The Buckeye Thread

[Blueface]

And Marek's isn't?

 

[sumi]

Joe, I think it's good to inform others of situations like this, though that being said, I did not see anything here pointing to a specific breeder, or even to specific state/country. This issue applies to everyone who shows poultry (or any other livestock) for that matter, whether they are in the US where you guys are or in South Africa where I am. Taking birds or animals from a farm where there is a current disease outbreak increases the risk to other birds/animals who gets in touch with them.

My uncle used to manage a huge broiler farm. When we moved between chicken houses there, we had to dip our boots in a disinfectant bath before entering the next house. Disease can be spread that easily. So are we overreacting, saying it's not o.k. for a breeder to take a potential carrier of a disease to a show where it will be housed with 100's of other birds, some of which may have low resistance to the disease?

 

[Blueface]

6 birds out of 300+ biddies and 100 adults with runny noses doesn't mean that's the flock has coryza......could it develop into something worse..,.anything is possible but it was gone in 3 days and I didn't move birds for an additional 30 days as a precaution....all that you'll find on my farm are strong healthy birds that can compete in any poultry show.... I'm far more responsible than most give me credit for or would like to believe

 

[Blueface]

Post 2848 Sumi...

 

[fowlman01]

There is no bird in the US that has not been exposed to Mareks...and that happens well before any show or swap meet. Again it is everywhere. Coryza is not everywhere and is usually the sign of poor management. Yes, the symptoms can be masked, but it will still infect. Since you can't do anything about Mareks and it is everywhere and all birds have been already exposed, it is no where near the problem of Coryza. This is based on science and my personal long time experience with poultry. I lived on a broiler farm when i was a kid. Comparing commercial operations where they are housed under less than ideal conditions and requires complete biosecurity, is not a valid comparison. In addition they are medicated and are not meant to live a very long time. It is entirely different than back yard flocks.

There is no question that we need to be careful, but we also need to be informed and there is currently a ton of misinformation about everything poultry online.

Chicken diseases that kill lots of birds don't originate in backyard flocks, they originate in commercial poultry operations. The huge outbreaks of Exotic Newcastle and AI we have had in Calif have all started on Commercial operations. The result was the killing of many back yard flocks that were within the kill zone of these commercial birds. We are talking about millions of birds put down. Don't worry about the shows, worry about how close a commercial operation is to your farm.

Off to a show.

Walt

 

[sumi]

Maybe I'll get an grievance filed against me for caring about poultry, informing others, wanting healthy birds and helping the buckeye gain recognition....all being unbecoming of an APA member?

Joe, I think it's good to inform others of situations like this, though that being said, I did not see anything here pointing to a specific breeder, or even to specific state/country.

You did not call out or point fingers to a breeder in any of your posts. I was referring to your post. Sorry, I should've been more specific.

 

[sumi]

There is no bird in the US that has not been exposed to Mareks...and that happens well before any show or swap meet. Again it is everywhere. Coryza is not everywhere and is usually the sign of poor management. Yes, the symptoms can be masked, but it will still infect. Since you can't do anything about Mareks and it is everywhere and all birds have been already exposed, it is no where near the problem of Coryza. This is based on science and my personal long time experience with poultry. I lived on a broiler farm when i was a kid. Comparing commercial operations where they are housed under less than ideal conditions and requires complete biosecurity, is not a valid comparison. In addition they are medicated and are not meant to live a very long time. It is entirely different than back yard flocks.

There is no question that we need to be careful, but we also need to be informed and there is currently a ton of misinformation about everything poultry online.

Chicken diseases that kill lots of birds don't originate in backyard flocks, they originate in commercial poultry operations. The huge outbreaks of Exotic Newcastle and AI we have had in Calif have all started on Commercial operations. The result was the killing of many back yard flocks that were within the kill zone of these commercial birds. We are talking about millions of birds put down. Don't worry about the shows, worry about how close a commercial operation is to your farm.

Off to a show.

Walt

Walt, we can go on and on about this and get nowhere, because we're agreeing to disagree here. You said Mareks is everywhere, I'm saying it's irresponsible to take a bird from a flock that is currently dealing with Mareks to a show. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the presence of Mareks more amplified on a farm where birds are dying from it? As apposed to in general?

I used the broiler farm as an example. My point being that diseases can be spread by clothing and shoes. Judges physically handle birds at shows, you know that, being a judge. Does handling a bird that came from a farm where Mareks is present to such an extend that it is killing birds in large numbers, and then handling the next bird, not increase the risk for the second bird?

I agree with you that there is a lot of misinformation online and that is why we ask for opinions, backed up by experience and research. We can take from the responses what we choose, but the bottom line is, I'm not going to be happy if I went to a show and came back with Mareks and found another exhibitor has it in his flock and knowing that, brought birds to the show. Unless someone can prove that is impossible for birds from that situation (infected farm) to amplify the risks of the other birds present at the show to get sick, I will not find it acceptable to do something like that.

As you know I'm currently living in South Africa. Right in the middle of a serious outbreak of AI that saw 1000's of ostriches being put down, 100's of people losing their jobs and the ostrich meat and feather industry brought to it's knees. I had to fight with the Dept of Agriculture to be allowed to keep my flock of (healthy) chickens. I've seen first hand the devastation diseases can cause. And it was devastating.

 

[Blueface]

You did not call out or point fingers to a breeder in any of your posts. I was referring to your post. Sorry, I should've been more specific. 

I don't have to Sumi.....I have a knack for making people upset because they don't like reality....but rest assured I've got plans to my back-up plans to ensure people are properly informed about this wonderful breed.

 

[Blueface]

Have a good show Walt

 

[JoshU]

I'll change the subject. (I'm sure it will pop back up)

There is a show in Lucasville this weekend. The Southern Ohio Poultry Association always puts on a good show in the spring and fall. There will be quality buckeye represented, along with other nice fowl and nice always knowledgeable people too. Sadly I won't be able to make it, but if you are in the area or looking for something to do, stop on out and say hi. And good luck to Blueface Joe and the rest of the Shumaker clan along with Jeff Lay and a few others I am forgetting.