Rebuilding my Farm

[Farmerboy16]

Hi Chicken Grandma

I would never take a bird to a show, unless they are clean of everything, besides I think that I will never take any poultry to a show anyway.

I do think wild birds here do have MG, esp House Sparrows, oh how I loath those parasites! I always kill them when I get the chance. They have not been in my new breeder coop yet, they can't anyway for the coop is cover with plastic, but I will be taking the cover off when the weather warms up.

I do not know the price differences between the blood test and swab test.

Here is the bill that I got from the vet-

Farm call- 05 miles- $49.50
Mycoplasma test for 3 birds- $12.00
Blood drawing fee for 3 birds- $15.00
Lab processing fee- $26.50

Total- $113.00

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Daron, I have every bit of faith and confidence that you would not knowingly spread anything from your farm to anyone else

 

[chicken grandma]

Hilbilly Hen, I do agree with you about Daron's character and intentions. I just read a post a ways back that worried me.

HH and Daron - we all live fairly close. And my chickens got E.Coli in the lungs. I am wondering if we have wild birds carrying disease.

Did you both know that there is a vaccine for MG? I think when I get chicks next, I will go ahead and vaccinate them at 6-8 weeks. The vaccine is called Mycovac - L

And at Michigan State University, Dr. Fulton recommended that all our chicks are vaccinated for Mareks disease at hatching.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Thanks Hillbilly Hen and Chicken Grandma.

There is a vaccine for MG?! Is it proven to work? Is it for just chickens, or can it be given to other poultry like- Turkeys, Guineas, Peafowl, Geese, and Ducks? Where can I get some, and Mareks vaccine too?

Thanks!

 

[Wynette]

I think if you speak to some "old time" breeders, you will find that most of them do not vaccinate; rather, they breed for a natural immunity to what is in and around your area. I used to vaccinate for Mareks and no longer do, as a result of the things I've learned from these old-timers. I figure, they've "been there, done that" and are proven and still have healthy flocks, so...makes sense to me. We can agree to disagree on the use of vaccines & antibiotics til the cows come home, which is why it's so important to ask questions of the breeders when you purchase birds OR hatching eggs.

The Tomaru, Daron, were not bred on my farm; they were a gift from a fellow BYCer - a friend who knew I'd always wanted some. They arrived to my farm as youngsters of maybe 8 weeks old. They came from Sandhill. They never displayed any form of illness while here, BUT - could they have been carriers? I suppose they could, and that they just never showed symptoms. I don't know that you can ever know completely, 100% on where the diseases they get come from, but IMO the wild bird population must carry all sorts of creepy crawlie bacterial/viral sorts of things!

You have to do what you are comfortable with, and we all have different comfort levels. I for one, personally know Daron, and will vouch for his character. It broke my heart, Daron, when you wrote to tell me about this. I'm REALLY happy that you have a thread telling about what you're going through, what you heave learned, and HOPEFULLY, how to kick this thing! Please do keep us posted on what's happening - I am SO very curious to see how things progress!

 

[chicken grandma]

Daron, I will get the information on the vaccines for you and post it here.

 

[featherz]

They have the vaccines at first state:
http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=97

I don't know how well they work and whoo boy, pricey unless you have a lot of birds or someone to split an order with..

 

[Farmerboy16]

Thanks, it is pricey.
Wynette- I have done some thinking about the vaccine situation. I have never had an issue of Mereks in my flocks, so there is no need to vaccine them. Thanks! I will just vaccine for MG as MG very prevalent here.

I have taken the birds off the treatment on Monday, so they have been back to plain water for a week now. However on day 4 of the treatment, my guineas became lame and weak, I was able to pick them up with no problem. I was very concerned about them, that I moved them to their own pen, for they were sharing with the Marans, and the roos were mounting them. I switch to plain water for them, for I thought that it was the Denagard causing issues for the guineas. On day 6, I lost one of the guineas, and the others did not look good, even though I have been forcing their beaks in the water, so they can drink. But now they are back to their flighty selves, even though it had taken a few days to get back to normal. They had me scared for them.

So, DO NOT USE DENAGARD FOR GUINEAS!

I am starting the egg treatment today. The eggs are warming up as I type. I will make up the solution and dip the eggs in them after they have warming up in the incubator for 3 hours. I am setting the eggs for Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long, even though I am a day late, as I was very busy yesterday.

Please pray that the the egg dipping experiment works, and that the chicks hatch out clean.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Wishing the best of luck and sucess Daron

 

[Wynette]

BEST of luck, Daron! I hope it all comes out as you want it to!

This is a very interesting experiment - I hope that you are going to have the offspring checked later in the game, as maybe juveniles (?) to see if they are clean. I think you almost "have" to, in order to know if this is successful! BEST of luck!