The Old Folks Home

[Wickedchicken6]

We never toyed we did search why is the epilepsy in some breeds more than others
hip displaysia.. brain tumors our work also helped answer questions for people

Oh gee, I'm sorry. I was meaning it would be hard to get everyone with chickens together to test.
(I didn't write it clearly that way though...did I?)

The thought of getting everyone to test their chickens boggles my mind...lol.

What group of dogs were part of the research? I'm not as familiar with the epilepsy and brain tumors in dogs...but I'm familiar with some of the breeds with hip dysplasia. Some breeds of LGD (livestock guardian dogs) are known for having higher instances of hip dysplasia. It was something I watched out for when getting our LGDs.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Boston Terriers are prone to epilepsy and heart murmur. among other things....

These genetic diseases come from poor breeding practices and happen especially when a dog breed gets popular.

For instance breeds known for color like Dalmation have a high percentage of deafness and blindness.

With horses there is something called Lethal white.

often these traits are recessive and you dont see them in the stud... but cross with another recessive ... Thats why pedegrees can be important.

But then there is the odd genetic trait that jumps in there. Melanisim is known in all breeds of mammals and birds and reptiles too. It occurs in nature and doesnt interfere with the survival of the animal.

And Yep there are Melanistic humans....

Genetics is a fascinating field of study I just don't have the patients to get into the minutiae that is so important to be a true expert.

deb

 

[pennyJo1960]

some lines of golden retrievers are prone to brain tumors but found it can bred away from
Retinal atrophy is rampant in some breeds.. as is Epilepsy small breeds their teeth go bad so fast
it affects the heart many are born with hydrocephalus ie water on the brain they breed for higher
apple heads or similar that really is my soapbox all the problems that pet or backyard breeders never think of the
testing their dog is cute or let the kids see puppies born take them to pound when they are born and all put to sleep

 

[Bunnylady]

Not a good day with Syd yesterday.

For those who don't know, my place simply has no good place to work on driving. The ground in the mini's paddock is either too unlevel or too soft in pretty much all of it. Most of my property is densely wooded; in the little that isn't, you still can't draw a 30' circle without including at least one tree or building. I can ground-drive, but the turning radius needed for a pony hitched to a cart simply isn't there. So, I feel like I have to work in the neighborhood streets. It's a quiet neighborhood, usually, but it's not their home paddock, so I am working against barn sour/buddy sour issues as well as whatever else I'm focusing on that day.

Yesterday, I wanted to start with simply ground-driving Syd around the block. For starters, she didn't want to go down the driveway; she zigged and zagged and spooked at nothing and did just about everything except lie down in the driveway to avoid moving forward. Not thrilled with the idea I am used to, but this degree of resistance is unusual. But I kept her nose pointed in the right direction, and we got through the gate and onto the road. Several of the trash haulers pick up in our neighborhood on Fridays, so there were a number of trash carts on the roadside; Syd seemed sure that either one of them or a mailbox had developed carnivorous tendencies.

I was only trying to do a small loop - around one block - but on the back side of that loop, a tree company was working in a neighbor's yard. Syd was apprehensive about the truck, the traffic cones, the whole shebang; when the guy 40 feet up in a tree that was a good 60 feet or more from the road fired up his chainsaw, she completely lost it. He apologized, but it wasn't his fault, and I am still trying to work this one out. This is the pony that as a youngster stood watching as my husband used a chainsaw to cut up some trees in the pasture; she was so close, the chips from the saw got caught in her mane. (At the time, we joked that she was trying to learn how to operate it so she could use it on the fence.) So, I have to wonder, what has happened between then and now that has made her so afraid of the sound of a chainsaw that she didn't want to be within half a block of one? She wasn't just startled, she persisted in trying to run away; we made a couple more trips around the block and she strongly resisted going in that direction, and fought to go faster when heading away. (A few days before, she had tried to run away when someone was revving the engine of a car behind their house.) I finally said, "OK, if you are going to be so wiggy about noises, let's get you some noise you can't get away from," and went home and hooked her to the drag. The drag is a length of steel pipe with a larger diameter PVC pipe acting like a roller around it; when pulled on dirt, it makes bumping and clanking sounds, but on the road, it is a lot noisier. I hate the racket too, but I need her to learn that unpleasant sounds are not going to hurt her, and running away from them simply isn't an option. At home, I can drive her with the drag, but on the road, I led her. She was a whole lot less than thrilled, but we made it around the block (apologies to the neighbors; but I may be trying this with tin cans on strings next).

 

[Wisher1000]

Quote:
Now I HAVE to see it....

I have this movie as well. I know many, many of the people, both in the spotlight, and in the background..... there may even be a shot or two of me, if you look closely, and know who you are looking for.............

Not a good day with Syd yesterday.

.... It's a quiet neighborhood, usually, but it's not their home paddock, so I am working against barn sour/buddy sour issues as well as whatever else I'm focusing on that day.

.... Syd seemed sure that either one of them or a mailbox had developed carnivorous tendencies.

I was only trying to do a small loop - around one block - but on the back side of that loop, a tree company was working in a neighbor's yard. Syd was apprehensive about the truck, the traffic cones, the whole shebang; when the guy 40 feet up in a tree that was a good 60 feet or more from the road fired up his chainsaw, she completely lost it. He apologized, but it wasn't his fault, and I am still trying to work this one out. This is the pony that as a youngster stood watching as my husband used a chainsaw to cut up some trees in the pasture; she was so close, the chips from the saw got caught in her mane. ... So, I have to wonder, what has happened between then and now that has made her so afraid of the sound of a chainsaw that she didn't want to be within half a block of one? She wasn't just startled, she persisted in trying to run away ... (A few days before, she had tried to run away when someone was revving the engine of a car behind their house.) I finally said, "OK, if you are going to be so wiggy about noises, let's get you some noise you can't get away from," and went home and hooked her to the drag. ... I led her. She was a whole lot less than thrilled, but we made it around the block (apologies to the neighbors; but I may be trying this with tin cans on strings next)

Observations are hard to make over email... but here goes.....

I believe you may have the key in your first statement. Syd is not at home, and the boogers may be convenient excuses to run home. Try firing up a chainsaw in the yard while she is in the paddock and see if she is just being a butt on the street. One thing I might suggest is to park a bucket of feed (one meal each day?) at different points along your route. Let her get the idea that supper (or breakfast) or even half of it, is waiting for her along the route. Give her a reason to want to go around the block. I believe the "boogers" will behave themselves when Syd has something else to look for..... just a thought.

 

[Beer can]

Got multiplier potato onions in the mail!! Was afraid I'd miss out, most places are sold out. Just got a small bag to try, wish I knew someone with experience in them, debating planting now, everything I've read says plant in fall even in cold climates, then I read on one site plant in spring in cold climates...?

 

[Beer can]

I think the whole merecks thing is scarier than bird flu. I'll continue not to vaccinate.
I work with a older guy that has a couple hundred chickens for egg sales. Hatches his own with broodies. Does his own vaccinating. I believe he said just for fowl pox and newcastle?
Sad old article on a newcastle outbreak, kinda sad;
http://nationaljerseygiantclub.com/media/Document_17.pdf

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I think the whole merecks thing is scarier than bird flu. I'll continue not to vaccinate.
I work with a older guy that has a couple hundred chickens for egg sales. Hatches his own with broodies. Does his own vaccinating. I believe he said just for fowl pox and newcastle?
Sad old article on a newcastle outbreak, kinda sad;
http://nationaljerseygiantclub.com/media/Document_17.pdf

That's so sad and I can't imagine how awful that would be.
Here New Castle is a reportable disease across Canada, same thing...they come in and eradicate your flock.

I had young Silkie cross chicks last year...and one started showing a bit of a glitch. My husband couldn't see it until I pointed him out so I don't think most people would have even caught it. I went to the vet's to ask about getting chick vitamins to give to the bunch, and told the vet (he's a new fellow, younger but a good guy) about what I was seeing.
Oh my word...all of a sudden he's jumping to New Castle!

I was whoa...let's just see if the vitamins work first.

They did...but in the end a couple of those roosters showed up with rye neck.
(Newcastle...yikes!)

 

[ronott1]

That's so sad and I can't imagine how awful that would be.
Here New Castle is a reportable disease across Canada, same thing...they come in and eradicate your flock.

I had young Silkie cross chicks last year...and one started showing a bit of a glitch. My husband couldn't see it until I pointed him out so I don't think most people would have even caught it. I went to the vet's to ask about getting chick vitamins to give to the bunch, and told the vet (he's a new fellow, younger but a good guy) about what I was seeing.
Oh my word...all of a sudden he's jumping to New Castle!

I was whoa...let's just see if the vitamins work first.

They did...but in the end a couple of those roosters showed up with rye neck.
(Newcastle...yikes!)

I just skimmed:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_management/downloads/sop/sop_nd_e-e.pdf

It said there has not be an outbreak of New Castle since 2003 in the US.

 

[pennyJo1960]

hhhhmm never heard of it new castle? but then till being on here never knew
of mareks either opened a whole new scary place