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

[schnebbles]

It says they are not de-beaked. So that's good, might just go that route.

I'll have to call them though because I wonder if the started ones are vaccinated as day olds.

 

[KAT Bird]

I thought I read that the MM pullets did not have clipped beaks.

I purchased both started pullets and juvenile pullets (4 weeks and older) from Murray McMurray. They vaccinate for Marek's and use all 3 strains produced by "Merial" CVI, HVT and SB-1. So far I have been very happy with them. They do not have clipped beaks and I don't think there was an option for that when I ordered, but I could be wrong. The juveniles are raised here http://www.clabornfamilyfarms.com and the started pullets come from the Brandstadts at B&D Family Farms. The birds I received from the Claborn family came note telling me about the farm and a cute stick figure drawing of a lady with a chicken on her shoulder drawn by their daughter. They asked me to txt them when I received the birds and they provided me with their hatch dates and answered my questions. I still send them messages updating him on the chickens. I told them I lost some birds to Marek's and sent him photos. He actually went out to the barn and took photos of some juveniles that looked like my chickens and said he would send them to me. I could order through McMurray and when he saw my name he would send me those specific chickens. I really thought they were a super nice family.

I don't think my chickens are the best representation of their breeds. They have little quirks which don't bother me at all, but wouldn't be something a breeder would want. My Cuckoo Maran has a weird tuft of feathers on her head, not right BUT I think it's adorable.

I can post pictures of them if anyone is interested in seeing what they look like. I purchased a buff and light brahma and buff Orphington as started pullets. They are laying now and I think we received them in early November. The juveniles are an Australorp, maran, silver laced Wyandotte and four easter eggers.

Here is Bacon with her silly head feathers

 

[KAT Bird]

If I get Hatchery chicks it's going to be ee's. I don't really know anything about Hatchery birds so I don't even know what questions I'd ask. Ee's are supposed to be pretty sweet tho. I'm glad you brought up the mareks point because I hadn't thought of that a day I think you changed my mind about that. I don't want to pose any risk to my birds at all. I love them!

These are the easter eggers, I didn't get as much of a variety as I had hoped but they are very sweet birds. I now know to contact the Clarborns directly and tell them what I want. They will send the colors you are looking for.

Big Girl, Pecca, Joy and Goldie (and Latifah the Wyandotte). The first one is what they looked like a week or two after they arrived.

 

[schnebbles]

they are so cute! I might just go that route. why not just order direct from them?

 

[KAT Bird]

they are so cute!  I might just go that route.  why not just order direct from them?

I probably would order directly from them next time. They just recently got a website.

I also wanted to try some of the juveniles vs the older birds to see if it made a difference. I put the older birds out with the Marek's survivors about three weeks after I received them. So far so good.

The juveniles are still in my house (insanity!) and while I am at work they are in three separate rabbit hutches in the basement. I let them out for play time when I get home. They have been in the house since October and I plan on putting them out with the rest when the weather improves and they are around 26 weeks.

My first batch of chickens started the Marek's symptoms at point of lay so I am on pins and needles until they start laying.

The juveniles are extremely tame since they have lived in my house and behave more like my chickens that I raised from day olds. The started pullets are more flighty because they weren't handled as much.

My EE Pecca is the most affectionate chicken I have ever seen. She puts her head on my shoulder and makes a trilly-purr like sound. She likes me to hold her like a hug and she goes to sleep. She also preens my hair. I supervise their playtime from my son's bean bag chair and they all roost on me and preen themselves. I think I am officially a crazy chicken lady!

This is all of them roosting on my legs. Lap chickens.

 

[schnebbles]

sweet I've messaged them asking if theirs are vaccinated. I'll just order direct if I do. Shipping thru MM was $91, yikes!

so, say I got 2 juvs, how long til they could go outside? I put heat lights in the coop if it's under 20 b/c I think it's less stress for them and therefore better to control Mareks. How do you introduce them to the cold? Can you? I don't want birds in here til March, but I'd like to get some who will be older by summer.

does anyone know if I were to sell eggs (hatching) if they would be mareks contaminated? I don't know if I'd ever do it, just a thought.

 

[Nambroth]

I'm really glad to know that MM offers started birds that are not de-beaked.

Schnebbles, as far as selling eggs... I sell eating eggs to people that do not have chickens. If I were to sell hatching eggs, I think as long as I took careful steps to clean them and keep any packing materials (cartons, or shipping stuff) in a 'clean room' and pack them up with clean clothes on, that it would be pretty safe. You'd probably have to wipe the eggs themselves with a viruicide, which would remove the bloom... so to be fair to any buyer, I'd disclose that much at least. I think if you were careful and clever in how you isolated your packing materials, it could be done. You'd just want to use care of course.

 

[schnebbles]

ya, that sounds like a lot! I don't think I'd mess with that. thanks

 

[casportpony]

I know you guys alread saw some of Wingman's necropsy pictures, but if you're interested in seeing more they start here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...xxx-graphic-necropsy-photos/190#post_12640169

-Kathy

 

[Nambroth]

Well, my sweet, 7-month-old, double-vaccinated roo (1st at hatch, second around 3 weeks) that I did everything in my power to keep healthy seems to have Marek's. It started about two weeks ago with a limp, and we had him to the vet for x-rays and all. We thought he had a soft tissue injury, as both my experience and the vet's experience did not read it as neurological. He had complete control of the foot and leg, and could do things such as scratch his face with it, etc. He just couldn't bear weight with it.
He had been seeming better, then this morning he can barely stand on either leg and is that horrible, familiar "flopping unsteady" mess....

He still eats like a pig and is otherwise bright, with good crop movement and droppings. I am wondering if the vaccine gave him protection against the lymphomatic tumors and he is just having leisons on his sciatic nerve? If so, I am not sure what to expect in terms of survivability. I have him on metacam, which is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, just to help keep him comfortable.

My heart is breaking! What is it with my luck and sweet, gentle roosters? He is such a loved pet...