mcmurry sick chicks please post here

[Stormhorse23]

Quote:
Maybe it is in her own little world!

In my little world, I'm 18 and married to Austin Winkler and he just appointed me his lead guitarist.

See how things are different?

 

[fleenorfarmmom]

We are still losing chicks. Another one today. They will be 4 weeks old 3/22. More than half were moved out to the chicken house yesterday and are doing fine. The ones in the house still act drunk, like their heads are too heavy or their feet don't work or something. I don't like to have them wither away and we have tried everything and they don't get better. Some are worse than others, but they just ain't right. The harder I try to be a good grandmother the punier they seem.Driving me NUTS!

 

[etpfleger]

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All of our chicks were vaccinated. I requested the replacements NOT be vaccinated.

 

[amaliayosa]

Ok, I had mine vaccinated. They are a week old today and aside from the initial loss of three within the first 48 hours,which I believe was due to 3 days in transit and cold weather, mine are going strong. Guess its a waiting game.

 

[PennySue]

Your right, got my dates mixed up. I received them 2/25/08.
But, some of my chicks are starting to look better.
I'm sorry if my messages aren't that clear. This is the first time I ever join in on a chat line. I just felt this is very important.
I talked to the folks at my local feed store and they have heard of a lot of problem orders from McMurray this year.
I also left a message with our state Ag. department. They only work weekdays, so I guess I'll hear from them Monday and I'll let you know what they say.

 

[UnttouchableRose]

Quote:
Here's what we have lost from our McMurray order on 2/25/08, most of these were lost within first 72 hours the EE and 1 cochin pullet died yesterday:

1 EE of 4
6 Black Cochin Pullets of 6 ordered (the only thing I REALLY WANTED!)
3 Blue Cochins of 10
4 Silver Laced Polish of 10 still have 1 very weak one.


We haven't lost the Speckled Sussex yet but they are very weak along with several others.

They are all at ^mom's house so I have to go look to see who's doing what. We have exhausted our efforts in trying to figure out what is wrong with ours but it seems to be this. I am gald mom found it.

 

[Alleyoops25]

I am still surprised to see this all going on. And at the same time sad. I hate to think about so many little babies dying. I dont care what kind they are. And with me, I can kill a chick, hand me a mean rooster and no problem ( well I have to really be mad at it ) but give me a chick Just cant do it. I have thought about how I would go about doing it if I had to though. I would have to put them in a paper bag that way I cant see them while I do it. I hope we hear some news to all of this soon. Every time I come on here I have to come here and see whats new. Hopfully you all have some great news for me soon.

 

[PennySue]

I was hoping for better news too. I talked to the Dept.of Ag. vet. She called me back around 5:30 today and she'll call me back Monday. From the what I described to her, she believes it is Marek Disease and ALL chickens exposed to these chicks can now become carriers. The 25 chicks I got from Ideal are all doing great but the vaccination they got does not really work for 2 weeks (it needs time to build up). This can also kill pet birds like parrots and I have 2. Even chickens that survive or show no signs should be considered carriers. The disease is airborne and infects faster in dry vs humid conditions.
She suggested I put all my chicks down and freeze them and contact MM. I guess this will be my husband's job( putting them down, not calling MM, that would be me). I'm holding off until Monday though, I want to make sure this is really happening.
It's funny, I gave up raising sheep because I thought they were a lot of trouble and chickens would be soo easy. HUH!

Has MM said anything to anybody? Do you think they are going to refund me or anybody else for any other chickens, if they have to be put down?

 

[carousel]

Mareks should be easy enough to confirm or rule out on a necropsy.

has any chick has a POSITIVE dx of Mareks? more than just 'sounds like'
Everything I have found is that the only way to get a postivie dx of Mareks is the following.

one web here - found the following.
http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/CART-6PTVYH?open#Diagnosis


""""""Veterinary examination is necessary to diagnose Marek’s disease. The clinical signs, combined with post-mortem findings, will confirm the diagnosis in most cases, and, most importantly, rule-out other diseases. Enlargement of nerves such as the sciatic nerve are commonly seen at post-mortem. Changes in one or more internal organs may also be observed."""""""""

and more in Mareks - same web page

"""Methods of Spread
Marek’s disease virus occurs commonly wherever chickens are raised and most chickens probably become infected. The virus is highly infectious and once introduced into a flock, it spreads rapidly to unvaccinated birds.

Infected chickens carry the virus for life whether they develop the disease or not, and continue to shed the virus for long periods. The virus is shed from the feather follicles and spreads readily in fluff and dust, gaining entry when the bird breathes infected dust particles. This material can also be carried by people and equipment.

The virus can survive in the environment for as long as several months at room temperature. It is not spread from the hen to the chicken through the egg.""""


in addtion, same web page - more good informatoin.
"""""""""""""""Prevention
Although vaccines are commonly used in the commercial poultry industry, small numbers of doses cannot be purchased for use in backyard flocks.

For backyard flocks, the best protection against Marek’s disease is obtained by buying, from a commercial source, birds that have been correctly vaccinated.

Vaccination alone will not prevent Marek's disease. Particularly for commercial flocks, it is important to have good biosecurity to ensure that vaccinated chicks will develop immunity before they are subjected to a severe challenge of virus. For example, chicks need to be reared separately so that they are free from the infected fluff and dust of older birds. Standard hygiene measures are also important, including a thorough clean-out and disinfection of sheds and equipment between batches of chicks with a disinfectant effective against viruses. Good nutrition and maintenance of freedom from other diseases and parasites are also very important. These practices will help maintain the flock’s health and to ensure that the birds have optimum resistance against Marek’s disease infection. """"""""""

CS

 

[max13077]

Quote:
I would hope they would have business sense enough to bite the bullet and do the right thing. Yes it will cost them now. However if they screw all these people out of money by providing infected birds, what will happen to them in the future? They will be cutting their own financial throats. Nobody will buy from them because they don’t know the real health of the birds they’d be getting.

This is really infuriating. I wish I knew what was going on. I would just like a clear answer. This sucks just having to sit here waiting, wondering what’s the matter with them, and think that I might have to put them down.

I made a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wihuEJKvXY

The first ones are of chicks in the bigger brooder that are obviously doing well. The ones in the second tub certainly aren’t. Four chicks(3 Dom’s and a Blk Gnt) were sick early. They have remained small presumably because they can’t get the amount of food they need. But now, and this is what really makes me upset and scared; the light Brahmas I have are showing the same signs of illness. The ataxia, decrease in food consumption, etc.

So what happens? Do I just wait and see if they all become infects? This sucks!