Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[WhoDatChick]

Added some Color and Life

I also was able to add some flowers to the coop yesterday. It buoyed my spirit a little. View attachment 2067735

It rained mercilessly this weekend. Always a downer for me. I need time outside. I also left the house for the first time in about 2 weeks, self isolation and all. Buying the flowers helped a lot.

Interesting Development in Flock Dynamics
I am watching Hattie lead the flock around this morning. For some reason Lilly is off on her own. Hattie even called to them at one point letting them know she had identified a good scratching place.

Only Sydney did not go to her. She too is off on her own this morning.

What I call the baby worms are back. They are tiny. Maybe as long as the first knuckle on your finger and as thick as a piece of string. They are under leaves and just in the first layer of soil. The ladies here will spend hours scratching them up. Their appearance surely means spring has arrived.

Looking beautiful!

 

[WhoDatChick]

One of the reasons I wanted to take some time before responding is that the answers are not simple.

I cannot find my last book on virology basics. I can't answer right now what the latest sample minimums are in order to set a rate. If I can locate it tomorrow I will respond with the latest. I may call someone as well as it is bugging me now.

Viral growth curves are generally unique to the virus and have not been compared to each other in any real way. There are no real method for there to be an "average" time frame.

Almost all studies around what you are asking, animal to human transmission, relate to HIV. HIV doesn't act like other viruses. It is a very bad virus to use as an example because of how long it takes to cause disease. Other latent viruses include herpes simplex virus (oral and genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox and shingles), and Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) and Hepatitis C virus.

HIV viral loads vs time, while studied extensively, do not behave the same in any 2 individuals.

Interestingly, viral growth curves are also not really curves. They are exponential straight lines as the virus actively infects and replicates, they are not bell shaped curves. For example here is the the growth "curve" for the flu.
View attachment 2067421

Very few viruses move from animals to humans. The means of transmission are generally not as effective and there are enough differences in cell structure and immune system to limit the transfer of hosts. That is why it is an unusual virus that infects both. Most viruses are species specific.

However, host transfer is not unheard of. These transfers involve either increased exposure or the acquisition of variations that allow the virus to overcome barriers to infection of the new hosts. In these cases, devastating outbreaks can result. The most recent being the H1N1 flu. Luckily it was not nearly as effective at spreading itself in humans as it was in birds. If it had been the outbreak would have been devastating.

SARS is another host transfer virus that was quite deadly. Transmission was problematic for the SARS virus because it was not infective until after symptoms started. This enabled us to limit its spread by isolating the sick. Unlike COVID 19 which is infectious long before symptoms start. Making it exceeding good at finding new hosts for itself.

Fortunately for us, most viral host transfers to infect the new hosts cause only single infections or limited outbreaks, and it is rare for a virus to cause an epidemic in a new host.

Does this help or confuse? I feel like I've been rambling. Let me know if I need to clarify.

... that is meant to be a sign for “over my head” ... I don’t know how it happened but I seemed to gravitate toward the genius threads.. yours, Ribh’s, Kris’ .... etc... I am but a simpleton... I am not putting myself down in any way.. I have plenty of common sense but book knowledge is not my forte... so I do love learning from you all.. and I’ll admit.. some of what yall discuss I do get but some definitely goes over my head! I do love the fact that I can come on here and actually learn instead of just jibber jabbing.. thank you to ALL the geniuses here

 

[biophiliac]

One of the reasons I wanted to take some time before responding is that the answers are not simple.

I cannot find my last book on virology basics. I can't answer right now what the latest sample minimums are in order to set a rate. If I can locate it tomorrow I will respond with the latest. I may call someone as well as it is bugging me now.

Viral growth curves are generally unique to the virus and have not been compared to each other in any real way. There are no real method for there to be an "average" time frame.

Almost all studies around what you are asking, animal to human transmission, relate to HIV. HIV doesn't act like other viruses. It is a very bad virus to use as an example because of how long it takes to cause disease. Other latent viruses include herpes simplex virus (oral and genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox and shingles), and Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) and Hepatitis C virus.

HIV viral loads vs time, while studied extensively, do not behave the same in any 2 individuals.

Interestingly, viral growth curves are also not really curves. They are exponential straight lines as the virus actively infects and replicates, they are not bell shaped curves. For example here is the the growth "curve" for the flu.
View attachment 2067421

Very few viruses move from animals to humans. The means of transmission are generally not as effective and there are enough differences in cell structure and immune system to limit the transfer of hosts. That is why it is an unusual virus that infects both. Most viruses are species specific.

However, host transfer is not unheard of. These transfers involve either increased exposure or the acquisition of variations that allow the virus to overcome barriers to infection of the new hosts. In these cases, devastating outbreaks can result. The most recent being the H1N1 flu. Luckily it was not nearly as effective at spreading itself in humans as it was in birds. If it had been the outbreak would have been devastating.

SARS is another host transfer virus that was quite deadly. Transmission was problematic for the SARS virus because it was not infective until after symptoms started. This enabled us to limit its spread by isolating the sick. Unlike COVID 19 which is infectious long before symptoms start. Making it exceeding good at finding new hosts for itself.

Fortunately for us, most viral host transfers to infect the new hosts cause only single infections or limited outbreaks, and it is rare for a virus to cause an epidemic in a new host.

Does this help or confuse? I feel like I've been rambling. Let me know if I need to clarify.

Very helpful, thanks Bob!

 

[BY Bob]

... that is meant to be a sign for “over my head” ... I don’t know how it happened but I seemed to gravitate toward the genius threads.. yours, Ribh’s, Kris’ .... etc... I am but a simpleton... I am not putting myself down in any way.. I have plenty of common sense but book knowledge is not my forte... so I do love learning from you all.. and I’ll admit.. some of what yall discuss I do get but some definitely goes over my head! I do love the fact that I can come on here and actually learn instead of just jibber jabbing.. thank you to ALL the geniuses here

Please, not a genius. Something that I have learned and worked with for over 30 years. There are real geniuses out there working on vaccines for COVID 19. I just have some knowledge.

 

[RoyalChick]

Here are some pics from today... full house in the nesting boxes.. some pics are not so good as the lighting was bad... and yes, a new chicken decor View attachment 2067392View attachment 2067378View attachment 2067379View attachment 2067380

I love your nest boxes and that they are all piling in together. Wonderful!

 

[Cwestlake]

I love all of your stories!

 

[RoyalChick]

One of the reasons I wanted to take some time before responding is that the answers are not simple.

I cannot find my last book on virology basics. I can't answer right now what the latest sample minimums are in order to set a rate. If I can locate it tomorrow I will respond with the latest. I may call someone as well as it is bugging me now.

Viral growth curves are generally unique to the virus and have not been compared to each other in any real way. There are no real method for there to be an "average" time frame.

Almost all studies around what you are asking, animal to human transmission, relate to HIV. HIV doesn't act like other viruses. It is a very bad virus to use as an example because of how long it takes to cause disease. Other latent viruses include herpes simplex virus (oral and genital herpes), varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox and shingles), and Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) and Hepatitis C virus.

HIV viral loads vs time, while studied extensively, do not behave the same in any 2 individuals.

Interestingly, viral growth curves are also not really curves. They are exponential straight lines as the virus actively infects and replicates, they are not bell shaped curves. For example here is the the growth "curve" for the flu.
View attachment 2067421

Very few viruses move from animals to humans. The means of transmission are generally not as effective and there are enough differences in cell structure and immune system to limit the transfer of hosts. That is why it is an unusual virus that infects both. Most viruses are species specific.

However, host transfer is not unheard of. These transfers involve either increased exposure or the acquisition of variations that allow the virus to overcome barriers to infection of the new hosts. In these cases, devastating outbreaks can result. The most recent being the H1N1 flu. Luckily it was not nearly as effective at spreading itself in humans as it was in birds. If it had been the outbreak would have been devastating.

SARS is another host transfer virus that was quite deadly. Transmission was problematic for the SARS virus because it was not infective until after symptoms started. This enabled us to limit its spread by isolating the sick. Unlike COVID 19 which is infectious long before symptoms start. Making it exceeding good at finding new hosts for itself.

Fortunately for us, most viral host transfers to infect the new hosts cause only single infections or limited outbreaks, and it is rare for a virus to cause an epidemic in a new host.

Does this help or confuse? I feel like I've been rambling. Let me know if I need to clarify.

At the risk of piling on. It is not just about how the virus behaves in the host (replication rate leading to viral load) it is also about the impact on the host and the hots's behavior. A very rapidly fatal virus doesn't spread so far in the community the person dies before they can pass it on to too many others. A virus that is much less rapidly fatal has the chance to spread in the community much more.

 

[BY Bob]

I love all of your stories!

I'm so glad. That's why I decided to share them. My wife said people would love them. It is nice to hear that you like them.

 

[BY Bob]

At the risk of piling on. It is not just about how the virus behaves in the host (replication rate leading to viral load) it is also about the impact on the host and the hots's behavior. A very rapidly fatal virus doesn't spread so far in the community the person dies before they can pass it on to too many others. A virus that is much less rapidly fatal has the chance to spread in the community much more.

Compared to viruses like HIV which are latent and spread while the infected person is not ill. Good point.

 

[ValerieJ]

Good morning Fluffy Butt Acres folks! Just thought I'd check in to say Queen Bee has once again turned a corner and is us cooing and chattering this morning. No sign of fever or discomfort. She will remain in the hospital for a few days this time so I can closely watch her.

Who recommended Corid? I forget, but I want to thank you. My whole flock has already been treated for it, twice this year, the most recent being a couple weeks ago. And yes, I know you have to do it twice, 10 days on, 7 days off, 10 days on, with vitamins on the off days. But, I thought, why not try? So I did and it just might have been what made the difference. I can't be sure, but I stopped all other meds and started treating the whole flock again, just in case.

Thanks for all the support here!!! And the great advice!!! I'd go back and find out who said that, but you are all so chatty here that it might take me all day.