INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[tmarsh83]

Tmarsh83: We've had good luck keeping a nipple system thawed using heat tape. The birds don't peck it, and it's wonderful! Any chance something that like could be tooled to work for you?

That's a nice setup. I suppose it could work, but it doesn't address the possibility of frozen eggs that I've had a couple times this year. Hoping coop 2.0 is less likely to have the problem, but who knows. I wouldn't know why it wouldn't work, and I might even have a bit of heat tape in the garage if I were to look. I'll keep this option open.

I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work just as well on the cup style watering system, does anyone else, birds don't seem to often leave much water in the cups, and I much prefer (and already have several) cups to the nipple style.

 

[Mother2Hens]

M2H: Forgive this graphic question. If you have a chance to speak with the vet again, I would ask what preliminary results lead her to believe it was Marek's. I would press her if she actually visualized tumors anywhere. Eliza's sudden limp might be indicative of a tumor pressing on a nerve--potential Mareks'.

My understanding: Marek's is in our environment from wild birds, etc., and our flocks can build an immunity to it naturally or via vaccination. Either it kills them when they're young, they build immunity, or tumors grow slowly inside them (quasi-immunity) the vaccine is not 100% successful.

I had my chicks vaccinated for Marek's and still lost one at about 4 months: sudden paralysis and eventual euthanasia. Unknown reason for paralysis, could be injury or could be Marek's. Any Marek's blood test would come back positive because she was vaccinated as a chick, so that was not a helpful test.

Even though I had a pullet suffering an unusual sudden paralysis which could be indicative of Marek's symptoms, we've since broody hatched 4 clutches of chicks and not vaccinated the last 3 against Marek's. No chick deaths.

I'm a layperson. My post is my personal experience, nothing more.

@Mother2Hens and @pginsber

I agree that you should press.

I've heard from several sources that vets often say "marek's" with nothing to prove it. I even know one that had labs done and they said Marek's but there was no actual evidence - even in the labs.

Not sure why some are so quick to conclude Marek's when there isn't concrete evidence..... but it does seem to be somewhat common to jump to that conclusion from what I've heard.

Thank you both for your input! (and I don't mind inquiring minds, @pginsber - lol) I was always taught to, "Question Everything."
Unfortunately, I didn't think of getting a necropsy until my third dead chicken, Screech. I'm sure the larger orps would've been easier to examine. I buried them, so I supposed I could dig them up and examine them myself—hoping that curiosity overshadows the morbidness. When DH dropped off Screech to the veterinarian, I assumed he'd being doing the necropsy since he also runs a wild bird rehab, but he sent Screech to Purdue.

I certainly hope that it's something besides Marek's. The worst thing to me about Marek's besides having my babies die is trying to sanitize the area even though Marek's organisms can live for years?! From the little I've had time to read so far, it does sound like Marek's virus is everywhere and can be passed by wild birds, wild animals, people, etc. etc. I am hoping that at least my four year old LF chickens will survive. My Silkie seems fine, too, but as I mentioned Bonbon has slightly labored breathing on the perch.

Here's a link to my veterinarian's info (I'm adding the link, not because I feel defensive in any way; I think it's interesting). Dr.GreggGormley
He has a Federal Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit: “We treat and rehab all wild birds including waterfowl and raptors. We also hold a permit to possess treat and release the Eastern Box Turtle and will treat turtles but no other reptiles or wild mammals.”

Anyway, as I mentioned, the problem was that when Dr. Gormley phoned me, I could only whisper, so he said something about some of the information came back from Purdue which indicates Marek's, but there will be more information coming. "For now, don't add any new chickens to your flock" (I'm thinking, oh great, I have my new Lacy upstairs!) He said he'd call when he had more info.

For anyone interested, here's some basic info:

Marek’s disease has 4 basic forms.

Cutaneous (skin) Form – enlarged feather follicles and white bumps that form crusty scabs
Neural Form – Paralysis (usually 1 leg forward, 1 leg back), weight loss, diarrhea, labored breathing, starvation and death
Ocular (eye) Form – grey eye color, misshapen iris, weight loss, blindness, death
Visceral Form – tumors on internal organs
Splay Leg Chicken

Affected birds may have multiple symptoms, only one of the above signs or only depression prior to death. (Adeline had depression prior to death, but I assumed it was from losing her BFF Eliza).

 

[Mother2Hens]

Okay folks, could use your help! Our new silkie roo Olaf has a toe problem/infection? I first noticed it yesterday, and it doubled in swell since then. I was sick as a dog Wed. but since he is inside being quarantined before going out to meet his girls, I think I would have noticed. He spends a lot of his time perched on the edge of his pack-n-play home and we talk often. I am so in love with this boy! He is sooo sweet. Got him from @ellymayRans 3 weeks ago, he is originally from @Indyshent

Here is his toe

I don't have time to look right now, but this site has tons of foot info: Poultry Podiatry - PoultryPedia

 

[pginsber]

Okay folks, could use your help! Our new silkie roo Olaf has a toe problem/infection? I first noticed it yesterday, and it doubled in swell since then. I was sick as a dog Wed. but since he is inside being quarantined before going out to meet his girls, I think I would have noticed. He spends a lot of his time perched on the edge of his pack-n-play home and we talk often. I am so in love with this boy! He is sooo sweet. Got him from @ellymayRans 3 weeks ago, he is originally from @Indyshent

Here is his toe

Is the tip of his toe cold?

 

[flyladyrocks]

Okay folks, could use your help! Our new silkie roo Olaf has a toe problem/infection? I first noticed it yesterday, and it doubled in swell since then. I was sick as a dog Wed. but since he is inside being quarantined before going out to meet his girls, I think I would have noticed. He spends a lot of his time perched on the edge of his pack-n-play home and we talk often. I am so in love with this boy! He is sooo sweet. Got him from @ellymayRans 3 weeks ago, he is originally from @Indyshent

Here is his toe

 

[pginsber]

I'm afraid to say I think your'e right, I think it's frostbite.

Clean and dry, and time to heal. That's about all I think you can do. I've not treated frostbitten toes, but I believe others on here have. I'll defer to their expertise.
Hugs to Olaf and you.

 

[daskhan]

Hello just stopping in to give my two cents
1.) for the welp statements be really careful ordering from them I had two 25+ orders from them suppose to be straight run only got three Roos both are leghorn(I only ordered 5 leghorn)
2.) Cornish cross the males normally are the bigger and more desired thus cost more I ordered 25 of these as straight run( cost more then just pullets) 100% female...

Possitive I got a few chicks the wrong breed and because it took so long for me to figure out male from female(two months) I called and complained got 25% back

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Wanted to let everyone know thats not on our Facebook BYC page. Many of us have met her personally and spoken with @minmin1258 . Cindy Is one of our honorary hoosiers, drove all the way from WV to attend out chickenfest in Liberty. Cindy jumped right in and helped us put out a huge feast! Her dog pal rode all the way out with her. I am saddened to report her husband lost his battle with cancer. Please, keep her in your thoughts.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Agreed. I am on a lot of the other threads, and left of few because this gets to be so crazy on debate. Folks were told to just cull the whole flock. I would get every ounce of info for sure.

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for Barred Rock hatching eggs or around 6 chicks that will be ready between Feb. 22nd - March 11. I'm in the Wanatah area and could travel up to an hour. Anyone nearby have these breeds?

Thanks!

Great to see you!

Okay folks, could use your help! Our new silkie roo Olaf has a toe problem/infection? I first noticed it yesterday, and it doubled in swell since then. I was sick as a dog Wed. but since he is inside being quarantined before going out to meet his girls, I think I would have noticed. He spends a lot of his time perched on the edge of his pack-n-play home and we talk often. I am so in love with this boy! He is sooo sweet. Got him from @ellymayRans 3 weeks ago, he is originally from @Indyshent

Here is his toe

soaking the foot should help and allow you to better see whats happening. Looks like bumble on the toe. ETA i think you are right! It does look like frostbite!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Have had the flu or something last few days, ugh. Still running a fever, aches etc. So far the critters are holding out well with this cold snap.

I hope you get better soon.

Hello just stopping in to give my two cents
1.) for the welp statements be really careful ordering from them I had two 25+ orders from them suppose to be straight run only got three Roos both are leghorn(I only ordered 5 leghorn)
2.) Cornish cross the males normally are the bigger and more desired thus cost more I ordered 25 of these as straight run( cost more then just pullets) 100% female...

Possitive I got a few chicks the wrong breed and because it took so long for me to figure out male from female(two months) I called and complained got 25% back

I had a great experience with the welp chicks I got. As for the straight run, it really should be posted as unsexed chicks. Most people think it means 50%female and 50% male but it is whatever comes out of the eggs. And if a person is only ordering a few of each breed, then the chance of getting half roos is slim for each breed. And mathematically even slimmer for the entire group as a whole. The odds of getting half roos and half hens are better for large batches of one breed. It has to do with the law of large numbers.
In other words, your sample size was too small. An order of 25 is not significantly large enough to expect half roosters.