Bresse Chickens

[ronott1]

Ron,

This question isn't about Bresse, but about Marek's and really doesn't belong here.....but I am going to ask anyway. I have a really large Kennel Cage(my Pyr will fit in it) that we repurposed with some modifications into a recovery pen for my newly caponized cockerels. Unfortunately because of space issues, they stayed in there longer than I wanted. Anyway, when I moved them, I discovered one that was falling off to left side, but was not paralyzed on that side. It was hard to tell if he was weak or having balance issues or had been injured because of the close quarters. I went ahead and put him back into this kennel by himself. He could keep himself upright, but his head kinda bobbed like he was trying to keep his balance. He continued to show some weakness or balance issues, but ate grew and gradually got better. He goes in and out of the pen now, flaps his wings, and seems perfectly fine. I haven't integrated him with anybody else because I wasn't sure if he had had something contagious(though none of the others ever had any symptoms) and I also didn't want him getting picked on. Also, he is a capon slip but isn't crowing, so I knew his further existence would be short. What I am wondering is if you think he had Marek's, albeit mild. Also, there wouldn't be any reason not to process and eat him even if he has had Marek's?

Yes, I think he had mareks. You can eat him. All of your chickens have had mareks. They just did not show the symptoms. Even the ones that show symptoms usually recover if you make sure they are eating and drinking.

Just to be sure, keep him quarantined for two weeks. If all of them are ok, then it is not spreading through the flock and he can go back with the others.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Yes, I think he had mareks. You can eat him. All of your chickens have had mareks. They just did not show the symptoms. Even the ones that show symptoms usually recover if you make sure they are eating and drinking.

Just to be sure, keep him quarantined for two weeks. If all of them are ok, then it is not spreading through the flock and he can go back with the others.

He has been quarantined for several weeks now, and has turned into quite a large capon slip. No one else has had any symptoms whatsoever.

I kept him separate from the others so that I didn't have to deal with integration issues, especially since he was going to be processed soon.

I figured if he had Marek's he would not have been able to walk. So I guess they can be symptomatic, but in a milder form.

BTW....I processed and roasted a 4#12oz Bresse capon slip last week......very tasty.

 

[ronott1]

He has been quarantined for several weeks now, and has turned into quite a large capon slip. No one else has had any symptoms whatsoever.

I kept him separate from the others so that I didn't have to deal with integration issues, especially since he was going to be processed soon.

I figured if he had Marek's he would not have been able to walk. So I guess they can be symptomatic, but in a milder form.

BTW....I processed and roasted a 4#12oz Bresse capon slip last week......very tasty.

Symptoms vary with Mareks. Sometimes it hits their eyes and they turn blue and they go blind.

You can put him back but follow the integration rules--at night and watch to make sure they do not kill him.

Thanks for the Capon update! Bresse are very tasty.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Symptoms vary with Mareks. Sometimes it hits their eyes and they turn blue and they go blind.

You can put him back but follow the integration rules--at night and watch to make sure they do not kill him.

Thanks for the Capon update! Bresse are very tasty.

I think I am just going to process him the next time I get out my knives. If I integrated him, it would be with other capons....which I figure would be less of an issue.

 

[ronott1]

I think I am just going to process him the next time I get out my knives. If I integrated him, it would be with other capons....which I figure would be less of an issue.

That is a good plan!

 

[sarahannecloud9]

That sounds like Mareks. I hatched out 4 pullets and 5 cockerels--they did not show symptoms of the initial mareks infection and others with Bresse have not reported problems with Mareks.

Quickly, Mareks is chicken herpes. It presents with an initial, usually non symptmatic infection any time after one day old. 3 to 5 percent of those that get mareks will die of reproductive cancer at about 2 years old. A small percentage will show symptoms at the initial infection and a smaller percentage will die of the initial infection.

Most breeders breed for resistance. There is a vaccination that needs to be administered within the first 3 days of hatch.

I am sorry you lost your Pullet!

Thanks for the help. But, we just tested neg for a rainbow of labs due to another problem. Mareks was one of the things tested for. This happened about 1.5-2 weeks ago. I do wonder if she could have hit her head or another like accident? If it's not a common issue with Breese, it must have been some sort of accident? I would have thought the same as you if we had not just had the vet out twice, a necropsy on a hen, swabbed throats, and all these labs. It's been a crazy month! Talk about eating up all the savings! Then my husband swallowed a yellow jacket with no insurance. Not to mention treating the LGD we have, lol. Lord help me!

So what do you think, accident?

 

[ronott1]

Thanks for the help. But, we just tested neg for a rainbow of labs due to another problem. Mareks was one of the things tested for. This happened about 1.5-2 weeks ago. I do wonder if she could have hit her head or another like accident? If it's not a common issue with Breese, it must have been some sort of accident? I would have thought the same as you if we had not just had the vet out twice, a necropsy on a hen, swabbed throats, and all these labs. It's been a crazy month! Talk about eating up all the savings! Then my husband swallowed a yellow jacket with no insurance. Not to mention treating the LGD we have, lol. Lord help me!

So what do you think, accident?

Since the tests were negative, it likely was an accident.

I hope things are better for you next year.

 

[juststruttin]

That sounds like Mareks. I hatched out 4 pullets and 5 cockerels--they did not show symptoms of the initial mareks infection and others with Bresse have not reported problems with Mareks.

Quickly, Mareks is chicken herpes. It presents with an initial, usually non symptmatic infection any time after one day old. 3 to 5 percent of those that get mareks will die of reproductive cancer at about 2 years old. A small percentage will show symptoms at the initial infection and a smaller percentage will die of the initial infection.

Most breeders breed for resistance. There is a vaccination that needs to be administered within the first 3 days of hatch.

I am sorry you lost your Pullet!

 

[ronott1]

Hi Ron,

I am curious, where did you get this info? Do you have a link you can share?

I was describing how the disease works--initial infection and then the expression of cancer at about 2 years old.

Yesterday I had a bunch of post removed by the Moderators on a thread so I am worried about off topic posts.

There are a bunch of threads in the correct section on BYC regarding Mareks.

My Bresse are so funny. They fly up on the coop to sleep! The Pullets can be a bit bossy with new comers sometimes too.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I too noticed a heightened mod action on a number of threads. I would have thought the OP would be the decision maker unless a mod was really needed. I'm sure they are very busy.

I've been thinking about that 4.5 pound carcass-- man that is a really good size.