So far I have not experienced Marek's in my flock, thank God. (Not to say that it isn't there, because the garden where my girls free-range is also home to a very wide variety of wild birds, but I have never seen symptoms in my girls.)
However, I have recently been through a horrible time with respiratory illness, due to 3 new birds bought from a 'reputable' breeder, who shows birds nationwide, and has hundreds of trophies. I had bought 2 chickens from her at the beginning of the year - both healthy, strong girls. I quarantined them even though it seemed unnecessary, as they were in perfect health, and integrated perfectly with my little flock. So when I decided to get 3 more girls in August, I naturally went back to the same breeder. Being a trusting person (or 'fool', depending upon your point of view) I expected that the girls would be just as healthy as the previous two I bought. I didn't have access to the same quarantine setup as before, but I thought there would be no problem, as her flock is obviously so healthy and well cared for.
How wrong can you be?
The 3 girls I brought home turned out to have lice as big as termites all over them, and started sneezing in the car on the way home. At first I put the sneezing down to the air conditioning in the car, but then I realised that it wasn't just that. Although I managed to treat the lice before they got to the rest of my flock, the new chickens infected my whole flock with a respiratory disease, which I have been battling ever since.
I phoned the breeder to ask her advice. Of course I should have had my brain engaged earlier on, because when I was there buying my girls I pointed out one chicken and she said 'Oh that one's not on form at the moment, don't take her', but of course I was so keen on buying more chickens that I just put that remark to one side.
On the phone the breeder at first denied having any sick chickens, but when I reminded her of what she had said, she replied 'Oh yes, one girl was a bit sick, but I put grapefruit extract in the water for a couple of days and she was fine - they haven't got any respiratory disease, it's just because it's been cold and wet this summer'.
My vet disagrees - I took my most badly affected chicken to her, and explained that all of the flock were suffering to some degree. She gave me a course of antibiotics for the flock, and told me that they will now carry a respiratory illness for life. Two months on, one of the original girls I bought from the breeder (the youngest and weakest) is still suffering, despite all the treatment. I know that I can never let my girls leave my property, because they will infect any flock they go to. That isn't a problem for me, as my girls are 'pets with perks' - they are with me for life. I am happy to eat the eggs they give me, but that is not the only reason that I keep them - they are company, and so much fun to watch!.
All of this wouldn't bother me, except that three weeks ago I went to the county fair, and guess what - the local poultry breeding society was there, and the main pen was full of this particular breeder's chickens - for sale! They were all of the same age as my girls, so obviously from the same flock. I couldn't see any that were sneezing or had runny noses, but she has around 200 birds, so obviously she only chose the healthiest ones to take to the fair. However, as far as I am concerned that doesn't mean that they aren't infectious - just that they aren't displaying symptoms at the moment.
I understand that as a commercial breeder it would be financially damaging to have to cull the flock and start again, but as a responsible person I cannot believe that she doesn't understand the havoc and distress she could be causing in other flocks when she sells her birds
At home I practice as much 'biosecurity' as I can - I have shoes and clothes that are only for the garden and cleaning the chicken coop, and which I never wear outside of my property. I would certainly never consider taking my girls to a show where they could come into contact with other chickens, much less selling or giving them to another owner, where they could contaminate a whole new flock.
However, I have recently been through a horrible time with respiratory illness, due to 3 new birds bought from a 'reputable' breeder, who shows birds nationwide, and has hundreds of trophies. I had bought 2 chickens from her at the beginning of the year - both healthy, strong girls. I quarantined them even though it seemed unnecessary, as they were in perfect health, and integrated perfectly with my little flock. So when I decided to get 3 more girls in August, I naturally went back to the same breeder. Being a trusting person (or 'fool', depending upon your point of view) I expected that the girls would be just as healthy as the previous two I bought. I didn't have access to the same quarantine setup as before, but I thought there would be no problem, as her flock is obviously so healthy and well cared for.
How wrong can you be?
The 3 girls I brought home turned out to have lice as big as termites all over them, and started sneezing in the car on the way home. At first I put the sneezing down to the air conditioning in the car, but then I realised that it wasn't just that. Although I managed to treat the lice before they got to the rest of my flock, the new chickens infected my whole flock with a respiratory disease, which I have been battling ever since.
I phoned the breeder to ask her advice. Of course I should have had my brain engaged earlier on, because when I was there buying my girls I pointed out one chicken and she said 'Oh that one's not on form at the moment, don't take her', but of course I was so keen on buying more chickens that I just put that remark to one side.
On the phone the breeder at first denied having any sick chickens, but when I reminded her of what she had said, she replied 'Oh yes, one girl was a bit sick, but I put grapefruit extract in the water for a couple of days and she was fine - they haven't got any respiratory disease, it's just because it's been cold and wet this summer'.
My vet disagrees - I took my most badly affected chicken to her, and explained that all of the flock were suffering to some degree. She gave me a course of antibiotics for the flock, and told me that they will now carry a respiratory illness for life. Two months on, one of the original girls I bought from the breeder (the youngest and weakest) is still suffering, despite all the treatment. I know that I can never let my girls leave my property, because they will infect any flock they go to. That isn't a problem for me, as my girls are 'pets with perks' - they are with me for life. I am happy to eat the eggs they give me, but that is not the only reason that I keep them - they are company, and so much fun to watch!.
All of this wouldn't bother me, except that three weeks ago I went to the county fair, and guess what - the local poultry breeding society was there, and the main pen was full of this particular breeder's chickens - for sale! They were all of the same age as my girls, so obviously from the same flock. I couldn't see any that were sneezing or had runny noses, but she has around 200 birds, so obviously she only chose the healthiest ones to take to the fair. However, as far as I am concerned that doesn't mean that they aren't infectious - just that they aren't displaying symptoms at the moment.
I understand that as a commercial breeder it would be financially damaging to have to cull the flock and start again, but as a responsible person I cannot believe that she doesn't understand the havoc and distress she could be causing in other flocks when she sells her birds
At home I practice as much 'biosecurity' as I can - I have shoes and clothes that are only for the garden and cleaning the chicken coop, and which I never wear outside of my property. I would certainly never consider taking my girls to a show where they could come into contact with other chickens, much less selling or giving them to another owner, where they could contaminate a whole new flock.
