Hatching Eggs / Paypal CHAT Thread

[Bettacreek]

Mine will be off for a day or two when I move. I'm even trying to find homes for my turkey eggs! I am doing fairly well with chicken eggs. Hopefully after the 24 hour auction set ships, I can start hoarding some for the fridge again. I only have about six in there right now, lol.

 

[cluckitall]

All right, must stop playing around and go fill out another form. Cya all in an hour or so!

 

[Lilwanis]

Quote:
At least now we know it's not one of those completely naked chickens (I recommend you not Google that)

Quote: x3

Quote:
Ah, I have been wondering about that. Have you immunized for Mareks in your flock? I thought Mareks was passed by mosquito? Is that not the case? I am glad that it wasn't MG and that the rest of your flock seems to be doing well.

 

[Lilwanis]

Quote:
That's interesting. Can birds still get Mareks if they are vaccinated for it?

 

[puglady]

Yeah sorry it's been crazy round here with the little ones being sick.

So the necropsy on the cockerel came back as Mareks. There was lymphoma in the blood and advanced lesions on organs. He also had very high amounts of coccidodosis in the stool. So sadly they say that he was shipped with these issues as he was only in my care for 3 days before he was euthanized and also completely quarantined away from any other birds. The others are potential carriers so I can't put them anywhere near my other flocks as they've never had any symptoms of Mareks. Luckily we have enough land and resource to have them in an area that's no where near our current birds. We are just going to keep practicing vigilant biosecurity and raise them to laying age. We'll hatch out as many chicks as we possibly can and fill any egg orders.

Interestingly I've spent a GREAT deal of time on the phone with avian vets and pathologists and they've all said that most flocks in the US, especially those that have outdoor/freerange yards are carriers of Mareks. It was a ridiculous percentage that they suspect. But she said that it's a non-issue if you keep your birds in good health. Things like cocci and stress of travel can make birds shed the viruses. she said that the respiratory issue wasn't anything contagious but was a complication of the other issues in his system. She said that MG is much more of a concern as it passes through the embryo. She said once a flock has it it's near impossible to eradicate. So THANKFULLY it wasn't MG! Even with the strictest biosecurity I would have had all of my flocks!

I've read that 5% can still get Mareks even if vaccinated for it. extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf

 

[AyeUpChuck]

That's interesting. Can birds still get Mareks if they are vaccinated for it?

yep. In fact she said that chicks that are exposed to any sort of mareks within 7-14 days of being vaccinated are like magnets for it and are even more susceptible to the virus than chicks that aren't vaccinated. She also said that birds can even still get it and that there are various strains. She said that they're seeing crazy mutations in a great deal of flocks most likely due to the birds that are vaccinated or resistant to it. it's just nature. The viruses, of any kind, will mutate to survive. Most people just don't see them as living things.

 

[chickenbelle]

I got my bantam feather legged mix in from Ideal today. I can only accurately identify one breed/color of these guys! Aghghghg!

I know I have some partridge cochins. Otherwise, I have two odd ones I have no clue about (one has yellow with grey flecks on the head and tail and brown patches on his back--the other is brown and black backed with a yellow tummy BUT his beak is a dark brown???) , several that are mostly gold with some grey,and some bright yellows, and some bright yellows with some grey. I've never had silkies this young so I don't know if I have any--none are solid black legged/beaked/or skinned. I needed a few silkies and mille fleurs!!!

About 6 of them look like blue mille fleurs, but their website says they don't have any available. So confused! Anyone else get this pack of birds that has any similar?

 

[AyeUpChuck]

so basically if you get your chicks vaccinated for Mareks and you have free rangers or they're in an area where they can possibly come into contact with wild bird dander or fecal material they're VERY susceptible to getting it. They might not die from it granted but if they fight it off they'll always be carriers. This doesn't mean that they're going to infect the whole flock mind you but if they ever get anything that distresses their immune system, they can shed/activate the virus and pass it on. At least that's the way I understood it after lots of time on the phone.

 

[AyeUpChuck]

At least now we know it's not one of those completely naked chickens (I recommend you not Google that)
x3

Ah, I have been wondering about that. Have you immunized for Mareks in your flock? I thought Mareks was passed by mosquito? Is that not the case? I am glad that it wasn't MG and that the rest of your flock seems to be doing well.

Mareks can be transmitted by mosquito but is more readily transmitted by dander and poop of wild birds. The vaccine is actual a strain derived from turkey mareks which doesn't harm chickens but according to the pathologist it seems that most strains are mutating rendering vaccination less effective. She did stress that good husbandry and cleanliness was the best tool against mareks though.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

So this means Aye can offer bresse eggs in swap