Welcome to my pond - Swim, wade, or sit on the bank

[orrpeople]

Just popping in to say sorry about your hat! I take the loss of inanimate objects very personally. I also hate Walmart, so if I'd lost my favorite hat at a Walmart, I'd probably hold a life long grudge against Sam Walton. Maybe the hat Gods will smile down upon you & you'll find it.

Broom!!!! I've missed my dose of sisterly advice!

 

[Shadrach]

I've had chickens evaluated through UC Davis, and discussed Marek's with their vets as well as their research facility. The disease is very prevalent (#1 cause of mortality in California) and they believe every flock has it; but like chicken pox, it remains dormant unless put under stress (like shingles), so the outbreak manifestations are not as frequent. It's more likely to kill one or two, here and there, over the course of a year.

As predators go, some years are worse than others. We had an horrific wildfire that destroyed homes in our neighborhood and devastated the wild lands behind us (we back up to a National Recreation Area). Consequently, surviving predators are amongst us - and hungry - as most of their food sources were destroyed along with the wildlands. I've lost 7 birds in the last 6 months; prior to the fire, maybe 2-3 a year.

Glad to hear your girl is on the mend!

Ah yes, the fire. Lots of consequences not often acknowledged. I'm in a National Park. Fire is the one thing everyone dreads. We do get them but the Park Wardens and the fire watch teams are very good here and in general people are responsible regarding their behavior.
I don't know what the Mareks statistics are here.
The backyard chicken keeping craze isn't a big thing here and most people, around here at least, got their chickens from other farms, often people they know. In small communities like there are here, if you sell or pass on a sick chicken you're not going to be very popular.

 

[orrpeople]

Ah yes, the fire. Lots of consequences not often acknowledged. I'm in a National Park. Fire is the one thing everyone dreads. We do get them but the Park Wardens and the fire watch teams are very good here and in general people are responsible regarding their behavior.
I don't know what the Mareks statistics are here.
The backyard chicken keeping craze isn't a big thing here and most people, around here at least, got their chickens from other farms, often people they know. In small communities like there are here, if you sell or pass on a sick chicken you're not going to be very popular.

There's a lot of interesting history related to Marek's - pretty fascinating stuff - but basically, it was never eradicated, spreads on the wind (wild birds carry it as well), and is everywhere... manifests in a thousand different ways... craziness. I have a lot of respect for it. Basically, the Davis veterinarian said that if you have a chicken die without a known cause, it's probably Marek's. And she said it like it was absolutely no big deal... thanks, vet.

 

[orrpeople]

Not to bore the pond w this stuff again (they patiently went through my research phase a while back...)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...y-chicks-vaccinated-for-mareks-disease.73398/

 

[Shadrach]

My lovely vet here is rather more encouraging. Her view is even if it is Mareks it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to die. She described it as a bit like AIDS. It can undermine a chickens health and allow other diseases to flourish, but if you can tackle the other diseases there is a good chance of survival.
The full blown version of Mareks that gives the classic straight leg paralysis is usual fatal.
I keep a closed flock which has been helpful over the years and I also have individual groups/tribes. Sure, they have some contact with each other but not having all your chickens in one coop can prove very useful in the event of contagious diseases and mite and lice problems.

 

[kwhites634]

Okay, I'm stumped. I don't know the name of those compressed paper pulp egg trays used to stack eggs on a pallet for delivery to grocery stores.
They make great fire starters. My source of free ones dried up & I need to buy a bundle of them.
Anybody know?

 

[orrpeople]

My lovely vet here is rather more encouraging. Her view is even if it is Mareks it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to die. She described it as a bit like AIDS. It can undermine a chickens health and allow other diseases to flourish, but if you can tackle the other diseases there is a good chance of survival.
The full blown version of Mareks that gives the classic straight leg paralysis is usual fatal.
I keep a closed flock which has been helpful over the years and I also have individual groups/tribes. Sure, they have some contact with each other but not having all your chickens in one coop can prove very useful in the event of contagious diseases and mite and lice problems.

Yep! Great advice. I have a "suspected case" in one of my older girls right now (wasting away is our primary symptom here) - and with lots of vitamins and protein, she's out there running around with the best of them!
And no, no, no, please don't say "mites and lice" - knock on wood, those are parasites I haven't had to deal with (although, name the worm... I'm an expert poop-parasite finder, thanks, chickens)

 

[orrpeople]

Okay, I'm stumped. I don't know the name of those compressed egg trays used to stack eggs on a pallet for delivery to grocery stores.
They make great fire starters. My source of free ones dried up & I need to buy a bundle of them.
Anybody know?

Egg flats?

 

[orrpeople]

Hey @Pyxis ! How are you? How are your birds?

 

[sourland]

Alaskan, They have you numbed up and you won't feel any discomfort till it wears off when you get back home. Not horrible but it may sting

Yeah, but to have you 'numbed up' they stab your little friend with needles.