Nugget's necropsy results

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Nope.

I dont' think I'll be getting any from a hatchery again - but I will be buying eggs to hatch.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, Carri, I started my flock with 10 pullets from Ideal via the feedstore, then bought Hawkeye. He's the only grown bird I've ever gotten. Then I've hatched every bird I have since then, except for the two Brahmas, which are both Ideal girls from the same feedstore- that's only 12 chicks total in the entire time I've had chickens. It's pretty stressful to worry about birds that you buy, as you know, so it's just been my personal choice, at least so far, not to purchase birds from other individuals. Doesn't mean I never, ever will, but it cuts down the chances of infecting the flock.
You sure have been thrown a curveball, hon. I wish I had some real advice for you, but all I can offer is

 

[BJ]

I lost several birds to Lymphoid Leukosis. It is much like Mereks except the birds are over 6 months old. I freaked out too...worried about cleaning up, etc. It was the middle of winter last year and it wasn't practical to coop clean at that time. Purdue University suggested that the bird I had necropsy'd could have contracted it from wild birds in the yard. I ended up losing 5 out of 7 birds. I got them from Murray McMurray. The 2 birds I have left are considered to be carriers. They are both fine and have survived for a year past the infection. We did tear down and burn the coop in the summer and built a new one. I am crazy about warmth and drafts, because I blame myself for letting them get too cold and damp last winter. I also can't help but wonder if I didn't bring some illness home on my shoes from the Crossroads of America Poultry Show last November.

It was a tough year (my first experience with chickens) and I have come to the conclusion that "illness happens" and despite our best efforts to get the birds well, many times there is nothing that can be done. The strong ones will survive.

My advice would be to just keep your birds as healthy as possible...keep them warm, dry and comfortable.

 

[CarriBrown]

Quote:
Thanks for the advice... I really needed to hear that. I'm just worried sick about the other ones. They are my pets and DH and I have spent hundreds of dollars on chicken vet bills and do everything we know to do to keep them healthy... yet I still loose some. It's hard when I'm used to having dogs, horses, etc... animals that live for years and years with no problem.
I guess the only thing I can do is vaccinate everyone. Hopefully who ever doesn't have it will be vaccinated and it won't hurt who ever already has it.
I'm also worried because I have two hens coming to me. I'll call the breeder and see if we can stop the deal but if not, I'll have to vaccinate them, too. Then, my flock is closed. The end. I'm still worried though because there are flocks all around us and this stuff is air borne. I guess no matter what you do, this stuff is going to come in and you just have to be prepared for it.

 

[lacyloo]

Sorry Carrie about Nugget, I havenever dealt or vaccinate against markes diasese but maby I should start? , I hope all ur other babies are safe...

 

[BJ]

Carri,
I had added 2 young "show" birds also from a breeder (same as you)...georgeous Belgian Bearded D'Uccles. One died and one survived. I even had them in a separate location. Why the one survived...I don't know (or why I lost the other one for that matter!). I totally understand what you are going through. I obsessed and worried...to the point of practically neglecting my family!! I cried and spent tons of money. One vet was a waste of money (LOTS of $$$$!!!!). I have read so many books and I know SO MUCH now! I finally decided I would "be my own vet" because I feel like I know as much as any other vet or farmer. Purdue University was a wonderful help. The necropsy was the best thing I could have done. I actually took my FAVORITE, sweetest girl there while she was still alive so they could get fresh blood and tissue samples. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done! Just hang in there and do the best you can with your chickens. I am "done", too. My husband just built me a new coop in the fall and I decided over the winter that I will take a break from any new chickens for a while. My boys have lost interest and will not be showing in 4H. They have turned into MY project now!! The two bantams that I have now aren't getting along and I have one in the house! The one in the coop is broody. They are just getting to be too much work - ugh!! I can't wait for spring to arrive!

I'm really sorry about Nugget. I still cry when I think about my sweet, sweet Ginger...and it has been over a year!

Still, I have no regrets. My life has been enriched in many ways by having chickens, loving them, and losing them.
BJ

 

[allen wranch]

I am so sorry about Nugget...

I have a flock similar to Cyn's.

I have never vaccinated for Marek's and my birds are OK and have built a natural immunity.

I took a count yesterday and out of 59 birds, 14 are five years old +, 11 are four +, 7 will be three years in a month or so and most of the rest are two +. I also have some less than a year old.

I hatched some and some came from Ideal. Last year I picked up seven pullets about 25 weeks old from a lady who got them from Ideal.

I think 2-3 babies I hatched developed paralysis, and they were put down. I don't know if they had Mareks or not.

I have a five year old Polish hen with "gray eye" who is almost totally blind (She is still head hen in her pen though !) She did not start going blind until about a year ago. Maybe she has latent Mareks. I don't know.

I am careful about adding birds into my established flock and young birds never go into a pen until they are laying and about the same size as the other birds. New birds are quarantined at least 30 days.

I feel if Mareks were a problem in my flock I would have lost more than 3 chicks in over five years.

What I am saying is don't panic. You can keep a closed flock and let your birds build up an immunity, be careful when introducing new birds and only get birds from a source you know is clean, and you will probably be OK.

Vaccination is a choice also, but it means a lifetime of shots for as long as you have birds...