Most hens aren’t quite this adventurous… This one has a case of wanderlust!
Archive for March, 2015
23 Mar
Marek’s Cases in Chicagoland Area
There have recently been a few cases (confirmed and suspected) of Marek’s disease. The infected chickens have came from WI, and were in McHenry County and Evanston. One flock was made up of Orloffs.
Marek’s is very contagious and will affect an entire flock. There are neurological, ocular, and visceral forms of Marek’s. Symptoms of the neurological form of Marek’s include split-leg posture (one back, one forward, twisted neck, wings drooping). For more info on Marek’s: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/poultry/neoplasms/mareks_disease_in_poultry.html. Here, too, is a good post that includes lots of FAQs.
The virus is shed in feather dander and can be transmitted by humans from flock to flock. A blood test can be used to diagnose Marek’s, or an avian vet can diagnose on necropsy.
If you have a Marek’s bird, it’s best to destroy it, if not your whole flock. You should not get new birds until the old ones are gone, and the virus may remain in the environment. There is no cure for Marek’s.
Just a reminder:
— Always get birds from a reputable source.
— Buy only birds that look healthy.
— Quarantine the new birds for a few weeks to be sure they are healthy (however, they may be carriers of a disease without showing symptoms).
If you have a suspected Marek’s death, it would be good to get a necropsy and pathology report from a certified avian vet to protect your flock and others’ birds. Also, please let the chicken-keeping community know and notify the sources of your birds, as well as chicken owners who have visited your coop recently.
23 Mar
Events for Week of March 23, 2015
Remember to sign up for this week’s classes!
Basic Chicken Keeping
Weds., March 25, 5:30 PM at Fossil Ridge Public Library, http://fossilridge.org/event/home-to-roost/
Basic Chicken Keeping
Chicken Coop Building
Sat., March 28, 10 AM-3 PM at Chicago Botanic Garden, http://www.chicagobotanic.org/
23 Mar
Faroese Chickens Respond to the Eclipse
This clip is super cute!
Notice how one of the roosters shepherds everyone in, another is the last in, and a roo is the first one out.
18 Mar
11th Annual Good Food Festival and Conference! March 19 – 21, 2015
Join us for the 11th Annual Good Food Festival & Conference!
March 19 – 21, 2015 – UIC Forum – Chicago, IL
Buy Tickets for Good Food Festival & Conference Events Online – or You Can Also Pay At The Door!
Check out the Saturday programming for Raise Your Own minisessions on chickens, goats, bees, quail, and more!
Each segment of the Good Food Festival & Conference would make a superb stand-alone event. FamilyFarmed brings it all – financing… trade… producer issues… school food… food policy… an exhibit hall where you can meet more than 100 farm and food vendors… an awesome food and drink tasting event… and a Festival that is a great public celebration of the Good Food movement!
Please join us. You’ll be enlightened, inspired, and delighted! Visit the event website for more information and to buy tickets.
