Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Hinotori]

I just wrote this to lovely Karen at catdance silkie farms and want to share with my fellow washitonians so hopefully you don't have to experience the same heart break I have. I am veterinarian (doctor of veterinary medicine) who lives in Battle Ground WA, is fairly new to chickens (not including the years of coarses in chicken husbandry, diseases, etc.)

My latest issue is that I'm 99% sure I have Mareks in my flock. 4 out of 18 were suffering enough to euthanize over the last 2 weeks (non-responsive crop stasis in one, progressive leg paralysis in one, one lethargic and wouldn't thrive,and now one that is blind, and another that has a crooked neck...not wry neck) 4 of these were not vaccinated for Mareks and under 6 weeks of age while the other 4 mths old sizzles and Silkies are doing great, only 2 were vaccinated. I've been traumatized and despite my pain and the poor birds morbidity, I hope I can help convince others to make sure you acquire vaccinated chicks. I was naive and took advice that was incorrect whileI should've been seeking my colleagues advice all along.

I've spoken with 4 of the top poultry vets in the U.S. and Dr. Crestor at wsu in puyallup.
From now on before introducing any more birds they must've been vaccinated from a reputable Mareks vaccine within 24 hrs of hatch. My options are to hatch my own via incubator and vaccinate within 24 hrs (I don't have an incubator yet...not sure if I want one), let my own birds breed and raise their own...either vaccinate or let nature take its coarse with the strong ones building up their immunity, or get ones from a breeder that routinely vaccinates for Mareks with a reputable vaccine within 24 hrs.

I would very much love to have a couple more lavender silkies and bantam Americaunas but must be patient and wise to find or create only vaccinated chicks.

Best wishes to all the chicken peeps and learn from my experience please.

Thank you
Sincerely,
Dr. Cory Gadwood

I can only offer my hugs and support. I've been through the mareks issue. I vaccinate for it now. I lost a couple girls who were just over a year old from it even.

After last summers outbreaks, I also vaccinate all the birds for ILT as well to prevent getting that here.

 

[ochochicas]

Thanks everyone for your supportive words regarding my Marek's birds.

 

[OverEggstended]

Where is all the building materials going from the demo ???????????????
Decent lumber & siding ?

Edited to add: Love your new avatar     

Also Edited once again to add: We are coming up tomorrow to do Walmart & a few other places, maybe see ya ?

Landlord wanted done cheap as possible and quick... So contractor used reciprocating saw and chopped it all into 2 foot bits.

Seriously, I do NOT want to discuss it right now. Cried for 2 days and put myself in hospital with MS being exacerbated.

 

[OverEggstended]

Edited to add: Love your new avatar     

Also Edited once again to add: We are coming up tomorrow to do Walmart & a few other places, maybe see ya ?

I was headed across street to Michael's farm stand and to The Market Place! Let me know when and we will meet up!

 

[xoxocammyxoxo]

Well, everyone's started May 12th / 13th which 13th is my mothers b- day, what a perfect present hatching of lil fluffy butts

Bantam Blue/Splash Frizzle


Top: Lavender Orpington - middle: Standard Blue Cochin - bottom: Bantam BBS Cochin/Frizzle

Can't wait

Ooop I like the bottom incubator. Awesome cant wait for pics

 

[Lil Go Peep]

Ooop I like the bottom incubator. Awesome cant wait for pics

This will be our first hatch out of the bottom one- both are Brinsea incubators, top one was our 2nd incubator which has done some great hatches, but only does 48 eggs. Now with both we can do separate hatches at different times even

Everything is auto controlled which is wonderful compared to the very first one we used with was one of those styrofoam ones and was super touchy with temp and then keeping the humidity up and leveled out was a nightmare - I love these so far for sure- just hope for a decent hatch rate at least

 

[xoxocammyxoxo]

This will be our first hatch out of the bottom one- both are Brinsea incubators, top one was our 2nd incubator which has done some great hatches, but only does 48 eggs. Now with both we can do separate hatches at different times even

Everything is auto controlled which is wonderful compared to the very first one we used with was one of those styrofoam ones and was super touchy with temp and then keeping the humidity up and leveled out was a nightmare - I love these so far for sure- just hope for a decent hatch rate at least

One of these days I'll have to look into incubators but we don't have any roosters and I've reached my max for where we live so.... I shouldn't temp myself. XD

 

[elizmartin]

I do that alot !
I am on restriction from ebay now...........................

I still want those Silver bantam Barnevelders though.........so much that it is on my mind alot, so much so that yesterday I told Einstein to take left over rice out & feed it to the barnevelders.
He walked right over to the Bielefelders.....and tossed the rice in .
He never said a word about it.
(We do not have Barnevelders)

I LOVE Calico & Millie Bantam Cochins !

But alas.....with our mud, it didn't work.
We had Lemon Blue (LF) Cochins too...and after a few days in this weather (and our clay) the birds had DINGLE BALLS of clay the size of golf balls, all over their feet, legs & nether regions.

They clacked together when the birds ran/walked.

I had to clip all their fluff & feets, toes, legs..................................

I wonder if Erland, Kummer poultry farm in Enumclaw has any….He has had Barnies of several varieties for a long time….Blue lace red Barnies are really pretty too. i just have one regular Barnie hen left…..
I have the same problem with my Faverolles in the winter….mud puppys….eventually i hope to have covered runs, but until then am very grateful to have them covered with great netting !!! at least they are not an Eagle delicacy.

 

[Lil Go Peep]

One of these days I'll have to look into incubators but we don't have any roosters and I've reached my max for where we live so.... I shouldn't temp myself. XD

Awe- I sorry - don't know about anyone else but hatching own birds is exciting at least for me. I hate the waiting, but I enjoy watching the lil cuties making their way into the world. As my son says I don't have "crazy cat lady" syndrome I have "crazy chicken lady" syndrome- I hover and talk to them as they hatch which I found actually edges them on more to "come out!" - lmao

Hardest part is losing the ones who don't hatch, but are still in their alive and I can't do anything - if they manage to pip at least I can assist if need to, but the ones who don't even pip but still chirping, think I've managed to shed tears every time it happens - I just have to tell myself can't hatch and save them all, it's nature

 

[elizmartin]

Awe- I sorry - don't know about anyone else but hatching own birds is exciting at least for me. I hate the waiting, but I enjoy watching the lil cuties making their way into the world. As my son says I don't have "crazy cat lady" syndrome I have "crazy chicken lady" syndrome- I hover and talk to them as they hatch which I found actually edges them on more to "come out!" - lmao

Hardest part is losing the ones who don't hatch, but are still in their alive and I can't do anything - if they manage to pip at least I can assist if need to, but the ones who don't even pip but still chirping, think I've managed to shed tears every time it happens - I just have to tell myself can't hatch and save them all, it's nature

Maybe it would be helpful to know there is often something wrong with chicks that don't survive saving you from the hurt of losing them later….Because stragglers in the bator don't hatch but you know they were alive from their peeps i monitor them closely and do help some (slowly because some not are not ready) BECAUSE, the more you open the bator the more the right hatching moisture atmosphere changes hurting their ability to hatch.