Moving Forward- Breeding for Resistance to Marek's Disease

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To me I guess a closed flock ment closed off completely, so other than the chicks produced by the flock there would be nothing in and nothing out. I'm wary of bringing in anything for sure and I'm not sure if vaccinated birds will be very useful as breeding stock either. You won't be able to see how much resistance they carry until you see how well their unvaccinated off spring fair against the disease.... Right? I I don't mean to step on toes by saying that because heck... I probably wouldn't be on here if I had gone to a hatchery that vaccinated their chicks instead of a breeder who didn't...
 
Northie said:
To me I guess a closed flock ment closed off completely, so other than the chicks produced by the flock there would be nothing in and nothing out. I'm wary of bringing in anything for sure and I'm not sure if vaccinated birds will be very useful as breeding stock either. You won't be able to see how much resistance they carry until you see how well their unvaccinated off spring fair against the disease.... Right? I I don't mean to step on toes by saying that because heck... I probably wouldn't be on here if I had gone to a hatchery that vaccinated their chicks instead of a breeder who didn't...
Click to expand...

You're not stepping on toes to say anything pro or anti vacc, in order to find the best way to develop resistance it's best if there are multiple schools of thought and differing methods being used, and seems to me we have that here on this thread.

The merits of vaccinating here seem (to some of us, but not all) dubious because they hide the symptoms but that's one stance on it, doesn't have to be mutually exclusive to results obtained by those who do vaccinate.

We are all united in a common cause here and whether our beliefs/philosophies are similar, the same, or different, our goal is the same and I'm sure we're all mature enough to respect one anothers' opinions. The outcome we're seeking is possibly not going to be only achievable by only one method, potentially there are many ways to manage this.

Obviously I personally wouldn't use vacc'd birds but that's just my choice and doesn't mean I would dismiss someone's successes with vacc'd birds. Each to their own and hopefully we all succeed in this pursuit of resistant stock. I'll be adding to my flock so will be bringing in unknowns who won't necessarily be resistant so it's going to be back to square one in some ways there, but I'm keen to try to tackle the disease again.

Best wishes.
 
If I pick up more chicks from anywhere I may go back to the original breeder of my current birds rather than a new source. They seem to have a level of resistance built up already. I'm hoping that if I follow that route they'd all have the same " chicken germs" and I would lower my risks of bringing home anything new.

At the moment all I have are ideas and notions and I have no real experience yet since I'm still new... So if I'm thinking something goofy I'm totally OK with someone telling me!
 
Northie said:
If I pick up more chicks from anywhere I may go back to the original breeder of my current birds rather than a new source. They seem to have a level of resistance built up already. I'm hoping that if I follow that route they'd all have the same " chicken germs" and I would lower my risks of bringing home anything new.

At the moment all I have are ideas and notions and I have no real experience yet since I'm still new... So if I'm thinking something goofy I'm totally OK with someone telling me!
Click to expand...



It depends on if your main goal is having chickens for you that are healthy in your home environment (yes! good goal) or developing a flock of Marek's resistant birds for others too.

Either goal is commendable. If you're working towards MDV resistance for others, you'd want to eventually add in birds that might have different genes working against MDV or other diseases but by adding them in you'd risk decimating your flock. The result would be fewer stronger birds. And dead birds that didn't make it.
If you work towards strengthening your own flock, you get new birds that have a genetic history of being able to fight off your local diseases. Much less loss, may only work in a limited area. But less burials is a good thing too.

While I can sit here and say-oh do what's best for everyone, I also know I'd get very discouraged and end up doing what's best for my flock. The birds I know.

I'd do the same as you while encouraging those who have different end goals. There is no one right answer.

Now having said that- genetics is only part of it- do all you can to build up good immune systems; good diet, good environment, managed stress*, supplements, and an eye on your flock will help them live to their potential.

* no stress is as bad as too much stress.
 
Northie said:
To me I guess a closed flock ment closed off completely, so other than the chicks produced by the flock there would be nothing in and nothing out. I'm wary of bringing in anything for sure and I'm not sure if vaccinated birds will be very useful as breeding stock either. You won't be able to see how much resistance they carry until you see how well their unvaccinated off spring fair against the disease.... Right? I I don't mean to step on toes by saying that because heck... I probably wouldn't be on here if I had gone to a hatchery that vaccinated their chicks instead of a breeder who didn't...
Click to expand...

You have a good point with vaccinated birds, you don't know resistance.

I feel that a closed flock means different things to different people.
smile.png
 
My girl I posted about much earlier in this thread didn't make it and that's been several weeks ago.... One of my Golden Comets (12weeks old) started limpin two days ago. I'm really hoping she has strained it, but she's acting so lethargic. This disease frustrates me so much to know there is nothing I can do :he
 
Chickie Baby said:
My girl I posted about much earlier in this thread didn't make it and that's been several weeks ago.... One of my Golden Comets (12weeks old) started limpin two days ago. I'm really hoping she has strained it, but she's acting so lethargic. This disease frustrates me so much to know there is nothing I can do
he.gif
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that.

Try different things this time, maybe?

There are still so, so many treatments for various serious and even similar diseases people have not tried on poultry. Experimentation will be necessary until the cure is found... There is no incurable disease, only disease for which the cure has not yet been found. Sounds to me like Hypericum is part of the answer for some but not the whole answer.

Best wishes.
 

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