[Gardening Mark]

I was told this morning  that Silkies are prone to disease. Is this true? As I have 7 Silkie chicks at the min, with hopefully 20 or so more to come. They are cross bred though with those red hens, must be the same as the battery hens. Any help appreciated! Thanks ..Mark

[Aunt Sally]

I'm afraid I din't know the answer to this one Mark.  Someone else will though I expect.

They sound like a rather intersting cross.  Do post a picture when they mature.

[Fat Hen]

Silkies are generally regarded as robust & problem free however at the moment I have a poorly cockerel.  The others however are in the peak of fitness.

[Aunt Sally]

There is an article in this Months (July 2007) Practical Poultry which says they are susceptible to Marek's Disease.

[Foxy]

Ive heard that too Aunt Sally -am I right that you can get them vaccinated?

[Aunt Sally]

Yes, when they are about three weeks old, but it only prevents the formation of tumours rather than the disease itself.  Some think it best to try to breed it out but that is very difficult and requires lots of culling.

The editor has written a short piece about this in July 2007's edition of Practical Poultry.

[alan42]

kept silkies for 20 odd years now and never had a single problem except run of the mill stuff, i would recomend them as starter birds,best cluckers going, tough birds with loads of caracter.
alan

[Aunt Sally]

That's good news Alan.

PP have a big article about silkies this month (July 07). But the editor does point out that they can suffer with Marek's.  Very fortunate for you to have had none  

[alan42]

i think posibly because any new stock i get is well quarantiened before introduction to the rest of the flock and then it is eggs hatched by myself that are used so not much chance if intraducing viruses.
alan

[Aunt Sally]

quarantiened before introduction to the rest of the flock
alan

 Very wise  :!: