Colorado

[Minchi]

X2, This thread is just moving right along! Welcome to all the newbies, and sorry that some are having mean roo problems, is never fun.

My daughter is looking for a new rooster, hers was three years old, he up and vanished last week. If anyone has any pure breed Jersey Giant or Australorp please PM me. Also, she is open to other breeds as long as they are good size! She is not interested in any meanies though......

Just saw a RIR posted on Facebook, so if you doing want the EE Roo posted here that is another option.

Congradulations Chick in the burbs, I am glad it is nothing to worry about.

Sorry Pozees, but I am glad you are getting it under control.

Welcome new people!

 

[Pozees]

Sorry to hear about the losses and the headaches. The chicks i got from you in February are doing well and all but one are laying. Well other than the one i lost due to a bobcat last friday. I am in the market for a replacement aracauna if you know of any around.

Oh wait you want a pullet, duh! LOL Anyway, the lady out on the Mesa probably has some, I'll try to find her information and send it to you.

 

[samsr]

Marek's manifests in multiple ways.  There is the occular version, which shows up as cloudy eyes and misshapen pupils; the neurological version, evidenced by birds who suddenly can't stand and walk because one leg won't work, and ultimately the legs stiffen straight out; the internal ,called visceral, where the bird develops tumors on internal organs; and there is also one called cutaneous Marek's, where the birds develop tumors on the feather follicles.  More than one type can be present, and sometimes a bird starts off having one and then develops another type.  The neurological version is considered "classic" Marek's, and it is unmistakeable.  The occular version is also very obvious, the birds have trouble finding food and water, and will peck near it before they hit it.  When you pick them up to look at them you immediately see the cloudy eyes and elongated pupils  The visceral is harder to spot, because they are eating and can see and walk, but one day you pick them up and they are bones and feathers, or they just die.

Some birds have natural immunity/resistance to the virus (sort of like some people will get chicken pox and some won't because they are born with natural immunity), and some are exposed to the turkey version, which is mild to the extent you don't even know they are exposed and their immune systems are working to fight something.  The accepted theory is that infection with the turkey virus "teaches" the immune system that this virus is something to fight and kicks it into gear without making them sick in an obvious way, so that when they are exposed to the chicken virus their immune systems are already in full fight mode.

The reason the vaccine is a problem is that it is a live virus vaccine, and once the birds are vaccinated they shed the virus the rest of their lives in their feather dander.  When I put unvaccinated chicks in the same vicinity as vaccinated chicks, I exposed them, and those that were susceptible became ill and died.  From everything I've read, once the birds are older than 6 months they usually won't get sick or die from it, their immune systems have matured enough to fight it off.

It is possible fresh air and sunshine reduces risk, it's certainly good for the overall health of the birds, but if it can be spread by dander of wild birds, I don't see any way to completely avoid it.  Even if you kept your birds in a bubble, you could walk on the dander, brush against a tree where dander has landed, pick it up at the feed store, WalMart, etc. - when they say it's everywhere, that is a very literal statement.  It is not more common in one area than another, so it is unlike Fowl Pox, which likes warm and moist climates.  Even coccidiosis is more prevalent in warm and moist areas - those in the Southeast and in coastal areas almost all use medicated chick starter because it is so common, where I have not used medicated feed at all this year and have not (knock wood) had any problems with coccidiosis.  Marek's is a whole 'nother ball game.

So what you are saying in a nutshell is that if you have birds that were vaccinated merrics. They can and will infect your birds that have not been vaccinated for it. They may be fine or they may catch it. One way to lessen this is to have turkeys in with the chickens to help with stimulating the imune system to fight it off.
Now who was that who posted cheap turkey chicks here on the colorado thread? Sounds like cheap insurance to me.

 

[Euarto Gullible]

Hello, I'm in Pueblo, CO. I was really hoping to get some Welsummers to set with my next batch of eggs, next week. Is there anybody nearby who has Welsummer hatching eggs?

 

[Pozees]

So what you are saying in a nutshell is that if you have birds that were vaccinated merrics. They can and will infect your birds that have not been vaccinated for it. They may be fine or they may catch it. One way to lessen this is to have turkeys in with the chickens to help with stimulating the imune system to fight it off.
Now who was that who posted cheap turkey chicks here on the colorado thread? Sounds like cheap insurance to me.

Yes, and that birds over 6 months of age are unlikely to be in any danger, and I FULLY agree, a turkey or two is mighty cheap insurance!

 

[suncatcher]

Judy, do all hatcheries use the live Mereks vaccine? Looking at some hatcheries now, just says vaccinated against Mereks??????? Got it, the dander is what spreads the disease, so even if they are out in a big run all day, they are up in the coop closed in at night, and exposed to lots of feathers and dander.

Minchi, My daughter has her heart set on another Jersey Giant or Australorp, so is looking for that kind of roo for now. But, who knows if she can't find one, she may settle for another breed of rooster, as long as they are good size!

.

 

[Pozees]

Judy, do all hatcheries use the live Mereks vaccine? Looking at some hatcheries now, just says vaccinated against Mereks??????? Got it, the dander is what spreads the disease, so even if they are out in a big run all day, they are up in the coop closed in at night, and exposed to lots of feathers and dander.

Minchi, My daughter has her heart set on another Jersey Giant or Australorp, so is looking for that kind of roo for now. But, who knows if she can't find one, she may settle for another breed of rooster, as long as they are good size!

.

The vaccines for Marek's are all live. The one we can buy ourselves to use is Turkey vaccine, so just like having a turkey in your flock, it will not harm them, just stimulate their immune systems. The vaccine used by the hatchery is a combination of three, including live Chicken Marek's, which is how it can harm young, unvaccinated birds. To the best of my knowledge this is the type used by all the big hatcheries, although one could certainly contact them and ask.

ETA: Even outside in the run they are exposed, wild birds carry it and lose dander continuously, just like the chickens do.

 

[suncatcher]

Got it Time to add a turkey to the flock!

Not to change the subject, but has anyone tried to make their own "mother" vinegar using apple juice and ACV? Was reading about this last week on the FF thread.

 

[Denverchickee]

still waiting......

I have a Blue Andulsain @ 24 weeks, her comb is red, has been. Hoping any day now!! Also have a Buff Cochin and a Egyptian @ 20 weeks, they look more mature than Blue. Still waiting........
I thought from what I have read that the Egyptian would have started already?

Patience and I struggle. ;(

Got a dozen eggs this week from the girls, can't wait for the these other to start!

 

[Mtn Margie]

Got it Time to add a turkey to the flock!

Not to change the subject, but has anyone tried to make their own "mother" vinegar using apple juice and ACV? Was reading about this last week on the FF thread.

I would get a known mother from jime on this thread. At least the critters in it would be tried and true, like a good sourdough sponge.