Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[smkchick]

Does one say "Merry Christmas Eve"? I've never known the answer to that.

So the blanket is done and so is the chick for my cousin. I even crocheted a little green scarf for around her neck. The house is clean (Thanks, Bobby.)

All I have to do is cook. And wrap about 70000 presents. But first an early breakfast with a good friend.

Enjoy the day everyone!

 

[goldeneggtees]

Much better!

Thanks Roberta.

And no worries about the zoo, another time when things aren't so crazy for sure!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[littlecritters]

Much better!

I agree, love the little chickie!

Roberta,
Could I pls ask you to outline some of the Mareks knowledge you have recently gained from Doc Brown and other folks? There seems to be a few folks on the silkie thread dealing with potential Mareks. And suddenly, one of my birds shipped from Forida (who were lost in shipping) is now losing weight, wobbling around and has poor balance.
Regards,
Tina

 I'm wondering:
1) should we euthanize the pullet based on her symptomolgy?  Or treat her in hopes that she will recover?
                                                           
                                               
 2) if we euthanize, should I have an autopsy done? 


3) due to the holidays, if an autopsy is not possible this week...
           A. should I wait to euthanize till next week 
           B. or is here a way to store the body till next week?


4) if she has Mareks...what should we do with the rest of the birds that were in quarantine with her? 
          A. euthanize 
          B. wait and see if they develop symptoms 
           C. or vaccinate them 

 

[Carolyn252]

Did anyone else see this post Terry Golson wrote on her HenCam blog about vets and chicken keeping?

http://hencam.com/henblog/2012/12/why-i-dont-use-avian-vets/

I thought it was really great considering what some of us have been through in the past year with vets misdiagnosing stuff in our flocks. It breaks my heart to think that I might not be able to fix one of my birds if she got too sick, but on the other hand, that might be the most compassionate option after all. Worth a quick scan anyway.

Thanks for that link. I had such a great time reading what I found there, and the further links that were embedded there. Always so much to learn.
-Carolyn

 

[stoopid]

Tina,
Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate.
Whenever you want a necropsy, never freeze the body. Freezing destroys the virus cell walls.
Always just put them in the fridge, in a ziplock bag.
I just can't afford to have any more lab work done.
My first bout with Mareks, I went to Cornell.
$110 To put 4 birds to sleep, and take tissue samples for one.
They said I would get a bill for pathology.
$120.00 still haven't paid it.
No job, no money.
I have heard of birds surviving.
It will be a carrier, so vaccinate.
Vaccinate them all.
The vaccine has just come off of backorder, Doc asked me to tell everyone.
He has 600 bottles. The killer is the shipping.
The vaccine is $20. I will talk him into taking it to the show at the big E Jan 19-20.
It's in Springfield, Mass.
I have a few extra bottles, but it doesn't seem we would hook up, unless you come out to Riverhead, Long Island.
I wouldn't euthanize anybody unless they showed VERY bad signs.
Somewhere I found a very good article, actually written by Doc. Let me try to find it....

http://www.heavensentranch.com/poultryhealth.htm
It's a ways down, about halfway down the page.


And Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

[littlecritters]

Tina,
Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate.
Whenever you want a necropsy, never freeze the body. Freezing destroys the virus cell walls.
Always just put them in the fridge, in a ziplock bag.
I just can't afford to have any more lab work done.
My first bout with Mareks, I went to Cornell.
$110 To put 4 birds to sleep, and take tissue samples for one.
They said I would get a bill for pathology.
$120.00 still haven't paid it.
No job, no money.
I have heard of birds surviving.
It will be a carrier, so vaccinate.
Vaccinate them all.
The vaccine has just come off of backorder, Doc asked me to tell everyone.
He has 600 bottles. The killer is the shipping.
The vaccine is $20. I will talk him into taking it to the show at the big E Jan 19-20.
It's in Springfield, Mass.
I have a few extra bottles, but it doesn't seem we would hook up, unless you come out to Riverhead, Long Island.
I wouldn't euthanize anybody unless they showed VERY bad signs.
Somewhere I found a very good article, actually written by Doc. Let me try to find it....

http://www.heavensentranch.com/poultryhealth.htm
It's a ways down, about halfway down the page.


And Merry Christmas, everyone!

Thank you Roberta. You are indeed a wonderful Chicken Fairy Godmother. I am still very ill, can hardly get out of bed and my mind is a little muddled lately. I really appreciate your quick response to help me sort through my situation. The Doc Brown article was eggcellent and helped me get a balanced perspective on Mareks.

After reading page after page of Mareks information and viewing hundreds of pictures....I don't think this pullet fits the profile for Mareks. Im going to try treating her symptoms and hope for a quick recovery. When I am feeling better, I will give her a spa bath as recommend on www.HenCam.com. I've never done that before and hopefully it will help the pullet. If not, at least I will feel good knowing that I have tried to do something nice for her. 

After all the trials and tribulations we've had with chickens this year, my husband looked at me today (from behind his kleenex box) and he looked so serious that I thought he was going to ask me to marry him again. Instead, he asked if I want to go back to school and become a poulty vet so I can be my own "doctor" for our flock. Ha! Glad he can make me laugh over these darned chickens. lol

Have a wonderful, happy and healthy holiday!
Best wishes to all,
Tina

 

[Imprfctme]

Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy the snow!! May Santa bring you your poultry in motion dreams!

 

[queenchick16]

Merry Christmas everyone...
May the coming year bring us safe and healthy chickens...
Tina ,I so wish I lived closer so I could come help you and your daughter...how is she doing? Did she end up sick?
I so loved all our adventures this year and am looking forward to next years.
Getting excited about the Springfield conference..Roberta, I can't remember if you said you've been there before?
If so, will there be fertile eggs to buy?
I'm going to crank up the incubator when I get back from the show. Is holds 30 eggs.last year this time I had 21 babies running around in the basement. I miss that..
Enjoy the day
Love Carol

 

[stoopid]

Yes, last year, I ran the BYC table!
What was I thinking?

Eggs are a little fragile, *usually* you need to pre order them, but I am sure there will be many...
Just look for them early, and take them, don't think about it. They will be gone.

Merry, Happy, you know what I mean.

And a special thanks to Al, who brought us all together.

 

[queenchick16]

Yes Thank You Al