The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

Could be a chupacabra.

You made me laugh out loud!

 

[seminolewind]

Unfortunately they also lay very few eggs.

I guess I consider it more like the way we vaccinate other animals, for example if dogs were not vaccinated for parvo virus even adult dogs would commonly die from the disease, as it is highly contagious and has a high death rate associated with it.

Glad someone knows about Parvo. Nasty. I cringe when I hear that someone doesn't vaccinate their dog because it's "not natural"

I think Poultry World and World Poultry have combined. I've always read World Poultry to hear as many views as I can.

Cynthia, thanks for thinking of me when seeing that article. I love your barred rocks! None finer!

As far as I know, the Marek's six strains are virulent, very virulent, very very virulent, etc. I think most of us have the usual, and I've used the same type of vaccine for 7 years. Those who don't have Marek's in their flocks- You are so lucky! Preserve that luck!

Like the common cold, flu, and HIV, I don't think Marek's will ever be resistant. But I know that many in my flock, adults have survived Marek's without vaccination for 5-9 years old. I think resistance comes with age.

I've always wondered if someone always vaccinates every one of their chicks, how will they know if their chicks can have it?

1muttsfan, What I've dealt with over the last 7-8 years is that my older Marek's exposed birds don't get Mareks, but can have subclinical immunesupression. . Meaning the exposure isn't killing them but it causes their immune system to be less strong. So hens can be carrying amounts of bacteria that don't make them real sick, but just unthrifty. I've had 2 roosters in the past that got pox (common black spots on the comb) that turned into a nightmare. One was so bad it made him so sick I had to put him down. He had so many large black pox -it covered everything. The other one got Pox (as per vet exam) that grew these tall scabby things all over his face. Those 2 roos were Marek's exposed and instead of just having typical pox, had out of control pox.

Sorry I run on about this. But I like sharing info that may help someone someday.

Oh yea. That article said the "hot" virus killed all the chicks in 10 days? Marek's virus takes commonly 4-6 weeks to multiply to be noticeable symptoms. Really rare would be 2 weeks. So I wonder about the facts. Not saying I'm right. Just wondering.

 

[1muttsfan]

Mareks virus is one of an unfortunate family of viruses (Herpesviruses) that cause serious diseases in many animals. The viruses enter the body mostly via mucous membranes, then enter the nerves and ascend to the nerve roots in the central nervous system, and stay there permanently. Years after the original infection they can re-emerge, causing disease again. Once infected you often become permanently infected.

Classic examples in people:
Chicken pox - low mortality (death rate) but high morbidity (illness). Reemergence late in life causes painful shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Herpes Simplex - 2 different strains cause cold sores, genital sores


And in animals -

Infectious Laryngotracheitis in chickens
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis - chronic upper respiratory disease
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis - severe respiratory infection, abortion
Canine Herpes virus - causes up to 100% mortality in infected puppies

Infection with some, including Marek's, can lead to decreased immunity to other diseases, as Seminolewind has reported.

Fortunately it is not spread in eggs.

I do not add ANY live birds to my flock, only chicks from eggs hatched here. That does not guarantee prevention, unfortunately.

I agree, if you don't have Mareks enjoy your good fortune.

 

[speckledhen]

Mareks virus is one of an unfortunate family of viruses (Herpesviruses) that cause serious diseases in many animals. The viruses enter the body mostly via mucous membranes, then enter the nerves and ascend to the nerve roots in the central nervous system, and stay there permanently. Years after the original infection they can re-emerge, causing disease again. Once infected you often become permanently infected.

Classic examples in people:
Chicken pox - low mortality (death rate) but high morbidity (illness). Reemergence late in life causes painful shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Herpes Simplex - 2 different strains cause cold sores, genital sores


And in animals -

Infectious Laryngotracheitis in chickens
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis - chronic upper respiratory disease
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis - severe respiratory infection, abortion
Canine Herpes virus - causes up to 100% mortality in infected puppies

Infection with some, including Marek's, can lead to decreased immunity to other diseases, as Seminolewind has reported.

Fortunately it is not spread in eggs.

I do not add ANY live birds to my flock, only chicks from eggs hatched here. That does not guarantee prevention, unfortunately.

I agree, if you don't have Mareks enjoy your good fortune.

You are exactly right-you cannot guarantee anything because no one can see a germ. We all just do the best we can to mitigate the risk of infection/contagion. The folks who get birds from all kinds of sources can't tell where an infection in their flock came from so it makes sense to me to do exactly what you do, Mary, never add live/started birds to your flock, only hatch eggs. There are fewer diseases passed down vertically than horizontally. Flea markets and swaps are DEFINITE no-no's!

Karen, you have done a remarkable job with your flock and at least, though you've had terrible heartache, it's led to the education of other people. I just wish folks would understand once and for all that avians are not mammals and what applies to one does not necessarily apply to the other. Avians are special in many ways, the way they digest their food, the way they handle disease, etc. But, I'm preaching to the choir on this thread, of course.

 

[speckledhen]

Okay, can I please have a break?

I found Apollo all bloodied up, yet again, by Hector. Cleaned him up. Gosh, that boy has the sweetest, softest expression in his eyes, just like Atlas. I had let them run on range, thinking they had plenty of room to get away from each other and didn't see anything wrong with Apollo when I put him back inside, but I guess I didn't really look closely. Then, I noticed that Xander's color was off, had my DH check him out and he didn't even run like he always does. His crop is impacted so he's in a pet carrier in my laundry closet because the bantam coop has one broody Brahma and the dog cage has the other broody Brahma and the hospital cage has naked, molting Tessa. I'm afraid he might be in heart failure and this crop thing is just a symptom. His color has been off before. I gave him Colace, a syringe or two of water and put him in the carrier with water and a tiny yogurt cup of just plain yogurt. He's drinking and seems okay with being in there. I think he was tired of being "on call" and not feeling well at the same time.

I asked DH which boy he'd let go if he had to let go either Apollo or Hector. No question in his mind, Hector. Apollo is super sweet, but I asked him because he called Apollo a wuss the other day, LOL. Honestly, I've about had it with ALL of them! I'm so tired of miscellaneous problems and accidents and issues!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My roosters aren't fighting yet, but my Tom turkeys are having one brawl after another. Spring is in the air, or at least the increasing daylight.

Hopefully after a few days of rest Apollo will feel better.

 

[speckledhen]

My roosters aren't fighting yet, but my Tom turkeys are having one brawl after another. Spring is in the air, or at least the increasing daylight.

Hopefully after a few days of rest Apollo will feel better.

Apollo is 2 months older than Hector but ever since they were very young, Hector has been a dominant, scary little tyrant. Apollo has always been afraid of him and it hasn't changed. I know he didn't fight Hector, only defended himself. I never saw them engage at all so it was a surprise when I saw his bloodied head/comb. No question it was Hector. They went out on range together and Apollo was fine. They came back and he's a bloody mess. Hector has not one visible scratch on him. Sigh.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Then boys sure can be pretty, but they are also a pain, especially when younger. Attitude is everything in a rooster. I'm sure you know having a few of the little guys too.

 

[speckledhen]

Then boys sure can be pretty, but they are also a pain, especially when younger. Attitude is everything in a rooster. I'm sure you know having a few of the little guys too.

Yes, they can be a royal pain! I love my boys, but the young ones try my patience. Now, I can't let Hector out with Apollo at all, not even when they have acres to get away from each other. I finally gave up on separating the girls for breeding so thought I could just let them run again like they were doing, but not on your life.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I guess you will be playing musical roosters for a while. Sometimes after it starts getting hot again for summer, and we get past spring they can get along again as they aren't so interested in dominance.