INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[hogster160]

As a disclaimer, I'd like to first state that I am not a vet--what I am about to say is based entirely on lots of my own research, and I would suggest that anyone reading this do their own research to make sure that what they end up doing is right for their flock.


I do not vaccinate for Marek's for one reason--I am fairly sure my hens that were feed store chicks were not vaccinated. It's my understanding that birds vaccinated against Marek's can also shed the virus and infect birds that are not vaccinated. Marek's is a nasty disease, and I don't like the thought of it getting into my flock, but I'd prefer not to bring it here myself and risk losing any of my birds. The vaccine is only really effective within the first 36 hours after hatching, anyway, or you can bet I'd be vaccinating my girls for it.

Whether it is worth it to have the hatchery vaccinate really depends upon which hatchery--and you'd have to be asking that hatchery about it. Apparently, not every vaccine is effective against all strains of Marek's, but some hatcheries reportedly mix the three vaccines to cover all strains. If it weren't for my situation of having some birds not vaccinated, I would likely vaccinate chicks if it was the mixture of vaccinations to cover all strains.


As far as contamination goes--this is exactly why I don't like to buy adult birds anymore. Any adult bird could potentially be a carrier of a disease that it does not show symptoms for. Additionally, any place that has adult birds, or that someone who owns adult birds has been (yes, this includes the feed store!) can be a source of contamination for your flock. There are lots of ugly diseases out there, and if you really want to be safe, you have to be proactive--never wear the same shoes or clothes in the chicken yard or where your chickens may be after you've worn them to a swap meet, someone else's farm, a poultry show, or even the feed store, and vice versa. Of course, there is now way of preventing all contamination, as wild birds and insects can carry some things as well, but you can always do what you can to help prevent your flock from getting sick.


As for medicated chick feed, I avoid that as well. The medication in it is just a low-dose medicine for coccidiosis to prevent your chicks from getting it, nothing more. The risk there is that if you bring successive generations of chicks in on medicated feed, the cocci on your property could become immune to the medicine in that particular starter feed and your birds could become infected anyway. I feed the unmedicated chick starter and keep some Amprolium on hand just in case the chicks come down with coccidiosis. However, if you really want to feed medicated starter, you could find out what kind of medicine is in each brand, and switch between brands that use different medicines each time you get chicks.

I feel the same way. I was upset the hatchery told me it was too late to vaccinate, and the 6 i bought from the feed store were also not vaccinated. I will not vaccinate any of my birds because this first set was not. I don't plan to visit any swap, and I do change shoes and clothes once I leave the feed store. I have no friends who have chickens. I kinda felt like I was going overboard. I am glad to see that I am not going overboard. It is serious and I need to treat it as so.

Thanks for the confirmation.

Deb

 

[bradselig]

Does anyone have experience with golden cuckoo Marans? I bought some eggs locally and two have hatched thus far. One got stuck so I had to help it out and pulled he other out since I was running around crazy and dried out. My issue is the chick looks nothing like what pictures show a GCM should look like! Ill get pictures up soon if anyone has experience with the breed.

 

[bradselig]

I have a few new pictures of my lovely showgirl chicks. I just wanted to share. I am really starting to fall in love with these little guys, so different and sweet.

everyone has been sharing their babies that aren't chickens, I just want to show of my boy Mack, even though his little face is dirty, I love my baby.

Beautiful showgirls! Love the kitty as well.

 

[beelerchicks]

First year.... Fortville, IN

 

[oldrooster]

Quote: So to sum it up you are suggesting using a special pair of boots or shoes and gloves for coop chores only (and if psossible have a chore coat/jacket that stays home does and not leave the property to the auction barn/feed store for possible exposer there) and preferably changing clothing between "off site" and home to prevent possible exposer to disease. so it's in essence CYA.

 

[Kiniska]

HELP!!!!
It has happened again. Some heartless so and so has dropped a litter of 8-10 week old puppies at the bottom of our property. Cungr has found 3, two girls one boy. They appear to be Shepherd/ lab mixes. All different variations on the same mix. If you know anyone who would like one of these babies please contact me ASAP. Otherwise they will have to go to animal control Tuesday. We live 10 min from Corydon Indiana and 45 min from Louisville Kentucky.

Little boy

Little girl #1

Little girl#2

 

[CluckAcres]

New Avatar~ I added a map for an easy visual reference to where I am. As I said in my last post, it would be nice if we had a simple map highlighting each member's county that could be located under the avatar area.

I am going to see if i can make a map that when you hover over a county all members in that county will show up. I have been thinking about this since last night. Its a great idea!

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

On the topic of Mereks.

You can vaccinate older birds.It is just not as effective. The vaccine DOES NOT prevent Mereks, but is suppose to prevent the leisions. jusT because your birds were vaccinated does not mean they still can't get it. . Wild birds can bring it in, not just other chickens

Most breeders try to breed for immunity among their flocks. I know a man that leaves any and all sick chickens (not sure of what all his flock has had) in the flock, for the others to develop an immunity to it. He NOW has one of the healthiest flocks I've ever seen.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay...got totally behind and no time to catch up!

Can someone do a readers digest version of the important stuff I missed in the last 128 posts?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

So to sum it up you are suggesting using a special pair of boots or shoes and gloves for coop chores only (and if psossible have a chore coat/jacket that stays home does and not leave the property to the auction barn/feed store for possible exposer there) and preferably changing clothing between "off site" and home to prevent possible exposer to disease. so it's in essence CYA.

Yes. At least, that is what's most suggested when talking about biosecurity.

On the topic of Mereks.

You can vaccinate older birds.It is just not as effective. The vaccine DOES NOT prevent Mereks, but is suppose to prevent the leisions.  jusT because your birds were vaccinated does not mean they still can't get it. .  Wild birds can bring it in, not just other chickens

Most breeders try to breed for immunity among their flocks. I know a man that leaves any and all sick chickens (not sure of what all his flock has had) in the flock, for the others to develop an immunity to it. He NOW has one of the healthiest flocks I've ever seen.

Thank you for adding that! Yes, the Marek's vaccination only prevents the birds from showing symptoms of Marek's. It does not prevent them from getting the disease and then becoming carriers.