Moving Forward- Breeding for Resistance to Marek's Disease

[seminolewind]

Quote:
I don't know if you recall me mentioning it before, but I always give it, and gently advise people to try small amounts of cold-pressed coconut oil when attempting to correct problems with vitamin deficiency and/or neurological problems. While I retain healthy skepticism (not scorn, just careful rational thought) about it being a 'wonder' food as many claim, it HAS been scientifically proven that medium-chain fats greatly aid in the absorption of vitamins, and that is exactly the types of fat coconut oil has. These medium chain fats are extremely important for nerve and brain function. Unfortunately, the fats used in most commercial feeds are 'cheap' and unstable fats, and have a tendency to not do their job especially if the feed is more than two months old. I suspect (not fact, just a personal theory) that over the long term this is causing some people to have vitamin deficiency in their birds, especially A and more often B.
To this end I do occasionally mix some coconut oil into my bird's oatmeal. As long as it is used in moderation, there is no evidence that it can cause any harm.

My vet also advised me that it is thought to stimulate appetite in ill birds.

 

[chooks4life]

Also, and I definitely don't want to start any sort of scuffle on the forum regarding this stuff, but as much as it chaps my buns, it is often very hard to get real, genuine olive oil in the States unless you are super careful or buy it direct from the farm that presses it. There is an immense amount of "cheating" going on with olive oils (regrettably, most often including the expensive imported stuff). There is a legitimate Big Con going on with olive oil, which involves cutting it with cheap oils such as canola, corn, or soy oils. Which sort of negates the healthy aspect of using a good extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) for its health benefits. It really ticked me off to learn this. EVOO, even the real stuff, can also go rancid so always check the date, too. You can do a google search and fall into the rabbit hole if you are inclined. I will spare you all my ranting and invite you to search information about this if you are inclined... or ignore this nutty chicken girl if you don't want to think about it! (I don't blame you)

I must agree about the EVOO... I've fallen into that rabbit hole before.

There's a decent grower/producer in Australia though that makes awesome olive oil, I no longer buy any other brand.

Someone corrected me a while back about olive oil, (not on this thread) --- when I specified "cold pressed extra virgin", they responded by saying "cold pressed IS extra virgin, it's the same thing", but I didn't bother clarifying because it is indeed a rabbit hole to go into. Slippery and unethical labeling laws... lol.

Best wishes.

 

[Northie]

I need to start growing a garden... At least then I'll know when I'm eating a carrot that it is in fact a real carrot because I dug the darn thing out of the dirt. (Sigh)

 

[Nambroth]

I need to start growing a garden... At least then I'll know when I'm eating a carrot that it is in fact a real carrot because I dug the darn thing out of the dirt. (Sigh)

I grow and harvest as much as my own food as possible for this very reason (one of many).

 

[speckledhen]

I grow and harvest as much as my own food as possible for this very reason (one of many).

Agreed. Tonight's supper was hash browns from potatoes grown here, served with eggs from my own birds, topped by my own home made salsa from ingredients grown here as well.

 

[seminolewind]

 

[speckledhen]

It was pretty good. The only part that wasn't from here was the chorizo crumbled in it and the shredded cheese sprinkled on top. Lot of flavor, for sure! I was so proud of myself for making salsa this year, even grew the Cuban oregano and flat leaf parsley that went in it.

 

[chooks4life]

I would have to read thru a lot of posts, so.....if you don't have it, don't take a chick with it

...That defeats the entire purpose of the experiment, though. Besides, surely it's up to the individual if they want to take chicks with MD, or birds of any age with MD.

I already have Marek's in my flock, as far as a layperson can diagnose it anyway, certainly flocks I got chooks from definitely had it, and the whole idea there is to experiment with an MD carrier that's been proven by testing to be a carrier, with previously unexposed and unvaccinated chicks that are on coconut oil.

I don't understand your statement there, to be honest, it's a dead-end statement that doesn't seem to make sense in the context of the topic you're responding to, nor in this thread overall. But perhaps I've not gotten your meaning there, certainly it's a very short sentence to try to get some broader meaning from, given the complicated subject.

This thread is about breeding for resistance, not trying to avoid the disease till it dies out for want of carriers, which is never going to happen unless chickens become completely immune or extinct. Adhering to stringent biosecurity and vaccinations can only either strengthen MD virulence, or prevent the actual solution to the problem being found.

Best wishes.

 

[seminolewind]

Originally Posted by chooks4life

Well, I worked 8 years with the infamous Dr. Mary Newport , who lectured all over the world about how coconut oil reversed some of the Alzheimer's in her husband. She said that after months, the CO coats the nerves . I asked her about using it for my dog Baxter and his seizures and she told me use a tsp per 10 pounds, but increase it very slowly. About 4 months later, we noticed that Baxter had an increase in time between his seizures, and they were not as extreme. It was not a drastic difference, but to an owner of a dog with seizures, it certainly is something noticeable. BTW he has been on anti seizure medication for 8 years now, but still has them average monthly. In the past he's gone so far as to have them weekly.

From what I've read, grapeseed oil does almost the same thing. It saturates over time and then you get the true benefits... But from what I've seen/read, this is basically true of all oils, another important reason to avoid synthetic or overprocessed oils.

Now all we need is one brave person to hatch some unvaccinated chicks with exposure but start them out day one with coconut oil and see what happens with the Marek's symptoms, mostly the paralysis.

I volunteer!

I'm in the middle of moving house right now, will be going any day... But, if we can arrange someone with a vet-certified MDV case to give me a chook definitely carrying it, I'll have a go.

Best wishes.

I would have to read thru a lot of posts, so.....if you don't have it, don't take a chick with it




chooks4life


...That defeats the entire purpose of the experiment, though. Besides, surely it's up to the individual if they want to take chicks with MD, or birds of any age with MD.

It's certainly up to anyone to do anything they want.

I already have Marek's in my flock, as far as a layperson can diagnose it anyway, certainly flocks I got chooks from definitely had it, and the whole idea there is to experiment with an MD carrier that's been proven by testing to be a carrier, with previously unexposed and unvaccinated chicks that are on coconut oil.

I don't understand your statement there, to be honest, it's a dead-end statement that doesn't seem to make sense in the context of the topic you're responding to, nor in this thread overall. But perhaps I've not gotten your meaning there, certainly it's a very short sentence to try to get some broader meaning from, given the complicated subject.

Being that I don't know you, I said I would have to [read thru all the posts] to specifically get an idea of what you know or don't know OR just post "if you don't have it don't bring it home." You replied so fast with "I volunteer" I was worried that someone new to learning about Marek's may run out and buy a Marek's chick to experiment with- . And since I posted the blurb about the Coconut Oil and had discussed it with the doctor who developed the theory, I felt responsible for what I suggested - that some person should run out and buy a Marek's chick!

Since you didn't understand the context of my "dead end" statement does not mean that it was nonsense misplaced into a very complicated subject. I certainly know what the subject is about, and understand why the threadstarter posted it.



This thread is about breeding for resistance, not trying to avoid the disease till it dies out for want of carriers, which is never going to happen unless chickens become completely immune or extinct. Adhering to stringent biosecurity and vaccinations can only either strengthen MD virulence, or prevent the actual solution to the problem being found.

Best wishes.

 

[chooks4life]

...That defeats the entire purpose of the experiment, though. Besides, surely it's up to the individual if they want to take chicks with MD, or birds of any age with MD.

It's certainly up to anyone to do anything they want.

It is indeed, it's just a bit odd that you suggest we need someone to volunteer to test coconut VS Marek's, then tell the volunteer not to do it. In order for it to be done properly the volunteer must know for certain that they have the disease, it's always important to have a vet-certified case for such trials.

It makes sense now that I know that you either didn't recognize me or forgot whatever you know about me, but before I was operating under the not unreasonable assumption that you were more familiar with my situation than that.

I already have Marek's in my flock, as far as a layperson can diagnose it anyway, certainly flocks I got chooks from definitely had it, and the whole idea there is to experiment with an MD carrier that's been proven by testing to be a carrier, with previously unexposed and unvaccinated chicks that are on coconut oil.

I don't understand your statement there, to be honest, it's a dead-end statement that doesn't seem to make sense in the context of the topic you're responding to, nor in this thread overall. But perhaps I've not gotten your meaning there, certainly it's a very short sentence to try to get some broader meaning from, given the complicated subject.

Being that I don't know you, I said I would have to [read thru all the posts] to specifically get an idea of what you know or don't know OR just post "if you don't have it don't bring it home." You replied so fast with "I volunteer" I was worried that someone new to learning about Marek's may run out and buy a Marek's chick to experiment with- . And since I posted the blurb about the Coconut Oil and had discussed it with the doctor who developed the theory, I felt responsible for what I suggested - that some person should run out and buy a Marek's chick!

Ah I see, fair enough...

Since I've been on this thread and participating regularly from the very start, I of course assumed you were up to date with what I know on this subject.

Maybe you don't match names to posts much, or something? I'm not great myself with face/name recognition, so that's more than understandable.

Since you didn't understand the context of my "dead end" statement does not mean that it was nonsense misplaced into a very complicated subject. I certainly know what the subject is about, and understand why the threadstarter posted it.

I never said it was nonsense.

All I said was that your flat-out "don't do it" sort of response to someone volunteering for the very job you suggested someone volunteer for obviously did not make sense in the context.

The subject under current discussion (coconut oil versus Marek's) was posted by you initially, not the threadstarter Sassybirds; in my previous post I tried to make a clear distinction between the thread purpose overall and this sub-topic but apparently it wasn't as clear as I'd hoped.