The Old Folks Home

[drumstick diva]

SCG - Gomez was the perfect name for that chick. I hope you didn't eat him. Never mind, don't tell me.

 

[Bunnylady]

Quote:

I'm fond of road kill deer. No time wasted hunting, they're just delivered to your door.

Wish I could find a good fresh one... Not for me, but I go through 10 pounds of meat in 3 days feeding the cats and dog... a deer would be a welcome help...

I passed two deer carcasses on roadsides this morning that I know weren't there yesterday afternoon. Wish I could send "em your way; at least they wouldn't be wasted. With our county growing at the rate it has been, I'm not sure it's legal to hunt anywhere in it these days, and other than coyotes, the only "predator" of the local deer is the automobile.

 

[getaclue]

Good road kill can also be donated to wildlife sanctuaries, instead of going to waste.

 

[ronott1]

I am going to post an article here that is current about Mareks, chickens, humans and chickenpox because this is a safe zone for things. I do not feel like getting beaten up about Mareks. This article reinforces what I have posted many times regarding mareks and I will stress those sections.

Quote: Amazing stuff! I might be an odd one though...@casportpony

 

[bruceha2000]

The last 2 sentences are somewhat confusing/contradictory. If the vaccine virus is stealing the "hiding spots" from the virus that would cause infection, how are the viruses evolving into more virulent forms in response to the vaccine virus??

 

[ronott1]

The last 2 sentences are somewhat confusing/contradictory. If the vaccine virus is stealing the "hiding spots" from the virus that would cause infection, how are the viruses evolving into more virulent forms in response to the vaccine virus??

The virus may be adapting to out compete the vaccine. Another way is when not vaccinated or those chickens that did not get immunity(did not "take") are exposed to those that have immunity.

It is supposition. The fact is that vaccinating for mareks has the appearance of making worse strains of mareks. There are much more deadly mareks strains out there now but they really do not know why. It could just be the way the virus has changed over time. Ebola is doing the same thing currently and there is no vaccine released for it yet.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Ahhh, it's nice to actually be here for a discussion!

I find this information fascinating, Ron. I've been trying to educate myself regarding this...and well, other diseases as well. I really appreciate your posting this.
So what is the stance? Should we or should we not be vaccinating?

I believe in survival of the fittest...and I guess that means including those that survive and thrive after such diseases to pass on those resistant traits. So I suppose I'm a proponent of breeding for resistance.

I mean, aren't most of us the genetic offspring of those who survived the bubonic plague and the like? What would have happened if we'd been culling ourselves like we do with Mareks if it's found in a flock? Not only would it have dropped the human's gene pool but we may very well have culled people who survived and gave immunity. Isn't that a bit like shooting ourselves in the proverbial foot? How many birds have been culled that may have been the key to providing the genes that are needed for breeding for resistance? I guess that's my thoughts on the subject...lol.

Very interesting regarding the ebola!

 

[ronott1]

Ahhh, it's nice to actually be here for a discussion!

I find this information fascinating, Ron. I've been trying to educate myself regarding this...and well, other diseases as well. I really appreciate your posting this.
So what is the stance? Should we or should we not be vaccinating?

I believe in survival of the fittest...and I guess that means including those that survive and thrive after such diseases to pass on those resistant traits. So I suppose I'm a proponent of breeding for resistance.

I mean, aren't most of us the genetic offspring of those who survived the bubonic plague and the like? What would have happened if we'd been culling ourselves like we do with Mareks if it's found in a flock? Not only would it have dropped the human's gene pool but we may very well have culled people who survived and gave immunity. Isn't that a bit like shooting ourselves in the proverbial foot? How many birds have been culled that may have been the key to providing the genes that are needed for breeding for resistance? I guess that's my thoughts on the subject...lol.

Very interesting regarding the ebola!

I do not vaccinate. I would if back yard flocks could get the better vaccine-that one is reserved for commercial use. I have had one hen die of mareks cancer--that shows up at about 2 years old. I have not had any die from the initial mareks round.

Hopefully better vaccines will be developed with better understanding of the disease.

About culling a flock because of Mareks, UCD told me that all chickens at my place needed to be vaccinated or dire consequences would follow. I ignored that and 4 years out have not had any further problems with mareks. Culling is kind of pointless with mareks because it is universally in all flocks. Remember, vaccinated chickens still get mareks. The vaccine does not stop an active outbreak so chickens that are not resistant will still die from the first infection. The vaccine only protects against the cancer that happens years later.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

At two years old...I didn't realize it could be so late. I have not vaccinated...more for not knowing about the disease when I first started hatching than deciding against it. But now that I'm current with some of the information about Mareks...I still would choose to not vaccinate, at least at this point in time.

I would also have done the same as you and not destroyed my flock. I agree that culling is rather pointless and I'm concerned we're losing birds that may be key genetics that have resistance. We'll need those genetics for down the road. (I think)

I have seen some of members have positive birds and thinking the worst. I worry that everyone is jumping to conclusions faster than we should be.


I got the below paragraph incorrect. Paul Michael Glasier did not contract the virus. His wife did through a blood transfusion and the virus was passed to both the daughter and then to their son. The daughter died, but the son continues to live with HIV.

(I remember reading about one of the fellows who used to be on Starsky and Hutch who is positive for HIV. (I believe it was contracted from his wife through a blood transfusion...but please don't hold me to that...I could be wrong) Hid wife did pas away but both him and their son's condition remained stable and didn't show the progression of the disease like everyone else. I'm not familiar with their current status, I may try to look that up.)

 

[pennyJo1960]

This is what I do still understand my work was such with dogs so is
fairly clear I have not vaccinated any birds Mareks and buying them
they have not had the vaccine although it would be nice if like with the
dogs all pay a small price to look for that strain of immunity by sending
dna for testing would require massive participation to locate birds or flocks
that carry the latent resistance