I wish I knew.. DO YOU KNOW?

[duluthralphie]

Man I have a busy day, check in to see what is happening and you guys are talking about fartichokes........

I don't even want to ask.

Whats a fartichoke?

 

[microchick]

Oops, just deleted it went to the wrong window. my bad.

 

[orrpeople]

Our local feed store does *not* purchase MDV vaccinated chicks.

Good to know. I will call around here too and find out more.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Whats a fartichoke?

A fartichoke is something you don't want to feed my husband.

Now, if we can swing this back to Mareks, how certain are the test results? When a lab says it's Mareks, or it's not, how accurate is that?

And I'm still trying to understand why Mareks, a herpes virus, is lethal. Are there other herpes viruses chicken can get that aren't lethal?

 

[duluthralphie]

A fartichoke is something you don't want to feed my husband.

Now, if we can swing this back to Mareks, how certain are the test results? When a lab says it's Mareks, or it's not, how accurate is that?

And I'm still trying to understand why Mareks, a herpes virus, is lethal. Are there other herpes viruses chicken can get that aren't lethal?

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/poultry/facts/ilt.htm


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8157/

 

[orrpeople]

A fartichoke is something you don't want to feed my husband.

Now, if we can swing this back to Mareks, how certain are the test results? When a lab says it's Mareks, or it's not, how accurate is that?

And I'm still trying to understand why Mareks, a herpes virus, is lethal. Are there other herpes viruses chicken can get that aren't lethal?

It turns blood cells into lymphoma - so, although it's classified as a herpes virus, it creates cancerous lesions in the chicken.

 

[duluthralphie]

Herpes is the family ...the one article explains it has to do with the wall. Some herpes are fatal some are not....


Doggone I sound smart....however..I just read that..

 

[Sunshine Flock]

So it's ess

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/poultry/facts/ilt.htm


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8157/

I read both articles.

So is ILT the same thing as Mereks? Mereks isn't mentioned anywhere. From that same article, I found this:

"Due to vaccination potential to cause disease, veterinary supervision is strongly recommended when the decision is made to go this route. Since both natural infection and vaccination have been shown to produce "carrier" birds, it is extremely important that susceptible chicken flocks are not exposed to vaccinated or previously infected chickens."

I read some months ago that Privett had some chickens test positive for Mereks. I can't site the article, but I read this online. When this happens at a large hatchery, do they both euthanize and then vaccinate remaining stock used to breed chicks?

If so, what does this mean for the chicks and their resilience and immunity, if anything?

 

[Taylorbrood]

I also would be interested if anyone has info on more or less susceptible breeds. I have not had a marek's outbreak in my flock (Yet ) but my father lost two birds to it this year. The birds that died were his only Speckled Sussex. So far all the australorps are fine. We both really liked the SS (we bought our chicks together and mine are still going strong) but he may get something else next time if their immunity is low....

Anyways before I ramble on to long, I am glad to have found this thread and excited to hear some Matek's myths busted (or any other info you care to share)

the three I lost, one was an australorpe, the other two buff orphingtons. I have one I am watching closely, she is a Copper Moran, she is under 5 lbs but holding between 4.10 and 4.13, but her eggs are looking rather odd speckled shells and some look like they have veins. the hens chase her off the food and keep a distance from her one the roost, they constantly peck at her or do a head strike (not sure of the terminology there, but it's like jabbing their head at her without pecking her) if she approaches them they squawk at her. I feel bad for her, she is not the low one in the pecking order, that one is Laoughaire. Gallis never tries to pull rank on the two top hens, and neither does Laoughaire. But Gallis gets the brunt of it all from them. I check her crop every night and weigh her every three days.

 

[orrpeople]

the three I lost, one was an australorpe, the other two buff orphingtons. I have one I am watching closely, she is a Copper Moran, she is under 5 lbs but holding between 4.10 and 4.13, but her eggs are looking rather odd speckled shells and some look like they have veins. the hens chase her off the food and keep a distance from her one the roost, they constantly peck at her or do a head strike (not sure of the terminology there, but it's like jabbing their head at her without pecking her) if she approaches them they squawk at her. I feel bad for her, she is not the low one in the pecking order, that one is Laoughaire. Gallis never tries to pull rank on the two top hens, and neither does Laoughaire. But Gallis gets the brunt of it all from them. I check her crop every night and weigh her every three days.

I hope you have been able to find some encouragement on this thread.
Chickens have a flock preservation mentality - they do not tolerate birds who appear sick or infirm in any way. Two consequences of this are that they bully and or try to drive out the weakened bird, and a sick bird will do everything in its power to hide symptoms. I can only speak about my observations, but "hunching" their bodies and standing still for long periods are my "oh no!" indicators. Because I am really trying to get rid of any active strain, I immediately cull those birds (I know, it seems heartless - and many disagree with me on this) because sick birds shed a higher volume of the virus.
Your best course of action may be to isolate your sickest, most picked on bird. The stress of the flock dynamics can also increase the outbreak (also stress factors like parasite overload, breeding issues, change of seasons, etc. can cause the disease to crop up with more frequency - a lot like herpes in people). When they are sassy and happy, they tend to do much better!
It is truly devastating when the birds you love become ill, and I am so sorry for your losses.