The miracle babies: Hatching with Avian Leukosis Virus

[Weeg]

About 3 weeks ago, I came home from a weekend away to find both of my Serama hens sitting on a clutch of 7 eggs. All of which were fertile and developing.

For those of you who dont know, my flock has Avian Leukosis Virus, ALV, diagnosed through necropsy almost two years ago.
It’s a virus similar to Mareks, far less sever and viral, but also one of the numerous untreatable poultry diseases. My flock and any birds added will be carriers for life.

I decided to let them hatch. It was never something I would have planned, but I was interested and in the accidental experiment. Plus, what’s the harm in trying if the eggs are already developing. So here I am.

I didn’t have high hopes for a good hatch rate, but today my first baby hatched out of the remaining 6 eggs. I only lost one. 3 other external pips, and im waiting on the others to break the surface.

I haven’t heard of much success hatching ALV eggs from other members, but my viability rate so far has me encouraged, and I figured I may as well document the “experiment”.

The chicks are either Red Laced White Cornish bantam (Lacey)/Mile Fluer Cochin bantam (Jay) or Satin/Silkie bantam (Missy)/Mile Fluer Cochin bantam (Jay).
Surrogate mothers are my two Serama hens Beetle and Bug. Hopefully all 6 will hatch. All were viable and moving last night when I candled. 4/6 are in the process of hatching that I know of, or hatched. 3 are external pipped, and one is hatched.

Today is a happy day.
Now for photo bombs!

Lacey (possible mom)

Missy (possible mom)

Jay (dad)

Beetle and Bug (adopted parents)

And our first baby! Esme! I believe a Missy/Jay cross.
Super floofy! She has the cutest floofy face and feet.
I’ll update as babies hatch! Hopefully soon.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I'm not too familiar with ALV, but with my experience with Mareks, you can breed for an immunity against it. I would think that these chicks will have some type of immunity against the disease, or not have symptoms as severe.

(Breeding older birds is always best when breeding for immunity in chicks. Mother hens past their immunities down to their eggs, so the older the mother is, the more immunities for her to pass down.)

Beautiful pictures!

 

[Weeg]

I'm not too familiar with ALV, but with my experience with Mareks, you can breed for an immunity against it. I would think that these chicks will have some type of immunity against the disease, or not have symptoms as severe.

(Breeding older birds is always best when breeding for immunity in chicks. Mother hens past their immunities down to their eggs, so the older the mother is, the more immunities for her to pass down.)

Beautiful pictures!

How interesting! Good to know.
None of my birds have shown any symptoms other than the one I lost years ago. It’s very exciting though, this isn’t something I thought I would ever get to do.

Tagging a few members who might find this interesting.
@azygous
@Aunt Angus

 

[Weeg]

I have 2 more babies this morning.
Two external pips, and one internal pip. Hopefully all six soon.
One looks like it has a crest.

Pics when I get home this afternoon.

 

[azygous]

This is true. In fact, commercial hatcheries are breeding the leucosis virus out of the most common breeds. I can only speak about the leucosis virus from experience, and most chickens introduced as baby chicks to my flock have developed resistance to the virus and lead normal, mostly trouble-free lives. Marek's has a vaccine which greatly improves resistance to that virus.

Therefore, if you get a diagnosis of either of those viruses in your flock, it is not cause to abandon all hope.

 

[Weeg]

Update: still only 4 precious little angles as of this evening. The last eggs are externally pipped.
Hopefully the last ones will be here by tomorrow.

And, another photo bomb-

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Update: still only 4 precious little angles as of this evening. The last eggs are externally pipped.
Hopefully the last ones will be here by tomorrow.

And, another photo bomb-View attachment 3291714View attachment 3291715

Absolutely adorable!

 

[Yard Farmer]

About 3 weeks ago, I came home from a weekend away to find both of my Serama hens sitting on a clutch of 7 eggs. All of which were fertile and developing.

For those of you who dont know, my flock has Avian Leukosis Virus, ALV, diagnosed through necropsy almost two years ago.
It’s a virus similar to Mareks, far less sever and viral, but also one of the numerous untreatable poultry diseases. My flock and any birds added will be carriers for life.

I decided to let them hatch. It was never something I would have planned, but I was interested and in the accidental experiment. Plus, what’s the harm in trying if the eggs are already developing. So here I am.

I didn’t have high hopes for a good hatch rate, but today my first baby hatched out of the remaining 6 eggs. I only lost one. 3 other external pips, and im waiting on the others to break the surface.

I haven’t heard of much success hatching ALV eggs from other members, but my viability rate so far has me encouraged, and I figured I may as well document the “experiment”.

The chicks are either Red Laced White Cornish bantam (Lacey)/Mile Fluer Cochin bantam (Jay) or Satin/Silkie bantam (Missy)/Mile Fluer Cochin bantam (Jay).
Surrogate mothers are my two Serama hens Beetle and Bug. Hopefully all 6 will hatch. All were viable and moving last night when I candled. 4/6 are in the process of hatching that I know of, or hatched. 3 are external pipped, and one is hatched.

Today is a happy day.
Now for photo bombs!

Lacey (possible mom)
View attachment 3290707

Missy (possible mom)
View attachment 3290715

Jay (dad)
View attachment 3290710

Beetle and Bug (adopted parents)
View attachment 3290709

And our first baby! Esme! I believe a Missy/Jay cross.
Super floofy! She has the cutest floofy face and feet.
I’ll update as babies hatch! Hopefully soon.
View attachment 3290708

Lovely babies!

I'm my opinion, it looks like Lacey is the mother of all the lighter coloured ones.

 

[Weeg]

Lovely babies!

I'm my opinion, it looks like Lacey is the mother of all the lighter coloured ones.

Thank you!

That would make sense. Could the babies get the muffs and beard from Jay, Cochin bantam dad?
Because Lacey nor him obviously don’t have muffs, or a beard. I believe Esme has one. Thoughts?

 

[azygous]

So many viable hatches are very encouraging. The big test will be if they manage to survive past one year. Those will be the ones that you'll want to breed next to breed for LL resistance.

Your "experiment" is off to a promising start.