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

[seminolewind]

Jennifer, Cackle Hatchery will send 10 chicks in their "city" orders. They put extra heat pads in the box.
I was not going to get more chickens. But hubby kept saying that 3 of our roos need some girlfriends. So I'm getting 25, keeping 8, and selling the rest.

 

[Nambroth]

Is there a feedstore near you that orders chicks? Maybe you could have them order a Cochin rooster for you with their next batch of chicks?

-Kathy

There is but they don't order vaccinated chicks. (TSC) And the minimum is 25, I think?

Jennifer, Cackle Hatchery will send 10 chicks in their "city" orders. They put extra heat pads in the box.
I was not going to get more chickens. But hubby kept saying that 3 of our roos need some girlfriends. So I'm getting 25, keeping 8, and selling the rest.

10 is too many, I'm afraid. I'm pretty much at capacity with 9 birds until I can build a garage and turn the storage shed into a coop... maybe in a few years. I live in an area where you can't even give chicks away. Does Cackle use the 3-combo vaccine?

 

[KAT Bird]

If this guy dies, I think I have to take a break from new birds for a long time. Too heartbreaking. These cochins are just too dog-like, and are very dear to me.


I'd consider hatchery chicks but I only have room for a very few, don't know anyone local that would take the extras, and I really want a sweet cochin rooster! If I ended up with one that didn't work out.. Man, I don't know. I'd have to process him and that would be a different heartbreak. Plus, like you, my entire house is littered with virus. I have a small home, open ranch style, and I can't figure a way to isolate a room even if I managed to get it clean.

Oh....I am so sorry. Truly feeling your disappointment and sadness, this disease is just so awful. I do plan on checking with Texas A&M to see if they can tell what the virulence is of the Marek's our birds have. I am curious to see if that has something to do with the effectiveness of the vaccines. We have some unvaccinated survivors, single vaccinated and triple vaccinated.

 

[BigECarter]

If this guy dies, I think I have to take a break from new birds for a long time. Too heartbreaking. These cochins are just too dog-like, and are very dear to me.

I'd consider hatchery chicks but I only have room for a very few, don't know anyone local that would take the extras, and I really want a sweet cochin rooster! If I ended up with one that didn't work out.. Man, I don't know. I'd have to process him and that would be a different heartbreak. Plus, like you, my entire house is littered with virus. I have a small home, open ranch style, and I can't figure a way to isolate a room even if I managed to get it clean.

Somebody, on this thread I think, suggested ordering pullets from Murray McMurray, or directly from their supplier, http://www.clabornfamilyfarms.com. I contacted the supplier directly as I need a cockerel so am looking for a bird with a nice personality. Joe was very helpful, and I will probably order from him in a month or so, once I am sure that none of my MM pullets are cockerels. It's an expensive way to get a cockerel, given how many are on CL for free, but seems to be the best way to get one with the vaccine.

 

[Nambroth]

Somebody, on this thread I think, suggested ordering pullets from Murray McMurray, or directly from their supplier, http://www.clabornfamilyfarms.com. I contacted the supplier directly as I need a cockerel so am looking for a bird with a nice personality. Joe was very helpful, and I will probably order from him in a month or so, once I am sure that none of my MM pullets are cockerels. It's an expensive way to get a cockerel, given how many are on CL for free, but seems to be the best way to get one with the vaccine.

Thank you for letting me know. I will consider it for the future. It's hard to think about it right now, since I get so darn attached to these guys.

 

[seminolewind]

I don't know about Cackle's vaccine. But I know MM will ship 1 adult that already vaccinated for Marek's and Coccidiosis. They also ship juvies also vaccinated.

 

[schnebbles]

I found a really nice place (someone here referred me to them - they are the ones who raise pullets vaccinated for mareks for MM I think it was). I had 2 ee's on order then found out we are moving so I'm not getting more chickens. They are in TX and the pullets are only like $18 like from MM and their shipping was cheaper going direct. They will take pics for you if you ask. They have several varieties of chickens - their website is Clabornfamilyfarms.com. That is definitely the route I'd go if I ever am able to get more.

 

[KAT Bird]

I was the one who ordered from Murray McMurray and Claborn. Happy to answer any questions or send pictures of the girls.

Here is a link to a new Marek's vaccine being developed.

http://www.thepoultryfederation.com...ists-develop-new-vaccine-against-two-diseases

Also, Dr. Shayan Sharif and his research team at the University of Guelph have been developing new vaccine formulations that are able to control virus shedding and, at the same time, protect against virulent strains of MDV.

 

[seminolewind]

KAT, Nice find! It's always a blessing to find new research articles.
I wonder how close they are to selling it?

 

[KAT Bird]

KAT, Nice find!  It's always a blessing to find new research articles.
I wonder how close they are to selling it?

I'm not sure but I am going to try to find out!

I also sent an email to John Dunn asking if back yard flock owners could participate in this as well:

· Pathotyping of Recent Marek’s disease Virus Isolates
Pathotyping of MDV isolates from recent field cases in Pennsylvania layer flocks as well as an isolate from a layer flock in Iowa revealed that although most isolates pathotyped as vv+MDV strains, none were unusually virulent compared to other strains isolated in recent years. Pathotyping is critical to our understanding and response to virulence shifts in the field and we continue to invite submission of samples from flocks experiencing unusually high MD or other tumor incidence.
Dr. John Dunn [email protected]