Wry neck in chicks

[Waterfaery]

Good question! It's true that day-old chicks don't get their nutrition from food right away, but they do receive some nutrients before they hatch. The yolk of an egg contains a variety of essential nutrients that the developing chick will use to sustain itself until it hatches. These nutrients include vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as B vitamins, minerals, and proteins.

Sometimes, chicks can develop vitamin deficiencies even before they hatch, if the parent birds were deficient in certain nutrients. For example, a hen that is deficient in vitamin E may produce eggs with lower levels of this vitamin, which can then result in vitamin E deficiency in the chick. Similarly, if the hen's diet was deficient in other key nutrients, such as selenium, it could lead to a deficiency in the growing chick.

In addition, some breeders or hatcheries may use poor quality feed or not provide adequate nutrition to their birds, which could lead to deficiencies in the parent birds and, subsequently, in the chicks they produce.

It's also possible for chicks to develop deficiencies after hatching if they are not provided with the proper nutrition. Generally, a commercial chick starter feed will contain all the essential nutrients that chicks need to grow and develop properly. However, if the feed is not formulated correctly or if the chicks don't have access to enough food or water, they could develop nutrient deficiencies.

So, to summarize, day-old chicks can develop nutrient deficiencies even before they hatch, if the parent birds or the eggs they come from are deficient in certain vitamins or minerals. After hatching, chicks can also develop deficiencies if they are not provided with the proper nutrition, such as through a well-balanced feed and access to clean water.

Thank you for that. Am I correct in assuming that the diet of both parents is important for the health of the chicks? Or are the nutrients available in the egg yolk mainly a result of the hen's diet? How much does the diet of the breeding rooster contribute to the egg yolk?

 

[TudyBOT]

Thank you for that. Am I correct in assuming that the diet of both parents is important for the health of the chicks? Or are the nutrients available in the egg yolk mainly a result of the hen's diet? How much does the diet of the breeding rooster contribute to the egg yolk?

Yes, you are correct that the diet of both the hen and the rooster can impact the health and nutritional quality of the eggs they produce, including the nutrients available in the yolk. However, the hen's diet has a greater influence on the nutritional quality of the egg compared to the rooster's diet.

This is because the hen's body is responsible for producing and depositing nutrients into the egg yolk as it develops, while the rooster's main contribution is the fertilization of the egg. However, the rooster's diet can still indirectly impact the health and productivity of the hen, which in turn can affect the nutritional quality of the eggs.

For example, if the rooster is not receiving enough of certain nutrients, such as protein or essential fatty acids, he may not be able to produce high-quality sperm. This can impact the success rate of fertilization and the overall health of the chicks.

In addition, the presence of certain parasites or infections in the rooster, such as worms or viral diseases, can impact his health and reduce his ability to produce strong, healthy offspring.

So, while the hen's diet has a greater impact on the nutritional quality of the yolk, the health and diet of the breeding rooster is still important for the health and productivity of the hen, and ultimately for the quality of the eggs and chicks produced.

 

[Waterfaery]

Yes, you are correct that the diet of both the hen and the rooster can impact the health and nutritional quality of the eggs they produce, including the nutrients available in the yolk. However, the hen's diet has a greater influence on the nutritional quality of the egg compared to the rooster's diet.

This is because the hen's body is responsible for producing and depositing nutrients into the egg yolk as it develops, while the rooster's main contribution is the fertilization of the egg. However, the rooster's diet can still indirectly impact the health and productivity of the hen, which in turn can affect the nutritional quality of the eggs.

For example, if the rooster is not receiving enough of certain nutrients, such as protein or essential fatty acids, he may not be able to produce high-quality sperm. This can impact the success rate of fertilization and the overall health of the chicks.

In addition, the presence of certain parasites or infections in the rooster, such as worms or viral diseases, can impact his health and reduce his ability to produce strong, healthy offspring.

So, while the hen's diet has a greater impact on the nutritional quality of the yolk, the health and diet of the breeding rooster is still important for the health and productivity of the hen, and ultimately for the quality of the eggs and chicks produced.

Thank you. Is it possible for a rooster who is infected with Marek's disease to produce healthy chicks? Would there be a lower hatch rate from eggs fertilised by him? Or would there be a higher chance of issues with the chicks?

 

[TudyBOT]

Thank you. Is it possible for a rooster who is infected with Marek's disease to produce healthy chicks? Would there be a lower hatch rate from eggs fertilised by him? Or would there be a higher chance of issues with the chicks?

Marek's disease is a viral infection that can affect chickens and cause tumors and nerve damage. While roosters infected with Marek's disease can still produce fertile eggs, there is a risk that those eggs could also be infected with the virus. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Marek's disease, and infected chickens will remain carriers of the virus for the rest of their lives.

If a chicken is infected with Marek's disease, there is a risk that the virus could be passed on to the chicks it produces, either through the egg or through contact with the infected parent. Infected chicks may show signs of the disease, such as weakness, paralysis, or tumors, and the mortality rate for infected chicks can be high.

Even if the fertilized eggs hatch, there is a risk that the chicks may develop Marek's disease later in life. Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that a chicken is free from Marek's disease, as the virus can be present in the bird's nervous system without causing any visible signs of illness.

Therefore, it's recommended to practice good biosecurity measures, including testing new birds for Marek's disease before introducing them to your flock, and separating any birds showing signs of the disease from the rest of the flock. Additionally, it's important to practice good hygiene when handling eggs and chicks, to reduce the risk of spreading any potential infections.

 

[Waterfaery]

Marek's disease is a viral infection that can affect chickens and cause tumors and nerve damage. While roosters infected with Marek's disease can still produce fertile eggs, there is a risk that those eggs could also be infected with the virus. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Marek's disease, and infected chickens will remain carriers of the virus for the rest of their lives.

If a chicken is infected with Marek's disease, there is a risk that the virus could be passed on to the chicks it produces, either through the egg or through contact with the infected parent. Infected chicks may show signs of the disease, such as weakness, paralysis, or tumors, and the mortality rate for infected chicks can be high.

Even if the fertilized eggs hatch, there is a risk that the chicks may develop Marek's disease later in life. Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that a chicken is free from Marek's disease, as the virus can be present in the bird's nervous system without causing any visible signs of illness.

Therefore, it's recommended to practice good biosecurity measures, including testing new birds for Marek's disease before introducing them to your flock, and separating any birds showing signs of the disease from the rest of the flock. Additionally, it's important to practice good hygiene when handling eggs and chicks, to reduce the risk of spreading any potential infections.

I believe that Marek's disease is not transmitted vertically, so it can not be passed on through the eggs unless through dander that might remain on the egg and infect the chick after it hatches.

I am specifically interested to know if the hatch rate would be affected?

 

[TudyBOT]

I believe that Marek's disease is not transmitted vertically, so it can not be passed on through the eggs unless through dander that might remain on the egg and infect the chick after it hatches.

I am specifically interested to know if the hatch rate would be affected?

You are correct that Marek's disease is not transmitted vertically, meaning it is not passed from infected hens to their offspring through the egg. However, there is still a risk that the virus could be present in the environment or on surfaces, including eggs, and could infect chicks after hatching.

As for hatch rates, Marek's disease is not known to directly affect fertility or hatchability. However, if a rooster is infected with Marek's disease, it may also be infected with other infections that can impact fertility and hatchability, such as infectious bronchitis virus or Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Additionally, if a hen is infected with Marek's disease, it could impact the hatch rate indirectly by affecting the health and productivity of the hen. For example, if the disease causes tumors or nerve damage, it could impact the hen's ability to lay eggs, which could in turn reduce the number of eggs available for hatching.

Overall, while Marek's disease is not known to directly impact hatch rates, it can still impact the overall health of the flock and potentially reduce the number of healthy birds available for breeding.