Not an Emergency...Marek's in the Flock

[schnebbles]

I have a heat lamp but not sure how cold it should be before I turn it on. What do you do temp wise?

 

[Haunted55]

I have a heat lamp but not sure how cold it should be before I turn it on. What do you do temp wise?

I normally wait until the daytime high are in the 20s and then have it on a timer. I give them the heat and light at 5-9pm and then again at 4-7 am.. This keeps the water from freezing in the house and gives them enough light to lay even during the coldest and darkest times. Now, this said, it does shorten your birds laying life. You need to keep this in mind and temper the amount of light given and heat for their comfort with the idea that it is shortening their laying lifespan. Golden Comets, and others that are bred for laying, will age faster than a heritage hen. They are breed that way and it's just a given. You need to weigh this out in your own mind and do what you feel is right. here are many ways to add light and heat without light that can be used. This year, I am only going to be introducing a 20 watt bulb for light and on a limited scale. for heat, they will be getting a flower pot heater I designed that will run on a thermostat. My goal, is to keep the house above freezing, not to keep the birds at 70 degrees through the Winter months. their pen will also act as a 'greenhouse' on a sunny day to add heat. This is new this year so I am still trying to work it all out. The big thing is moisture control. You have frost on the windows? You have a problem and need more ventilation. Sorry, lol, just thinking as I type.

 

[schnebbles]

ok thanks. I'm not interested in eggs tho so I probably don't need to mess a lot with heat unless it's super cold.

 

[Cknldy]

No, nothing else anywhere on the body. The other chicks with it have no signs of anything being amiss and are very active.

 

[kelck22]

What's everyone's opinions on hatching and selling chicks when I have had cases of mareks in my flock?

 

[seminolewind]

What's everyone's opinions on hatching and selling chicks when I have had cases of mareks in my flock?

My opinion is if you have flawless biosecurity, like chicks in an uncontaminated bedroom and not contaminated by people, it should be fine. I still might think of vaccinating them.

I do have my separated set of chick equipment that never comes in contact with anything but chicks.

 

[kelck22]

Does anyone know about ocular mareks? I have a two year old that has small pupils in both eyes.

 

[kelck22]

My opinion is if you have flawless biosecurity, like chicks in an uncontaminated bedroom and not contaminated by people, it should be fine.  I still might think of vaccinating them.

I do have my separated set of chick equipment that never comes in contact with anything but chicks.

Does that mean I would have to shower and change my clothes after going out to my chickens? Or would getting a new brooder and only having it in the house be enough?

 

[Nambroth]

What's everyone's opinions on hatching and selling chicks when I have had cases of mareks in my flock?

It would be a huge challenge but it could be done. You would need to have flawless biosecurity as Seminolewind said.... Perhaps even to the level of putting a nursing hairnet over your hair when you enter the room with the chicks, a change of clothes, etc. You'd need to keep them in a room that you haven't had your chickens in before, and that can be closed off with no air flow/circulation to surrounding, exposed, rooms. If you or anyone else has been in the room since you got chickens, the room would have to be cleaned top to bottom, and you'd have to not track the dust in from surrounding (exposed) rooms...

The virus travels in dander and dust and can be on extremely tiny particles. It would be very hard and a lot of work not to expose the chicks. Even then there is a risk...

If you have ever tended to your chickens and then walked into your house and/or any room, you can assume that room has been exposed. The virus can live for months, if not years, on dust.

You can see what a headache it would be to do properly, and not risk exposing any potential buyer's flocks via the chicks you sell. It's not impossible... just hard, time consuming, and risky.
If you have the dedication and willpower, it can be done.

 

[Nambroth]

Does that mean I would have to shower and change my clothes after going out to my chickens? Or would getting a new brooder and only having it in the house be enough?

You would need to change your clothes each time. You could either shower or put on something like a nursing hairnet to keep any possible dust in your hair from drifting in where the chicks are. A new brooder in the house might be enough but it's very risky. The virus spreads very, very easily via dander/dust. Controlling where it goes is very hard. You have probably already accidentally brought a lot of it indoors with you already on your clothing, hair, shoes.