Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Cheeky Chick]

I am not really sure myself of the disease.
Everything written, and told, is just very hard to comprehend.
I hatched out eggs from a breeder in Texas in March.
Ever since then, I have had these few babies that just seemed "lazy".
My vet told me it was a neurological problem, and NOT Mareks.
Especially since it was from just these chicks in the spring.
I was under the understanding it CANNOT be transmitted thru the egg.
And this has happened slowly over time. First, they just stumble.
Then, they like to sit around alot. Then, they just stop walking.
They CAN move their legs, they have feeling in their feet....
But they act normal... still eating and drinking.
One of the boys still humped my arm whenever I picked him up.
Very confusing.
I am guessing my flock is positive, and just never realized it because I usually don't bring in new chicks.
It's said that all chicks under 5 months old be kept separate from the adults.
Yeah, I got the room for that....
Please be aware this is EVERYWHERE.
It can be brought in by a bird flying overhead.
Feather dander can stay in your coop for YEARS, and still carry the disease.
I think it is because these were the "special" babies, I kept them in the house.

It's kind of like the chicken pox virus. Try to understand it... you get it, you're done with it.
I just don't know if it is possible to vaccinate the older birds.
Still trying to comprehend all of this.
And, just like the name stoopid, I am talking about this.
Most people keep their mouth closed, and put their head in the sand, thinking if they don't talk about it...well I guess it didn't really happen.

To be continued....

Ugh. I'm so sorry, Roberta!! If I can do anything for you-please don't hesitate.

 

[Carolyn252]

"... My mom passed and I am terribly busy with family from outta town services etc.
Big hugs Maggie

So sorry for your loss, Maggie. My condolences. It's a hard time; we almost all of us eventually are brought to that life phase; losing a parent is such a mind-altering time. Wishing you and your family a smooth transition through the grief, the resolution and recovery, back to a peaceful calm. It takes a while.
-Carolyn

 

[stoopid]

Maggie, so sorry.
Kind of puts my chickens into a different perspective.
Big hugs to you and yours

 

[smkchick]

Maggie:

 

[queenchick16]

Maggie ,I'm sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers Carol

 

[queenchick16]

Roberta , I'm sorry to hear of your tragedy with your flock.
I think a vet will tell you it is a waste to vaccinate your older girls. Any new chicks , just hatched new should be vaccinated from now on though.
Your a very strong woman you will through this. Again I'm sorry. Carol

 

[JerseyHen]

Maggie, I know there are no words to soothe that hurt, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

[JerseyHen]

Have you all seen this?!

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/christm...asy Gifts&pageName=Beau Coop&icid=CBF12_O5415

Neiman Marcus is selling a $100,000 reproduction of Versailles coop!

Their description:
Dawn breaks. The hens descend from their bespoke Versailles-inspired Le Petit Trianon house to their playground below for a morning wing stretch. Slipping on your wellies, you start for the coop and are greeted by the pleasant clucking of your specially chosen flock and the site of the poshest hen house ever imagined. Your custom-made multilevel dwelling features a nesting area, a "living room" for nighttime roosting, a broody room, a library filled with chicken and gardening books for visitors of the human kind, and, of course, an elegant chandelier. The environment suits them well as you notice the fresh eggs awaiting morning collection. Nearby, you pick fresh vegetables or herbs from your custom-built raised gardens. You've always fancied yourself a farmer—now thanks to Heritage Hen Farm, you're doing it in the fanciest way possible!

The reality:
It is 4 am, one of the 25 chickens you were told would be pullets begins to crow in your "no roosters allowed, 6 bird limit" township. You run screaming, half naked, in your slippers, from the house to bring the offender inside, lest your crotchety neighbor hears and turns you into the township zoning board. The hens make a break for it, squacking and trampling in the dark thinking that it is time to gorge on feed that costs far more than the eggs you collect. You slip on the mud and chicken poop that is now the yard. The "living room", broody room, and library are covered in hardened poop and slick with last nights offerings. The straw you put down is disgusting and in a bad need of a change, the gardening books "for visitors of the human kind" are caked together in droppings and fly marks (so is that pretty chair and the paintings). The youngest of the bunch are perched atop the elegant chandelier because it is the highest thing in the coop. As you are sorting all of this out you notice that the custom built raised bed gardens are the favorite place for your chickens to perch and eat the fresh vegetables and herbs. You have always fancied yourself a farmer and now you realize that you are not, never will be, and decide to turn that pretty little hen house into a playhouse for your over indulged children that never help you take care of the chickens anyway.

 

[stoopid]

 

[Glasshen]

I was thinking along similar lines, but more like, no one who would consider spending $100,000 for a chicken coop would be going anywhere near it in the morning and would never slip their frequently pedicured toes into wellies, much less have a pair of those dirty ugly things in the house.