California - Northern

[ronott1]

If she died of Marek's, she could have picked it up anywhere in transit to you or on your property or from contaminated clothing. I only allow immunized birds on the premises. Mealworms can carry Marek's. You might want to look at the Extension websites for more information and diagnostic help. There is a UCD poultry help hotline number where you can get help diagnosing your chickens, help learning to care for them, and so on; I'll repost it again.

~866-922-BIRD (2473)

Most breeders breed for immunity.

Some will still die from Mareks cancer. The immunization does not stop active mareks.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Most breeders breed for immunity.

Some will still die from Mareks cancer. The immunization does not stop active mareks.

If she died of Marek's, she could have picked it up anywhere in transit to you or on your property or from contaminated clothing. I only allow immunized birds on the premises. Mealworms can carry Marek's. You might want to look at the Extension websites for more information and diagnostic help. There is a UCD poultry help hotline number where you can get help diagnosing your chickens, help learning to care for them, and so on; I'll repost it again.

~866-922-BIRD (2473)

yeah its though to say. I actually have a vet encyclopedia on poultry that I got from my wife's boss. she's a vet tech and he's a vet.
There is other things it can be. I have had them since they came from Sand Hill in March at a few days.
They do not vaccinate.
I do not either. Generally though I am not bringing in birds, Could also of been just a sub par hatchery weak chick that took its time.
with this one not really sure since the symptoms are limited.
lump on back and partial limping. There is a number of things it could really be.
For now she will stay in the isolation pen, She doesn't seem sickly so ill keep her around until she seems like she's starting to suffer.

 

[fowlman01]

Mareks is everywhere and is airborne, so it is almost impossible to protect your birds from exposure. Creating immunity is the most efficient way to deal with Mareks. It also has many symptoms with lameness and going light being a couple of the more common symptoms. Vaccination does not solve the problem. If you vaccinate you will live with it forever.

Walt

 

[lizanne]

Well the raccoon managed to get 4 of my Seramas, 1 hen 3 pullets I am so upset with myself. Only found one body but presume all are dead...it got ahold of one of my EEs brought her to the back door and that's what woke me up at 3 am, raccoon was standing there and I wanted to shoot it but live in town. Brought all the others in the garage so they would be safe. So the thing to do is trap it and shoot it right?

Awww.. I'm so sorry!! I keep a high powered "pump" BB gun in the garage for things like that. I can't be shooting things with a "real" gun in the backyard, our neighbors are too close.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Mareks is everywhere and is airborne, so it is almost impossible to protect your birds from exposure. Creating immunity is the most efficient way to deal with Mareks. It also has many symptoms with lameness and going light being a couple of the more common symptoms. Vaccination does not solve the problem. If you vaccinate you will live with it forever.

Walt

agreed thats been my thought as well. The problem also could of been a ultra happy 7 lb rooster The Black Penedesenca Roosters grow at a much quicker rate than the hens. She's been limping awhile but she is not light by any means. I just need to start hatching some black penedesenca eggs. The one thing though you do not hear about Penedesencas with Mareks much. If hardly at all.

 

[chrissyr]

Yes! They lay very dark eggs. I tried a late hatch of ebay wheaten eggs but had only three out of the dozen develop and they did not make it past day 12 or so. I may try to get some from Our Fly Babies this year.

Are they darker and more productive than Marans ? I love the wheaten varieties, but never got any in the Marans breed due to they needed egg color to be worked on. Is Our Fly Babies somewhat local?

 

[chrissyr]

agreed thats been my thought as well. The problem also could of been a ultra happy 7 lb rooster The Black Penedesenca Roosters grow at a much quicker rate than the hens. She's been limping awhile but she is not light by any means. I just need to start hatching some black penedesenca eggs. The one thing though you do not hear about Penedesencas with Mareks much. If hardly at all.

I have a rooster who grew very big and quick. Kind of does the same thing. He'll limp and it gets better. I think he just grew so fast. Interesting thing is when we bred our dog, the co breeders said to feed adult dog food. They said puppy food is too high in, I believe protein, and later can cause hip/joint problems. It's a common thing done is some show dog breeds. Maybe the same thing in these fast growing roosters.

 

[ronott1]

yeah its though to say. I actually have a vet encyclopedia on poultry that I got from my wife's boss. she's a vet tech and he's a vet.
There is other things it can be. I have had them since they came from Sand Hill in March at a few days.
They do not vaccinate.
I do not either. Generally though I am not bringing in birds, Could also of been just a sub par hatchery weak chick that took its time.
with this one not really sure since the symptoms are limited.
lump on back and partial limping. There is a number of things it could really be.
For now she will stay in the isolation pen, She doesn't seem sickly so ill keep her around until she seems like she's starting to suffer.

The Black pullet that is your boys sister is perfectly fine here.

All Animals that come to this area have to be resistant to Valley Fever, which is a Fungus. They do not have Valley Fever where Sand Hill is located. It is a Southwest and California thing. I am sure I was exposed when I was around two years old since I was Born here and am 4th generation Californian on my Mom's side of the family.

Mareks is everywhere and is airborne, so it is almost impossible to protect your birds from exposure. Creating immunity is the most efficient way to deal with Mareks. It also has many symptoms with lameness and going light being a couple of the more common symptoms. Vaccination does not solve the problem. If you vaccinate you will live with it forever.

Walt

That is exactly what the studies show too. The best that happens is that 3 to 5% less die of Marks cancer, so 5% instead of 2%. Breed for resistance.

I have a rooster who grew very big and quick. Kind of does the same thing. He'll limp and it gets better. I think he just grew so fast. Interesting thing is when we bred our dog, the co breeders said to feed adult dog food. They said puppy food is too high in, I believe protein, and later can cause hip/joint problems. It's a common thing done is some show dog breeds. Maybe the same thing in these fast growing roosters.

I have heard about fast growing boys and leg problems. They say to restrict feed to morning and night.

I think Jason's problem is a big Cockerel(they are under a year old) and smaller hens.

 

[ronott1]

Are they darker and more productive than Marans ? I love the wheaten varieties, but never got any in the Marans breed due to they needed egg color to be worked on. Is Our Fly Babies somewhat local?

More Productive but the color is similar. Marans have more of a waxy or glossy look to them. They are ultra heat hardy and keep laying in the heat. They do not die in the heat either. The pullets started laying on time in the winter without light.


This morning, one is 57G and a second one is 63G The Horstman RIR egg from this morning is 51G. Nice sizes for pullets that young. The RIR hatched with the Penes.

 

[liz9910]

All my girls were safe and sound in the coop last night, I didn't see any evidence that the raccoon was there last night, no tracks in the sand or anything. I'm sure he was out there but couldn't get into the super reinforced coop lol. My dad and I are having some trouble covering the run though, still working on it.