Vacinations- BioSecurity (long rant with opinions wanted!)

[pips&peeps]

I just wanted to through out a tid bit. You guys have been talking alot about MS.

MS is rarely deadly. It causes mild rales or respiratory symptoms. I don't know who gave you the other information.

In talking with the one of the guys in Georgia at NPIP, about four years ago, he said about 98% of all flocks in the US have MS.

There are some strains in South America though that were being discovered that were, but had not made their way to the US.

MS is bad for meat birds as it will the birds to fight the disease, therefore spending that energy that usually would put on weight.

Check out the Merck Veterinary Manual on it:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/203405.htm

 

[ItsSuzzie]

Don't get me wrong guys, I love my birds just like all of you do. But we have so many things to worry about with the diseases and BioSecurity, it should be simple, shouldn't it? We send our human children to public school and they touch germ after germ. We immunize our children to US standards and send them off. Into a world of bacteria and disease. Ok, they don't eat their own...you know. But shouldn't this be easier or more organized. Close Flock...ok, alot of us keep our birds to ourselves, but even that does not always work. Maybe we should look for people who are good examples....clean coupes. I don't know, even a wild bird can contaminate our chickens....it is crazy. My friend started hatching in 2007, and her birds appear to be healthier than mine, but mine are much cleaner than hers....why? That just does not make sense. Out of 66 birds. I have 3 with a cold thing...Snot nose, sneeze, ramble with each breath, or swolen face near the nose. All three were removed and relocated away from the others and placed on antibotics. That never ends it though...the weather shifts, it is cold, it is warm, high winds, no wind...ah choo.... But there is something to be said about the breeds that are hardy. My RIR and Leghorns never seem to sneeze, etc. Never. My Serama, Polish, Silkie, Ameraucana....every now and again. Ah choo..
I just want healthy birds. Frustration.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
I agree with WW on this one....prevention by providing healthy food, exercise and living quarters to build good immune systems is the best case scenario.

One more thing to add, though. Culling for breed hardiness is important and developing a flock from stock that seem to have resistance to various diseases. Heritage breeds, breeding your own stock to replenish your flock, culling obviously weak or sickly-appearing birds early on in their development. This practice of trying to save a bird at all costs has never made a lot of sense to me. If someone is serious about flock health and vigor, why try to save a bird with a defective immune system? Natural law works in nature, why not for us? The strongest survive, the weakest are lost to predation.

ETA: I don't vaccinate or use medicated feed, either. How can you determine who will be resistant to disease if you give them a "false resistance" that too often fails anyway? This system works well for me.

My sister, on the other hand, vaccinates, feeds medicated feed, gives antibiotics to sick birds and suffers continued losses in her flock d/t "mystery" illnesses. I've never had a loss d/t illness yet, knock on wood, and would be very surprised to have this happen. Not saying it couldn't, but have been raising birds for many years and it hasn't happened, so maybe my system works?

 

[spook]

pips&peeps :

I just wanted to through out a tid bit. You guys have been talking alot about MS.

MS is rarely deadly. It causes mild rales or respiratory symptoms. I don't know who gave you the other information.

In talking with the one of the guys in Georgia at NPIP, about four years ago, he said about 98% of all flocks in the US have MS.

There are some strains in South America though that were being discovered that were, but had not made their way to the US.

MS is bad for meat birds as it will the birds to fight the disease, therefore spending that energy that usually would put on weight.

Check out the Merck Veterinary Manual on it:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/203405.htm

Thanks Pips&peeps, I have actually read this, but when it comes to a whole breeding stock of money makers, or show birds, how many are you going to buy when you ask, do they have colds? Do they ever limp?
When do we find illness to be acceptable. At this point, I know one flock that has decreased in 1/2 by MS. So now, how many of this flock would you like to bring into your flock? Its only MS.
Why is it that this one particular article says nothing about all in or all out? The State of Maine Veterinary and also my private Vet claim the same thing, do not allow this to spread to outside flocks, keep your birds contained, do not wear your shoes for the poultry house to go off the property. Precautions, precautions, precautions. I've written that.

ItsSuzie 'it should be simple, shouldn't it? ' Yes, it should, I agree that ignorance is bliss. But we are all such hatch a holics that we are breeding, swapping birds at a rate that when 3 or 4 die, its stress, no a egg/chick passed illness. When we go to a auction and buy birds (I don't even want to know about other critters) but every single bird that that auctioneer handles (per say) he passed most of those diseases to everyone that buys at the auction.

I too believe that most of the birds in the US have this bacteria, but often the vaccines work against our flocks, bringing these diseases to our area where they are not native- like someone made the comment regarding Coryza. If your property and climate have such health issues, to better protect your flock, absolutely vaccinate against, its for your own lively hood.
But- shouldn't those that are going to shows be made aware that its a possibility your bird is going to come home with something from the bird next to it, is testing/vaccinating something that needs to be looked into? (I live in the fairy tale world where vaccines are good, preventive and not carriers. So please forgive me!LOL) But look at what we are learning..
Bekissed, you and WW are so right, there is always something dropping from the sky, and hazmat suits are not a bad idea, lol. But if your going to show, is your best interest to keep a healthy flock, let them go become infected with these diseases so they can bring it home to your flock.
I keep repeating myself, but its great that I'm learning from all of you! Thank you!​