds is making water soup.

 

[urbanbantams]

I know my 2 cents on this is coming a year late, but here it goes.

It is estimated that ALL backyard flocks are positive for the virus. But having the virus doesn't help breed resistant birds.

Birds who have developed the disease and survived it will have built up the resistance that will pass on to any offspring. The problem is, Marek's Disease affects the reproductive system. They may not lay once they recover. And it takes time for them to recover. It was recommended that any bird that developed Marek's and survived beyond age 3 is the best breeding material for resistant birds.

Everyone is talking about culling sick birds. No. You need survivors to breed resistance. Yes it will be hard, time consuming and emotionally draining. If it were easy, they'd be sold at TSC or Rural King.

So, if you're trying to breed for resistance, breeding healthy birds and culling sick birds is making water soup.

I know my 2 cents on this is coming a year late, but here it goes.

It is estimated that ALL backyard flocks are positive for the virus. But having the virus doesn't help breed resistant birds.

Birds who have developed the disease and survived it will have built up the resistance that will pass on to any offspring. The problem is, Marek's Disease affects the reproductive system. They may not lay once they recover. And it takes time for them to recover. It was recommended that any bird that developed Marek's and survived beyond age 3 is the best breeding material for resistant birds.

Everyone is talking about culling sick birds. No. You need survivors to breed resistance. Yes it will be hard, time consuming and emotionally draining. If it were easy, they'd be sold at TSC or Rural King.

So, if you're trying to breed for resistance, breeding healthy birds and culling sick birds is making water soup.

Hi, I am also trying to something similar to the original poster of this question, and I was wondering where you have gotten your information that points towards needing to keep the sick chickens alive as the best specimens to breed from? It seems contradictory to all the other information I’ve been able to find so far, but I really want to get the whole picture on this. Any further research I can do would be great, if you can point me towards where you learned this. Thank you!

 

[Mason Farm and Ranch]

Hi, I am also trying to something similar to the original poster of this question, and I was wondering where you have gotten your information that points towards needing to keep the sick chickens alive as the best specimens to breed from? It seems contradictory to all the other information I’ve been able to find so far, but I really want to get the whole picture on this. Any further research I can do would be great, if you can point me towards where you learned this. Thank you!

Sadly, I don't have a source I can point you too. I was working a catering gig for an ag science event and while offering up hors devors to a group overheard part their conversation on viral resistance in farm stock. They were a virologist, 2 geneticist and a stack of animal husbandry students. Having no problem inserting myself into a conversation, I butted in and joined the conversation. I had questions and when would I ever have an opportunity like that again. Seriously, who wouldn't?

I got a lot of answers. Marek's affects birds younger than 30 months, it's more severe under 20 months. After 3 years, the immunity to the virus would be in all of the birds DNA and at that point it would pass to the offspring as a resistance. Several (they said 3) generations of resistant birds who developed the disease would generate resistance to the point of immunity. That immunity line could be maintained as long as the parentage is from birds with immunity. Once birds with resistance start being bred to birds without it, the resistance would weaken. I asked about breeding a third generation bird to a first generation bird. They said as long as enough time had passed for the resistance to attach to the first generation birds DNA, the offspring would have the higher resistance of the third generation.

I got pulled back to the kitchen before I could get contact info. Fraternizing with guests is highly 'frowned upon.

I did run across some information to that effect in several studies I glossed over, but at the time it wasn't the topic I was focused on.

These are my search sources. They pull up WAY more than Google.

refseek.com
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