The Old Folks Home

[1muttsfan]

Ron all that information is super interesting. It is a great list of the resources available at the time.

Just a few things that maybe are not completely clear-

1. It would be impossible in a practical sense to differentiate carriers from immune birds. Both would survive exposure. Carrier birds appear normal in every way, but are still infected and can potentially shed virus. Immune birds would those who were exposed, but eliminated the infection. What a huge boon it would be to have a test to differentiate the two.

2. Even if young birds are kept physically separated from adult birds, it would be impractical to prevent transmission of dander around the same farm - it would be carried by the wind, on clothing or shoes, on equipment, and many various ways

 

[microchick]

Precisely correct @1muttsfan. I just assume all birds are exposed and carriers even my vaccinated birds. I've given birds to neighbors for butchering but I stress that the birds are strictly for that. I figure that whatever is on our property is on every property within a 5 mile radius of us. Although our neighbors have never reported any loss of birds except to predators.

Back to my theory about the strain of virus I'm dealing with is something local that local birds have built up a resistance to it.

The vet that I talked to at Mizou's veterinary college labs told me that what I should look for in resistant birds is birds that have made it to 3-4 years of age without showing symptoms. Fertility, he said, would be the biggest challenge then.

So I have hens that have made it to 3.5 years of age But no roosters have made it to that magic number. My oldest standard is a full brother to the rooster I just had to put down due to throat tumors and he is 2.5 years of age. My oldest bantam OEGB/Cochin cross is 2 years old.

I have a BO hen that is broody. I feel like a world class you know what every evening when I take her eggs away from her and plop her back on the roost bar. But I cannot and will not risk setting eggs under her due to the severity of the Marek's infestation on our property. Any chick hatched under her would be instantly exposed. Not that the broody bantams aren't doing the same thing but the BOs have such a low resistance to Marek's and I've lost so many of the hens (8 BOs 2Welsummer hens to date) that I just refuse to breed any more of them and will go with the more resistant Bantam crosses.

 

[ronott1]

Ron all that information is super interesting. It is a great list of the resources available at the time.

Just a few things that maybe are not completely clear-

1. It would be impossible in a practical sense to differentiate carriers from immune birds. Both would survive exposure. Carrier birds appear normal in every way, but are still infected and can potentially shed virus. Immune birds would those who were exposed, but eliminated the infection. What a huge boon it would be to have a test to differentiate the two.

2. Even if young birds are kept physically separated from adult birds, it would be impractical to prevent transmission of dander around the same farm - it would be carried by the wind, on clothing or shoes, on equipment, and many various ways

You should add that information to a review of the article!

 

[ronott1]

Precisely correct @1muttsfan. I just assume all birds are exposed and carriers even my vaccinated birds. I've given birds to neighbors for butchering but I stress that the birds are strictly for that. I figure that whatever is on our property is on every property within a 5 mile radius of us. Although our neighbors have never reported any loss of birds except to predators.

Back to my theory about the strain of virus I'm dealing with is something local that local birds have built up a resistance to it.

The vet that I talked to at Mizou's veterinary college labs told me that what I should look for in resistant birds is birds that have made it to 3-4 years of age without showing symptoms. Fertility, he said, would be the biggest challenge then.

So I have hens that have made it to 3.5 years of age But no roosters have made it to that magic number. My oldest standard is a full brother to the rooster I just had to put down due to throat tumors and he is 2.5 years of age. My oldest bantam OEGB/Cochin cross is 2 years old.

I have a BO hen that is broody. I feel like a world class you know what every evening when I take her eggs away from her and plop her back on the roost bar. But I cannot and will not risk setting eggs under her due to the severity of the Marek's infestation on our property. Any chick hatched under her would be instantly exposed. Not that the broody bantams aren't doing the same thing but the BOs have such a low resistance to Marek's and I've lost so many of the hens (8 BOs 2Welsummer hens to date) that I just refuse to breed any more of them and will go with the more resistant Bantam crosses.

I hope it all works our for your flock!

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Si..

Tease

 

[sourland]

I think Diva is right! Leghorns are not generally known to be a broody breed.

I believe that @Alaskan has a rose comb dark brown leghorn rooster, and in my experience the hens from this strain have gone broody.

 

[Alaskan]

I believe that @Alaskan has a rose comb dark brown leghorn rooster, and in my experience the hens from this strain have gone broody.

So true.

He is only heterozygous for rose comb though. I am growing out 2 nice sons .... that Cock might be welcoming the stew pot within the week.

His boys just look better.... and I need fewer males. Both boys look to be homozygous for rose comb... and just all out fine.

Look at his nice yellow legs and tiny little comb!

 

[microchick]

Me too, Ron.

I told DH this morning that at this particular moment, outside of having a group of BO hens that are thinner than I would like, I don't have any birds showing active Marek's disease. I knew I was going to loose the rooster with the tumors. He was a walking skeleton, scarfing down food until the tumors made it almost impossible for him to swallow.

My plan right now is still to add Egyptian Fayoumi's next spring. We have a friend who orders from M-McM hatchery. They sell sexed Fayoumi's. I'm hoping I can add birds to his next order and split shipping charges with him.

I just told DH that I am to the point with Marek's disease that I'm looking at it as being a challenge.

It will not beat me! I will beat it.

 

[ronott1]

Me too, Ron.

I told DH this morning that at this particular moment, outside of having a group of BO hens that are thinner than I would like, I don't have any birds showing active Marek's disease. I knew I was going to loose the rooster with the tumors. He was a walking skeleton, scarfing down food until the tumors made it almost impossible for him to swallow.

My plan right now is still to add Egyptian Fayoumi's next spring. We have a friend who orders from M-McM hatchery. They sell sexed Fayoumi's. I'm hoping I can add birds to his next order and split shipping charges with him.

I just told DH that I am to the point with Marek's disease that I'm looking at it as being a challenge.

It will not beat me! I will beat it.

You have a great attitude!

 

[microchick]

My mamma didn't raise no quitter. Plus I have my German, Irish, Cherokee blood to fall back on. Stubborn as a Missouri mule!