Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

I have no issues w/ antibiotics but vaccines are a concern to me. However, after having Mareck's issues where the birds suffer progressively for days/weeks, I absolutely will not have a bird w/o Mareck's vaccination so the bird doesn't have to suffer symptoms where the bird spends so much lengthy time deteriorating. If birds can recover from Mareck's I never had one in spite of my vet's optimism to wait & see.

W/ AI the birds seem to pass very quickly seems almost overnight w/o showing progressive symptoms so I personally will hold any opinion till more info comes forward. Also, at what age are the AI vaccines given? So much to research & whose info to trust. If the AI vaccine can be given to hens past laying age I would vaccinate them for certain but if the vaccine absolutely needs to be given at day-old there is no choice in the matter & we live w/ eating those eggs just like w/ hens that were Mareck's-vaccinated as chicks.

I'm awaiting which USA hatcheries will be the 1st to offer AI vaccine once widely approved. I'm amazed Mareck's isn't automatic in hatcheries but customers have a choices to refuse? Private breeders automatically state their chicks are vaccinated & you don't have a choice. Those are my kind of private breeders.

What a world! Life used to be so much
simpler... Going thru certain flock experiences kinda cements our opinions on how we handle future bird choices.

Another view of Gemma w/ unsteady Mareck's legs she kept spaced apart so she wouldn't fall over. We treated the cocci she arrived with fine but the Mareck's was progressive. She was an adorable Blue Ameraucana from a breeder who didn't believe in vaccines, antibiotics or meds of any kind! We had her only about 2 weeks before having to face the inevitable. Losing both Taffy & Gemma we never got another true Ameraucana again. Such sweet birds.
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Several countries vaccinate chickens against Avian Influenza and in some cases have done so for 20 years.
https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity.../17/bird-flu-vaccination-policies-by-country/

 

[Sylvester017]

Re walker - didn’t want to get a SHRA

Whenever I look in the loft of the garage and see my grammas walker I wonder ‘now what can I use that for in the barn’…. At that point I hear my gramma yelling at me ‘you will not use my good walker in the barn!’ And it is a nice one, has a seat one can sit on when ‘standing in line’, I’ll likely need it one day

But it would sure make a nice thing to roll food bowls on up the barn aisle!

Yes, you will be glad you kept grammas walker/seat! Trust me! The good ones are really expensive. The one I wanted was $700. I settled for a $200 walker w/seat for the car trunk & $159 one for the outdoor yard!

 

[Sylvester017]

Several countries vaccinate chickens against Avian Influenza and in some cases have done so for 20 years.
https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity.../17/bird-flu-vaccination-policies-by-country/

I know, but some of those govts are not the most trustworthy or caring of their populace in my IMO

 

[Sylvester017]

Tax BFTP 2015

Gemma again... first time in yrs today I'm remembering this sweetie

 

[featherhead007]

I know, but some of those govts are not the most trustworthy or caring of their populace in my IMO

You know what the world’s problem really is,? Not enough people hug their roosters! They would rather drop bombs.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Sorry. Language issues. It is what a walker is commonly called in the UK.


Yes, Marek's can be detected with a swab. Can do a mouth swab, but a drop of blood is more accurate. Here is one of the independent labs that I have used and I know some others on BYC have used.
https://www.vetdna.com/

Yep, that’s a walker. Used it previously in the Chickatraz brooder too. Easy to move, setup, and clean afterwards. It’s great for hanging the waterer and feeder on and for perch supports!

Thanks for the lab info.

 

[Ponypoor]

Tax BFTP 2015

Gemma again... first time in yrs today I'm remembering this sweetie
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She’s a beauty - reminds me of a whiskers and Misty

 

[Ponypoor]

You know what the world’s problem really is,? Not enough people hug their roosters! They would rather drop bombs. View attachment 4154762

Did someone peck him on the comb?

 

[BY Bob]

Hattie Update

Hattie is back out with everyone.

Aurora did not bother her.

She did try to go back to the coop and lay an egg again. I moved her to the Hattie House in the shade. Hopefully she will lay there. I have my eye on her.

 

[BY Bob]

The brooder setup here, hopefully a far cry from Chickatraz! (@featherhead007). Added more Up places, and rearranged it some for landing runways and an alley for foot chases!
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I bought two of the ~40x40 ones, they zip together on the outside, and I clipped the inner bits together too at chick height and covered the walkway. They make a one-piece double one but the zippered doors are on opposite sides which didn't work for me. It doesn't have a floor so I used cardboard and taped it down.

That is an amazing set up. Well done!