Cream Legbars

[azygous]

I need to know if any Legbar people who have gotten their chicks from MyPetChicken have had any problems such as I've been having.

I had one pullet die of failure to thrive in its first week last May. Then MPC replaced it and I got one more to go along with it. At age seven months, after laying splendidly for several weeks, one pullet suddenly took sick and she died within 24 hours even though I had managed to get an antibiotic started.

Then precisely one week after she became ill, the second one got sick. Luckily, I pulled her out of the death spiral with a round of antibiotic. Then a few months later, she became ill again. Did the antibiotic again, and quit after seven days, but a couple weeks later, she got sick again. Did the entire ten days this time and she's been fine until this week when she started showing signs of getting sick again - no appetite, mute, lethargic, nodding off on the pop door ramp. She's responded very well each time to the antibiotic, amoxicillin, and managed to keep laying eggs.

None of the rest of the flock over the span of these infections of these two Legbars have shown any signs of illness. It's been isolated to the Legbars as if they have some genetic predisposition to a certain bacteria, and their immune systems aren't dealing with it in a normal fashion as the rest of the flock appears to be doing. And the fact that this one surviving Legbar responds to the antibiotic and recovers each time, certainly points to bacteria being involved, doesn't it?

So, do MPC Cream Legbar pullets have some kind of inbred immune system problem? It's my understanding that they contract with Amish breeders for their stock, so something may be going on with the breeding program.

Has anyone else experienced what I've been dealing with?

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I need to know if any Legbar people who have gotten their chicks from MyPetChicken have had any problems such as I've been having.

I had one pullet die of failure to thrive in its first week last May. Then MPC replaced it and I got one more to go along with it. At age seven months, after laying splendidly for several weeks, one pullet suddenly took sick and she died within 24 hours even though I had managed to get an antibiotic started.

Then precisely one week after she became ill, the second one got sick. Luckily, I pulled her out of the death spiral with a round of antibiotic. Then a few months later, she became ill again. Did the antibiotic again, and quit after seven days, but a couple weeks later, she got sick again. Did the entire ten days this time and she's been fine until this week when she started showing signs of getting sick again - no appetite, mute, lethargic, nodding off on the pop door ramp. She's responded very well each time to the antibiotic, amoxicillin, and managed to keep laying eggs.

None of the rest of the flock over the span of these infections of these two Legbars have shown any signs of illness. It's been isolated to the Legbars as if they have some genetic predisposition to a certain bacteria, and their immune systems aren't dealing with it in a normal fashion as the rest of the flock appears to be doing. And the fact that this one surviving Legbar responds to the antibiotic and recovers each time, certainly points to bacteria being involved, doesn't it?

So, do MPC Cream Legbar pullets have some kind of inbred immune system problem? It's my understanding that they contract with Amish breeders for their stock, so something may be going on with the breeding program.

Has anyone else experienced what I've been dealing with?

I have been very happy with the CLs I got from MPC, however:

First three pullets, two died (Paula survived). These were my first chicks, used a heat lamp and a metal stock tank and had a very hard time regulating the temperature and it got too hot. Thought it might be mostly my fault, but did ask MPC if there was an issue. One was half the size of the others and died within 24 hours (I was refunded money). Second died several days later, but I wonder if I caused aspiration in my clumsy attempts to give it water. Sooooo...

Ordered another three (two pullets and a cockerel). Cockerel had leg issues and was "not right" from the beginning. He did not survive and I also got my money back for him.

Customer service was wonderful, and very supportive both times (as I was pretty upset). They said they were not aware of any issues with the breed or their CL chicks (but were not defensive about it). They refunded money for chicks that died within the window of their guarantee without any fuss. This was last spring. (I point that out because I don't know if their source changed).

All were vaccinated for Mareks disease. Jenny got ocular Mareks around POL time, but so far this is the only manifestation and she is fine - she has reduced vision and goes to roost early, and I am blessed with a very protective rooster who refused to leave her side when she was losing some sight and not adapted yet.

Paula seemed fine, then looked ill in February (at about 9-10 months of age), then died the very next day. I did a necropsy, and she was filled with tumors consistent with Mareks. Lissa, the third one, has been fine so far, though I am watching her carefully and not letting her go broody (because of the stress).

CLs as a breed are known to have a problem with Mareks (and the vaccine doesn't always work, obviously), especially some of the earlier lines. I would hazard a guess (though just a guess) that the genetic diversity in some operations is not as great as would be desired, and I suppose that could cause problems as well.

As for the chicks, certainly some super hardy chicks often survive a lot of the mistakes that we make (my Naked Necks, for example, are super tough), but I really do think that, tragically, much of the loss of the first two chicks was my fault at least in part (though the little one was likely weaker). The little boy just wasn't right - I've now hatched enough to know that that sometimes happens, but I do know that that wasn't my fault.

Not sure if that rambling description helps or not. I am happy, and I don't hesitate to recommend MPC to anyone. I think these came directly from Meyer in my case (via MPC).

- Ant Farm

Edit to add: The illness in your older pullets sounds like maybe Mareks. This disease includes a suppressed immune system along with tumors. So she can have Mareks and be more susceptible to other infections as well as have trouble with tumors.

 

[rottlady]

finally got a pic to share of Emma, she knew I was "aiming" for her, so she was pacing =)

 

[Bantambird]

My chicken accomplice and incorrageable back door feeder.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

My chicken accomplice and incorrageable back door feeder.

I love this picture!!!

- Ant Farm

 

[sol2go]

My chicken accomplice and incorrageable back door feeder.

ah HA

 

[azygous]

Fire Any Farm - (excuse me for not quoting) thank you for that very thorough response. I appreciate hearing your experiences with CLBs. My CLB pullets did come from Meyer, but MPC has their own breeding programs via independent contractors, mostly Amish from what they (MPC) tell me. They just rent brooding space at Meyer for the fertilized eggs and Meyer ships for them when the chicks hatch.

It's entirely possible that my CLB pullet has a compromised immune system being exposed to LL (lymphotic leucosis, similar to Marek's) in my flock. All my other chickens have developed resistance to it. So it would explain why she gets sick so often. Being a new breed in this country, probably breeders haven't had time to develop the CLB breed to be resistant to LL and I knew that was a risk I was taking. Curiously, I have a one-year old CLB rooster who has had no health issues. He also came from MPC via Meyer.

Your answer has helped me to understand better what may be going on. Thanks.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Fire Any Farm - (excuse me for not quoting) thank you for that very thorough response. I appreciate hearing your experiences with CLBs. My CLB pullets did come from Meyer, but MPC has their own breeding programs via independent contractors, mostly Amish from what they (MPC) tell me. They just rent brooding space at Meyer for the fertilized eggs and Meyer ships for them when the chicks hatch.

It's entirely possible that my CLB pullet has a compromised immune system being exposed to LL (lymphotic leucosis, similar to Marek's) in my flock. All my other chickens have developed resistance to it. So it would explain why she gets sick so often. Being a new breed in this country, probably breeders haven't had time to develop the CLB breed to be resistant to LL and I knew that was a risk I was taking. Curiously, I have a one-year old CLB rooster who has had no health issues. He also came from MPC via Meyer.

Your answer has helped me to understand better what may be going on. Thanks.

It entirely possible that my girl went down due to LL instead of Mareks, I made an assumption based on the other pullets' ocular disease and what I found on necropsy. I never confirmed LL vs Mareks (long story). My other pullet (now hen) has had no problems. I have resigned myself to breeding for resistance...

- Ant Farm

 

[sol2go]

Here's another boy that looked promising (though a bit less so), slight crook in his comb, and darker, though good barring. (It was harder to get photos of him.)




- Ant Farm

If the pics/angles are reliable, this one seems to have a longer back and better tail angle, but the other one has better barring throughout the tail. You might try spreading their wings out and look for strong barring there. From an SOP standpoint, the combs would be the last consideration after body type, color and pattern.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
Thank you so much! I have always followed the posts when others ask about their birds, but it's been really interesting to have this group of boys and evaluate them, and then the input means so much more. I've been sitting and watching them.

I'm still actually struggling with the decision of whether to keep any of them, as I'm pretty full up on chickens. This helps think about it.

- Ant Farm