Marek’s or something else????

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microchick said:
The way it was with my flock when I added vaccinated birds was that heck, it couldn't get any worse than it was. I was loosing 1, sometimes 2 birds a week from some truly terrible tumors caused by Marek's. My Welsummers and roosters were all hit really hard.

The weird thing is that I was able to talk to the head veterinary pathologist at Columbia School of Veterinary Medicine in Columbia MO when I came to suspect that I had MD in my flock and he told me that the birds that didn't die from the disease, that lived to 3-4 years without succumbing, would be my resistant birds and I needed to breed them for resistant chicks. It didn't work that way with my flock. I don't know how many chicks I hatched from my 'survivors'-25+? All but two died from various tumors, wasting and infections.

I suspect the weak link in the chain was my roosters, who didn't live past the age of 2. My Bantam/Amish barnyard crosses are 4 years old now (and bears the proud name of 'Old Man'), the oldest, that is. I also have 7 Silver Duck Wing OEGBs that I bought from Orschelns (the chick tub beckoned to me and I answered it's siren's call). They are working on their second generation and so far so good.

Maybe the theory that vaccinated birds as well as survivors do pass on a degree of immunity to their offspring. But if that is true, then why didn't my second generation Buff O's and Welly's survive? I'll probably never know.

Marek's is a complex disease and indiscriminate killer of both chickens and chicken owners' dreams. I had hoped to breed exotic chickens. Now I'm happy with my barnyard crosses and the fresh eggs and smiles they give me.
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Thank you for sharing your experiences! It’s truly fascinating to read, although I’m sorry for all your losses. 😭😭

Maybe certain breeds are just more susceptible??? Both ones that have gotten sick so far have been Welsummers.
 
microchick said:
Silkies, Buff Os, Welsummers are very high on the susceptibility scale with Silkies being the #1 bird on the list.

I keep telling myself, if only I had known but then hindsight is always 20/20.
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That’s good to know but definitely sad! I wonder if this extends to other Orpingtons too or just Buff Os? Cause that means Jack is probably very susceptible too if it’s all Orpingtons. :(
 
Not sure, Kelsey. You would have to do a google search for chicken breeds most susceptible to Marek's and go from there. I would think that it would be all Orpingtons though, genetically speaking.

I had to turn down an offer of free Bantam Silkies recently. 1) my OEGBs would beat the dirt out of them and 2) that Marek's thing. I wouldn't eve trust vaccinated Silkies to stay on this property and be safe from that even if I could keep them safe from the OEGBs.
 
microchick said:
Not sure, Kelsey. You would have to do a google search for chicken breeds most susceptible to Marek's and go from there. I would think that it would be all Orpingtons though, genetically speaking.

I had to turn down an offer of free Bantam Silkies recently. 1) my OEGBs would beat the dirt out of them and 2) that Marek's thing. I wouldn't eve trust vaccinated Silkies to stay on this property and be safe from that even if I could keep them safe from the OEGBs.
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Okay thanks, I’ll have to look it up. That’s what I’m thinking too, that it’s probably all Orpingtons.

And that’s sad 😭
 
Was gonna put Wilma down now but when I held her upside down like I did with Red, it didn’t work! She was flapping her wings like mad and righted herself so now I feel really bad about putting her down because clearly her wings are not paralyzed and she’s got a lot of fight still. :oops:

But she still can’t walk and was in the nest box all morning so far.

So I know I still should do it but GOD! She’s making it way harder than it was with Red. :(
 
Okay I know this is probably just wishful thinking but is it possible she’s just broody??? Because she just puffed up and also let out a massive smelly broody poop so? :confused:

But I know broodys usually at least can walk when you make them so idk.

But she’s been in the nest box since last night and all day today.

ABAA1F2E-618C-47FD-AEE7-32BC537205F9.jpeg E41FFCC8-1A78-400A-9C65-B571A4E8D78D.jpeg F57E2349-AF36-447C-AEDC-79E10B0740B4.jpeg
 
KDOGG331 said:
Was gonna put Wilma down now but when I held her upside down like I did with Red, it didn’t work! She was flapping her wings like mad and righted herself so now I feel really bad about putting her down because clearly her wings are not paralyzed and she’s got a lot of fight still. :oops:

But she still can’t walk and was in the nest box all morning so far.

So I know I still should do it but GOD! She’s making it way harder than it was with Red. :(
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i have no words, only a big hug.. :hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs :hugs
 

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