Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

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 2067380View attachment 2067381View attachment 2067383View attachment 2067384View attachment 2067385View attachment 2067386View attachment 2067387View attachment 2067388View attachment 2067389View attachment 2067390View attachment 2067391

Gorgeous! Where did you get that sign? I want one!

 

[WhoDatChick]

Gorgeous! Where did you get that sign? I want one!

Thank you! I ordered on Amazon....

 

[BY Bob]

Excuse me sir, I have a microbiology question. When a virus migrates from animal to human, how long before we reliably know its infection growth rate? I imagine it would take N cases over M days... Maybe a month for one with a fast growth rate?

Also, I imagine it's impossible to know how many viruses migrate from animals to people because most of them would not survive the immune system of the people who catch it first. So we don't have any data. How strong is my reasoning on this?

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.

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.

 

[BY Bob]

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 2067380View attachment 2067381View attachment 2067383View attachment 2067384View attachment 2067385View attachment 2067386View attachment 2067387View attachment 2067388View attachment 2067389View attachment 2067390View attachment 2067391

I love them all. So great to see them again! Thanks for sharing!

 

[BY Bob]

I have to ask the meaning of the term 'wheelhouse' in this context? My understanding is that it is the bridge on a ship or boat.

I know it as a baseball reference. Where the “wheelhouse” is the area of the strike zone where a you are best able to hit the ball.

So my "wheelhouse", as I am using it, is someplace where I have great knowledge.

 

[BY Bob]

Let it establish; it may survive a good pruning then. The same can't be said about my succulents...

That's what my wife suggested as well.

 

[MaryJanet]

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 ou f 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.

No, it's awesome! I know much more now than before!

 

[BY Bob]

Celebration of Maleficent

I accidentally posted this on @Ribh thread last night. For those who don't read her thread, if there are any, here is a link.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/ribhs-dcoopage.1295189/post-22366898

 

[BY Bob]

Added some Color and Life

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

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.

 

[BY Bob]

Sunshine

The sun just broke through for a few seconds and Aurora dropped like she had been shot to enjoy it!