2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[suebee]

Many of you will know, I lost one of my girls last week. I don't know exactly why she died, but with her symptoms, I can't rule out Mareks.

 

I now have only two chickens, rattling around like a couple of old biddies in a stately home. Three wasn't great... (I had planned to expand in time) but two is quite under-populated. The big BUT is, should I add more, given the Mareks possibility? And if so, what... to go with Faverolles. But will I be setting my new chooks up to succumb to Mareks? I read that it's safer to add vaccinated stock where there has been Mareks, (I'm assuming they mean Mareks vaccinated, rather than generally vaccinated?)

 

What do you more experienced people think? I am trying to offset the stress of two birds on their own needing a bigger flock, with the risk of exposing new birds to Mareks.

 

Ps.... This is not an outbreak of morehens... .... No... seriously... It's not. I'd be quite happy sticking with the two of them for now... I just feel they're missing something... or someone. They're just coming to the end of their moult, and they seem more nervous than normal... The slightest unusual sound etc. I think losing a flock mate, they feel more vulnerable, and have lost their 'safety in numbers'.

 

Thanks for wading through my long post!

[Lavenders_Blue]

Two chooks will be perfectly happy together, they don't particularly need any more friends. However if you want to add some more, why not? I have found that hens can have a tendency to be more nervy/jumpy when they are moulting, I think they feel more vulnerable, so maybe that would explain their behaviour.

I expect if you do decide add more chooks, Marek's vaccinated hens would be the safest option.

Good luck whatever you decide

[suebee]

Thanks Lavenders_ Blue,

 

I was hoping their nervousness was moult related. Thanks for that. Makes me worry about them a little less! As you say, they're probably fine on their own. It's just my (humanizing) perception of them.

 

I wonder how I'd come across some Mareks vaccinated hens. Fully vaccinated chooks would presumably not be the best idea, as my two would then be vulnerable, (not being vaccinated at all). I would have thought the most likely candidates would be Silkies. And yet, there's something very uncomfortable about adding Silkies to a flock where Mareks lurks!

[sparkysmum]

Hi

I dont know your circumstances as I'm only around fleetingly these days, however I do have experience of Mareks and introducing other birds. Long story short, I lost 2 sablepoot bantams to mareks a couple of years ago but after seeking vets advice decided to add another couple of hens to my little flock. I introduced Scots Dumpies as I believed that they were vaccinated against Mareks ( but now have reason to believe that they weren't) and all was well

 

My other hens, including another sablepoot all proved to be resistant to mareks, and I have had no further problems with this horrible disease. Sablepoots and Silkies are particularly susceptible to Mareks and if you believe you have had Mareks in your flock I would steer well clear of both breeds

 

Most commercially reared hybrids are vaccinated against mareks and other nasty poultry diseases but less so pure bred hens from hobbyist breeders. I would look for birds which have a natural resistance to mareks and if possible seek an assurance from potential breeders that their stock as far as they know is mareks free. Best of luck what ever you choose. Alli x

[daxigirl]

I seriously worried about adding to my lot at the beginning of the year when they kept dying of various ailments but (touch wood) things have sorted themselves out and I've added to them fine to reach a grand total of 23 at the end of the year.

 

If you find a supplier that your comfortable with and birds you like the look of on close inspection then I'd go for it. You need at least 2 don't you . You could go for pantomime names? I can just imagine a Widow T"Ooops, word censored!"y wandering round the garden.

[suebee]

You need at least 2 don't you . You could go for pantomime names? I can just imagine a Widow T"Ooops, word censored!"y wandering round the garden.

 

Wow daxigirl... ........ Here's me trying to decide whether or not to get a couple more chooks, and you've already sorted out names for 'em.....

 

Thanks for your input. I'm probably worrying too much and analysing everything (as usual ). I've always felt comfortable with three or four chooks, but not two (in case one goes and leaves a single one.) As for the vaccinated v unvaccinated thing, I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place. If I get vaccinated birds, I could put my two at risk, but if I choose unvaccinated, I could be risking the newbies, with my potentially Mareks-ridden lot!

 

I guess I should maybe chill out, let the dust settle, and then find a good breeder with whom I can discuss all.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I would have thought the breed most likely to have been vaccinated for Mareks only, would be Silkies, which (ironically) I feel I should avoid. Are there breeders who would tend to routinely vaccinate any stock for Mareks, regardless of breed?

 

And just a thought... could it possibly help, if I bought slightly older birds, ie. beyond the typical Mareks age range?

 

Thanks for all your help folks. It is much appreciated...

[mimi5]

Suebee, just a thought.....what about hatching in the spring?? I hatched this year and throughly enjoyed the experience!! I did get 4 boys though!! But I had made a pact with myself that I would find any boys I hatched good homes, which thankfully I did!!! I kept the 3 girls who are lovely!!!

 

I had been unlucky in the early part of the year and lost 2 of my original pekins and the other 2 were constantly broody so... 3 weeks later fluffy chicks!!!!! SOoooo cute! It wasn't totally stress free and I didn't manage to get any araucana chicks either (bought hatching eggs, only 1 hatched and sadly died day3) But hey, life is often a version on a theme!!!

 

I also felt I would be able to control the environment that the chicks experienced (hopefully strong immune system) and that it would make for less stressful intros later. You do need a spare coop/run though.

 

Still hanker after some blue egg layers......

 

Best wishes whatever you decide and keep us posted!!

[daxigirl]

With regard to the mareks thing, I don't know what's best.

 

My first one to go Pebbles was a lovely Welsummer 18months oldish, just finished her big moult and I was expecting egg resumption any day. She came from a very reputable supplier. Having done lots of reading in the past year stress triggers it (so moulting, starting egg laying etc etc) and it can still rear it's ugly head even if they've been vaccinated as it depends on the dose that they got as chicks. It was explained that they can be off colour with one thing and the mareks kicks in as a secondary infection once their immune system is weak.

 

This year I've been pepping my lot up with tonic in their water during the moult. So fingers crossed.

[Mrs_B]

Exciting that you are thinking about getting some new ladies for your flock, Suebee! I can see why you are so worried.

 

I experienced Blackhead not long ago, and ideally I would put my White Star in with the wooden coop lot and intro two new girls in with my Columbine - but I am too paranoid about any new birds coming in, so I am sticking with my lot for the moment.

 

However, the two groups as pairs have done really well, and even when they FR together (only a couple of times a week) they get on OK.

 

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

x

[suebee]

Thanks so much folks, for all your suggestions.

 

mimi... I would love to hatch chicks. OH and I have discussed it too. I'm not brave enough on the cockerel front yet though, ..... One day, perhaps... I'd love the whole process, even though I know I'd find it stressful. It would be the fear of not finding homes for the boys, that gets me, as I'm sure it gets everyone else.

 

Thanks again daxigirl.... I believe it was the moult that triggered off the demise of my girl. And yes, Lifeguard all the way at the moment. Been on the blessed stuff for weeks. It seems then, that even older girls may not have built up sufficient immunity to combat Mareks, judging by your own awful experience with Pebbles.

 

Thanks Mrs B... I'm wondering whether or not to go down a similar route, and keep my two Favs as a twosome, and have a few hens elsewhere in the garden, and see how this goes, possibly with a view to integrating them at a later date.

 

I do appreciate everyone's advice. You all have more experience than me, and I do so value your help. I'll continue to have a think about it, and do my research, and will certainly let you all know if any new ladies come into our lives.

 

Thanks all

[mimi5]

Oh suebee who knew we would share the same sadness so soon!!! As regards hatching you don't need a cockerel, you could get hatching eggs? Also mini incubators are good, but you do have to rear the chicks yourself (oh but they're SO cute, my house went to wrack and ruin when we had ours! ) Or you could buy day old chicks? So difficult to decide isn't it??

 

Maybe wait till the spring and see how you feel then? Your girls seem fine don't they? Gives me hope that my girls will be ok. I thought my steep learning curve had slowed up...maybe not!

[suebee]

Hi mimi... Yes, who would have thought it. There seem to be rather a lot of chooks passing away lately too, don't there?

 

On the hatching front, when I said I'm not confident with the cockerels, I meant the ones I'll inevitably end up hatching! And what I'd do with them ... I have considered getting an incubator, and hatching some Salmon Favs. At least I'd have a lot longer to plan homes for the boys that way, as I'd know pretty quickly which they were.

 

My OH is quite supportive, but perhaps not to the extent of getting involved as a mutual hobby ("join the club" - I hear everyone shout!) I get the feeling he thinks it would all be simple and straight forward, and we'd easily hatch a whole bunch of healthy chicks. I can imagine otherwise, and without wanting to sound like a right old pessimist, I feel I need a little more experience of the downs, as well as the ups to keeping chooks, before I'd be brave enough to take on the challenge!

 

I admit though, to feeling quite with envy, when I look at everyone's newly hatched chick pics, and gather all of their excitement from their posts!

[mimi5]

Suebee, you must do what you feel happy to. I was at a low place and a couple of supprotive friends said give it a go and I wanted araucanas...so. Hoped to replaced the 2 girls I'd lost & maybe a couple of extras! But I TOTALLY get where you're coming from about the boys, as you know I got 4!!! But hey I may get a Monty's grandson next year!! Funny how life goes. Oh and I probably won't hatch again, well not for along time anyway.

 

My hubby is ok-ish about the pekins and he did come with me to the vet and we both stayed with Monty while he passed. He was very kind about the chicks as we had them with their mums in the house!!! The weather was SO wet and chilly!! He just gets upset at all the money i've spent!!! Then he doesn't like it when I get so upset when they're poorly/die.

 

Just want it to be spring, fed up with winter already!

[suebee]

He just gets upset at all the money i've spent!!! Then he doesn't like it when I get so upset when they're poorly/die.

 

Mmmmm...... ditto...

[Chortle Chook]

If you type 'marek's resistance' into Google there is quite a bit of information there about moving on with your flock after an attack of Mareks. One article says that the breed which is the most resistant is the Fayomi.

 

I'd not be too confident in getting a Silkie if you have had Mareks around as they are the most susceptible and I know from talking to a breeder around here that with the best will in the world, injecting tiny chicks with the Mareks vaccine can be a bit hit and miss . . . it is terribly easy to inject your own finger by mistake.

[suebee]

Thanks Shabby Chic, I appreciate your googling on my behalf!

 

I too, have been googling like crazy lately, and did see the reference to the Fayoumi's resistance to Mareks on backyard chickens. There's a lot of interesting reading on there. I've sent myself dizzy trying to decipher learned veterinary pdf's on the subject too... ... My mention of Silkies, was in irony really. Much as I love them, and would like them, I wouldn't dare risk it. The irony is, I would imagine they are the main breed you might hope to find, if you were looking for chooks vaccinated only for Mareks, rather than generally vaccinated chooks, like hybrids.

 

As you say though, the vaccine is hit and miss, what with it's very limited use-by period, and being finicky to use. I also wonder if new birds from a breeder with no history of Mareks in their flock, would be more at risk from my two, than chooks who've already knowingly come into contact with it, like mine. I wonder how a breeder could actually know that their chooks were resistant to Mareks. It seems, a large proportion of flocks have Mareks, and it only comes to light when a chook develops symptoms. I would have been none the wiser, for example, if my girl was still around and had yet to show symptoms, and I may have bought new birds, and then blamed them for her demise!

 

Having said all that, I still can't be sure that my girl died as a result of Mareks. I've only come to that conclusion, as there seemed to be no other, given her symptoms. If it was Mareks, then I guess my remaining two will either have it or they won't, and will either pass it on or not. I may find out during their next stressful event. It's like a ticking time bomb.

 

I have no intention of culling the two and starting again, as some would suggest, and I'm realising, that whatever I choose to do (if adding new stock,) will be a gamble.

 

Sorry to rant on (as usual... )

 

Thanks again, to you all, for your suggestions and information. You're all so kind and helpful...

[Chortle Chook]

I do see where you are coming from with the idea of Silkies. I think if it was me, I'd get 2 slightly older chooks of a breed that is supposed to have good resistance. You could, for instance get a couple of 18 month girlies that were born not this summer just gone but the summer before - probably ones that were 'run on' for the National but did not do as well as anticiapted or where the breeder would rather not have the worry of them through the winter. I can't seem to find it anywhere but somehow I do think I read once that the Scotts Dumpy was a very disease resistant breed.

[suebee]

Thanks again Shabby Chic... I do rather like the Scots Dumpy, and will look into this.

 

Also, it does seem logical, as you say, to go for older birds, outside of the common catchment age for Mareks. Possibly, they may have developed a certain amount of resistance, though as daxigirl mentioned earlier, she lost her 18 month old welsummer to Mareks, so there are clearly exceptions.

 

It seems, there is only so much we can do to endeavour to avoid this dreaded virus. So maybe I should bite the bullet, and risk adding to them, taking all the best options and advice, and going forward from there... The alternative, it would seem, is worrying about something that might never happen. They might after all, contract something completely different, or break a leg, or get taken by a fox, or the sky could fall in, or I could get run over by a bus...

 

(I'm rambling again - )

 

Thanks Shabby Chic...

[Chortle Chook]

Just a thought - you could try ducks if you are very nervous about having chickens that might contract Mareks. All the same I do think that there are a load of other things out there that your chickens could get and you have said that you don't know for certain that it was Mareks that killed your wee chicken.

[mimi5]

Hi there Suebee,

 

Well I'm back to worrying re my pekins just like you!!! Just to complicate things when my vets finally got back to re-Mareks vaccine (already researched myself and found out it's really best given as day old chicks!! Or certainly as close to that as poss) The vet that called was more senior/experienced and had seen me with my Mary (impacted crop) and was very kind as she had to be PTS. Anyway she wasn't convinced that Monty had Mareks!!!! So I'm confussed.com. (wishing I had had a PM done now!!!!)

 

Well checking on the pekins daily now and Molly who is in her 3rd moult is very light So bringing her in every night now and giving her Nutridrops, tlc and anything she will eat!!!!!!!!

 

I think as you say don't worry about what may not happen and move forwards. You may still encounter problems what ever you do!!!!

 

I have my accidental babies to add to my girls and think I may get another cockerel as girls are driving me mad with bickering and be scared of their own shadows....which makes them very vocal!!!!!!

[suebee]

Thanks you two!

 

Er... Shabby Chic... em... Ducks??? ........ ............... .........................

 

Mmmmmm... Hadn't thought of those........... Don't get me started on something else!

 

Hi mimi.... Why did the vet change her mind about Monty and Mareks? Sounds like he had the classic symptoms. Did she say what else she thought it may have been?.......... By the way, know what you mean about the girls being scared of their own shadows. My two haven't been out of their run for more than a couple of minutes, for weeks.

 

Cheers you two x

[Chortle Chook]

Been away from my laptop over Xmas. Have you decided on new chickens, suebee, and if so which sort?

 

Miniature ducks, by the way, are dead cute and no trouble to look after at all, making very little mess unlike their big counterparts. There are various sorts including Call Ducks (the females, though not the males can be quite noisy) and Miniature Appleyards. See my signature of my wee Call ducks. They roam freely with my Silkies, Polands and Frizzles.

[Grandmashazzie]

Hi,I have been following this thread and hoping to add some new chicks in Spring,but this has also got me thinking,call ducks.Having googled them they sound great fun,so to all you experts this is going to be a stupid question but do you need to get a pair,ie male and female,or like chickens can you get say three females?I would not like to have ducklings and then worry about rehoming.

[Chortle Chook]

Unlike with chickens the boys won't fight and also do not make the loud quack so a boys' brigade can be fun. All girls are also OK together (my neighbours have 3 girlies). BUT I have read that if you have all of the same sex then you need to watch out in spring and make sure their wings are clipped or they'll go looking for the opposite sex amongst the local Mallard population on the nearest bit of wild water It is also important that you don't have more boys than girls or the poor outnumbered girls will have a very bad time of it

[suebee]

Wow, Shabby Chic, those miniature ducks sound gorgeous, and I'm tempted. I know nothing at all about keeping ducks, and so, would enjoy doing all the research...

 

Thanks for asking about my latest thoughts. Since my first post, I had finally decided to take the plunge, and add to my two girls, and felt that the benefits would outweigh the risks, (after a lot of thought and... ...)

 

However, we have since decided to move away from our area, and adding more girls at this point would probably be unwise. I don't yet know where we're heading, and would prefer to relocate two, rather than four or more...(I can't take my chook run with me, unfortunately, and would have to use a small, temporary house and run until my (lovely) OH could build a new set up).

 

Once we're sorted, I'll aim to add at least two chooks, either more Faverolles, or any of the more gentle/compatable breeds. I rather fancy bantam Brahmas, Frizzles or bantam Orps. I will look into ducks now too!