Genetic Disease In Chickens

Customers call or start to shop here for chickens and they generally say: ".... I am doing my research on chickens and ..." They feel as though if they read long enough that they will have all the answers. 

The poultry industry has been researching poultry by the billions of dollars annually for many decades 

AND EVEN POULTRY SCIENTISTS AT UNIVERSITIES DO NOT HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS! So spending a weekend researching information on the Internet may not give you all the answers and could only confuse you more! 

Well! I have been doing my research too and raising chickens for longer than 14 years so maybe some of my "eggspert" research can help you.

 #1) Nearly 90% of ALL eggs hatched at hatcheries are carriers of MG and MS in some cases genetic defects -  So FYI most chickens are carriers of potential diseases/defects from day ONE!

#2 If you raise your chickens outdoors in coops (even covered) mice/rats/birds DO come in your coop OR or if you free-range chickens (even in your backyard) 

ALL chickens are "eggsposed" to more diseases ANYWAY. They too are carriers of MG & MS 

#3 GENERALLY speaking "biosecurity" is a joke for many backyard owners as well as the hatcheries!

 (I have seen customers waiting outside buildings at hatcheries to purchase chicks because of "biosecurity" and not allowed into the hatchery... BUT the mailman and the employees ARE WALKING ON THE SAME SIDEWALK AND INTO THE BUILDING!!!! HA! So much for "bio-security." But good hygiene and good cleanliness is important!  

#4 Chickens over time, especially the rare, delicate, or fancy breeds, eventually may get sick, MOST proper antibiotics and good clean dry coops, and of course, plenty of sunshine and a good diet can help some cases of illness.

BUT since chickens are CARRIERS of diseases that they inherit from breeding stock parents when there is STRESS or bad weather some chickens WILL get sick again at one point and time. It's really best to "cull" weak and ill chickens rather than to risk further infections. 

The chicken industry is and has been for many years, designing FANCY PET chickens that are carriers of genetic diseases passed on to baby chicks THEN they "eggspect to sell you more chicks" when the chicks/pullets die. 

Generally speaking, in most breeds hatchery stock about 80% are just fine and grow well, and the remaining 20% will have symptoms of MG and not be viable egg producers.

Most fancy pet chicken breeds will NOT survive outdoors in very harsh weather conditions and even in coops without developing some kind of disease sooner or later. 

Do you raise chickens in an outdoor coop? Most people do! Then flying birds, mice can bring in diseases to flocks, and it's IMPOSSIBLE to avoid some kind of poultry illness sooner or later.  Add to this changing weather by seasons and you will eventually see health issues in your flock. Is it your fault? Should you blame the seller? 

My point is nearly ALL chickens are carriers of mycoplasma as well as genetic diseases.  This preventable disease is in the breeding stock and passed on from Mother hen to egg. This is in 90% or more of ALL hatcheries. 

This is a hereditary disease and hatcheries KNOW IT! This is just the FACTS

Understand this ONE thing. Hatcheries are in business to SELL chicks

If all of your pet hens survived to the actual breeding age and reproduced good quality show quality chickens then that's fewer chicks that would be sold and more competition for the poultry business.

The hatcheries GOAL is NOT to sell chickens that LIVE up to ripe old age! Hatcheries' business is to HATCH EGGS  and not sell the best quality breeding stock so that you will stop buying their chicks every spring!

After your chicks arrive in the mail as long as they are alive for 48 hours the hatcheries are off the hook! It does not matter that the chickens they hatch may not be viable for longer than a few months! And most chicks carry genetic diseases too! I have proof! KEEP READING....

THINK! about this! 

Have you EVER seen ANY pet chicken large commercial farms that are breeding and that sell egg-producing full-sized laying "Easter Eggers, Buff Orpingtons, Silkys, Silver Laced Wyandottes and other FANCY PET BREEDS......? 

Read about common and rare chicken breeds and traits here on the breeds page.

Generally speaking, in most breeds hatchery stock about 80% are just fine and grow well, and the remaining 20% will have symptoms of MG and not be viable egg producers.