Peeps in Europe!

[BDutch]

possibly. if I remember well virus cannot survive 18 C and we definitely have temperatures over that.

Im not sure about this for all strains of HPAI. Maybe the wild birds they found, just came in from the North?
There were no outbreaks in farms in the Netherlands since the end of March when we have more sun and temps do rise above 18°c. So there must be some truth in it.

The map shows where they found contaminated wild birds in the Netherlands in May and June.

 

[Chicalina]

Nice breeds. Are Swedish Flowers hens in bantam size too?
De Naine du Tournaises I had both died quite young. But they were fun company.

I've read about bantam versions but I expect they are very hard to find.

Sorry to hear about your Tournaises

 

[Chicalina]

This is the England bird flu zone map.

All the backyard hobby chicken keepers have had to register their flocks with the government so they can come and quarantine or cull them if there is an outbreak nearby

https://defra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8cb1883eda5547c6b91b5d5e6aeba90d

 

[PouleChick]

Well the good news is that the girls who were sick but survived have perked up and at least one has started laying again (possibly both, I'm not sure if the blue eggs are from her or one of the new girls). The new girls are also all laying (well at least 2 depending who is laying the blue eggs) however I'm a bit sad as all my previous Marans have had REALLY dark gorgeous eggs and this new girls is a bit pale.

I wish I could confirm exactly what they had, will be tricky if we end up moving next year as I've read that some of the things you guys mentioned they stay in the flock forever and you can't sell them / must cull. I will have to do more reading about it, maybe I'll have time int he winter!

 

[BDutch]

Well the good news is that the girls who were sick but survived have perked up and at least one has started laying again (possibly both, I'm not sure if the blue eggs are from her or one of the new girls). The new girls are also all laying (well at least 2 depending who is laying the blue eggs) however I'm a bit sad as all my previous Marans have had REALLY dark gorgeous eggs and this new girls is a bit pale.

I wish I could confirm exactly what they had, will be tricky if we end up moving next year as I've read that some of the things you guys mentioned they stay in the flock forever and you can't sell them / must cull. I will have to do more reading about it, maybe I'll have time int he winter!

If you suspect Mareks disease, i think you can test for that. Maybe someone has some experience with it to share?

 

[maceleneo]

Sorry I just read this, I have no experience with Marek's disease and even if I know that some people vaccinate their birds I never heard of any household breeding affected by it where I live. Of course this doesn't mean it didn't happen: Marek is widespread in battery farming in Italy, so there must be outbreaks here too, I'm just not aware and never heard about it through the valley where I live. How frequent is in household breedings where you live?

 

[abpatchy]

It would make sense to keep and breed those birds that did not get sick. I have heard that some breeds are more likely to get Marek's than others. As it was said already, most breeders have it in their flock but that doesn't mean there is an outbreak. Vaccination helps to keep a bird from showing signs but they still have it.
I vaccinate my birds because as young birds the best will go to shows where they more or less get in contact with other birds. It's just the better route.

 

[BDutch]

It would make sense to keep and breed those birds that did not get sick. I have heard that some breeds are more likely to get Marek's than others. As it was said already, most breeders have it in their flock but that doesn't mean there is an outbreak. Vaccination helps to keep a bird from showing signs but they still have it.
I vaccinate my birds because as young birds the best will go to shows where they more or less get in contact with other birds. It's just the better route.

@maceleneo
I hope this is right bc I’m not an expert;
Marek is not like flu or other contagious illnesses. It gets in the bodies of chickens. If you have a broody who survived Marek and you let her hatch eggs, she passes it on to her chicks. The result is that every time you hatch chicks with a broody, a few or a lot of them die before they are 4 months old. It depends on the Marek strain how awful it gets.

I never vaccinated. My flock is free of Marek and I try to keep my flock free from Marek. Therefore I don’t buy vaccinated chicks/chickens. A vaccinated chicken can have Marek without being sick from it (and pass it on).