Colorado

[Ashdoes]

I spoke with Sarah as CSU yesterday, she told me one thing I think many of us didn't really know, Mareks can transfer vertically, meaning Hen to Egg. So, my flock is now completely closed. We could have killed off everyone, cleaned out the barn and left it empty for about six months, bought new vaccinated stock, and still ended up with birds containing Mareks.
It took 8 months to find the birds we have now, I can't see killing them just so I can sell chicks. It is upsetting though, because we really wanted to help make Cochins more obtainable.

 

[suncatcher]

Wow, was the weather today beautiful or what??? Got some last minute things done outside, as have heard we could get snow on the weeken, yuck!

I think anyone who owns animals should be a good steward of the animals in their care, not matter how many or what breed...... just my two cents worth.

Ash, so sorry to hear about Mercks (sp) being able to be transmitted via a hatching egg, I was hoping that was not the case. I know absoulutely about Mercks...... So does every chicken in the flock have it???? Or just some? And is there a way to test every chicken? Or is it too expensive? If you ended up with a few that tested negative you could then move them to another area.

It got up to 60 in my insulated coop today, nice and toasty for everyone who took advantage of the weather to just laze around!

Yay on friends helping with freezer camp!!!!

 

[Ashdoes]

I'm pretty sure most of the flock would be carriers, but there is a test to do on live birds..$98 per bird, which is just not something I would do.
We're ok with how things turned out, at least we can still eat their eggs.

 

[trsturself]

I spoke with Sarah as CSU yesterday, she told me one thing I think many of us didn't really know, Mareks can transfer vertically, meaning Hen to Egg. So, my flock is now completely closed. We could have killed off everyone, cleaned out the barn and left it empty for about six months, bought new vaccinated stock, and still ended up with birds containing Mareks.
It took 8 months to find the birds we have now, I can't see killing them just so I can sell chicks. It is upsetting though, because we really wanted to help make Cochins more obtainable.

I'm pretty sure most of the flock would be carriers, but there is a test to do on live birds..$98 per bird, which is just not something I would do.
We're ok with how things turned out, at least we can still eat their eggs.

That's odd that she would say that. I find zero evidence online that it transfers vertically. Everything I find on the disease is specific that it does not transfer vertically.

Even if you did test each bird, there's really no way to keep them from the virus. It is light enough to travel on the wind.

 

[trsturself]

Here the Institute for Animal Health in the UK says that Marek's is transmitted horizontally only.
http://www.oie.int/doc/ged/d9316.pdf

Considering they told you the wrong thing to start with I would take what they say with a grain of salt.

 

[COChix]

sounds like you made the right choice to not bring him in if he was intended for breeding. Cold hardiness is an important factor around here. Wonder why he had such trouble.

Too bad he was a cutie, but sounds like the right decision was made.

Gotta chime in! I'm jealous of all you coloradoans right now! I just moved from Conifer (south of Evergreen) to Kissimmee, FL... What a mistake! Thank goodness family still lives there so I can go back for another Rockies christmas! Definitely moving back after business school.

The plus side is, I finally am living out my dream of having a couple of awesome pet chickens. I thought living on my own was gunna be more fun... But my dream of pet chickens exceeded my expectations

sorry your missing CO, but you can visit here and it will be like old home weeks, lol.

Today is freezer camp day. I have a couple friends coming over to help tonight. I'm very sad though.

How did freezer camp go?

I spoke with Sarah as CSU yesterday, she told me one thing I think many of us didn't really know, Mareks can transfer vertically, meaning Hen to Egg. So, my flock is now completely closed. We could have killed off everyone, cleaned out the barn and left it empty for about six months, bought new vaccinated stock, and still ended up with birds containing Mareks.
It took 8 months to find the birds we have now, I can't see killing them just so I can sell chicks. It is upsetting though, because we really wanted to help make Cochins more obtainable.

Ash, wow so sorry to hear that and how truly disappointed you must be given your quest to start a breeding programs. I think you made the right decision about not culling your whole flock. Just remember the joy, happiness, smiles and entertainment your flock provides and will continue to provide.

 

[Ashdoes]

I need honest answers from fellow chicken protectors. We've lost five chickens now from a previously unknown predator. Today, I have 90% confirmation that it is a cat, that lives a couple houses away (which out here is about three acres away). The cat was seen eating something (our closest neighbor came to the door to point it out), and when I went to check my chickens, another Cochin was gone. As an animal lover, and someone that always always tries to do the morally right thing, I'm at a loss as to the right answer here. I'm down a lot of money from the chickens we've lost, and also we are just generally upset at the loss of life. This cat is obviously starving, I mean, he has to be pretty hungry to kill and eat a chicken.
I went and picked up cat food, and we'll be leaving the trap set and baited day and night...but the question is, what to do when/if we catch a cat in there, knowing it has and will continue to do this?

 

[Ashdoes]

Here the Institute for Animal Health in the UK says that Marek's is transmitted horizontally only. 
http://www.oie.int/doc/ged/d9316.pdf

Considering they told you the wrong thing to start with I would take what they say with a grain of salt. 

I read that whole study, thank you for linking to it.

 

[maggiemo]

I need honest answers from fellow chicken protectors. We've lost five chickens now from a previously unknown predator. Today, I have 90% confirmation that it is a cat, that lives a couple houses away (which out here is about three acres away). The cat was seen eating something (our closest neighbor came to the door to point it out), and when I went to check my chickens, another Cochin was gone. As an animal lover, and someone that always always tries to do the morally right thing, I'm at a loss as to the right answer here. I'm down a lot of money from the chickens we've lost, and also we are just generally upset at the loss of life. This cat is obviously starving, I mean, he has to be pretty hungry to kill and eat a chicken.
I went and picked up cat food, and we'll be leaving the trap set and baited day and night...but the question is, what to do when/if we catch a cat in there, knowing it has and will continue to do this?

Wow. Sorry for all your losses.
I had a neighbors cat who would sit by our bird bath and catch and kill the birds bathing in the bird bath. I caught the cat and took it to the humane society, it was on my property, so it was a stray as far as I was concerned. I did this twice. The first time the neighbor went and got the cat back and the second time they just left the cat at the shelter.
It costs $75 in Boulder to retrieve a pet from the shelter and if you don't have proof of vaccinations you have to have all the shots up to date.
My .02
Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[trsturself]

I'm with maggie. If you catch it, take it to the humane society. If an owner cares about it (I doubt it) they will get it but I'm guessing since it's starving it won't be missed and maybe it will find a new family to love it. I have a hard time not having sympathy for an animal but once it kills one of mine it's a lot easier to lose that sympathy. I would be ****** if it was killing my chickens especially if I had gone through the work you have to secure cochins.