Vets says Newcastle disease, but could it be?

Hello,

We have an approximately 3 mo chicks we bought from a grower. The grower bought from Ideal Poultry as hatchlings.

A chick had thick clear drainage from the eyes. Slept all the time. Ate very well though. Took water from dropper sometimes.

My wife took her to the vet today who diagnosed her with Newcastle disease, but from what I read, it doesn't really exist in the USA unless what I read was dated. It was a clinical diagnosis, not a test - positive diagnosis.

The vet says to destroy our other pet chickens, but care for them so we don't want to do that. No symptoms in the other chickens.

How likely is a misdiagnosis? Are we doing wrong by not putting to sleep our other chickens?

I could really use some advice.

Thank you,
Nathan

Hi Nathan-

Newcastle disease? Where are you located? It's not out of the realm of possibility, but it is so unlikely (unless you are living in one of a handful of areas) that I find it hard to believe.

That being said, eye drainage is not a good sign. I doubt it is Newcastle, but I think it is likely one of the CRDs (chronic respiratory diseases), and you don't want birds with that. It is expensive, time-consuming and discouraging to manage. You will have birds dropping left and right, despite your best efforts to keep them healthy. It turns what should be a great experience- Poultry keeping! Yay!- into a nightmare.

If you really want to keep your birds you are going to need to get them tested to find out exactly what it is you are dealing with. The vet can do that or so can your state lab. In the meantime- no birds in and no birds out. You don't want to spread this disease any further than you must. And if you actually have confirmed Newcastle in your flock, then the decision will be out of your hands because your birds will be seized and destroyed as protocol. Newcastle is one of a few reportable illnesses in poultry in the USA and Canada.

Sorry I don't have better news for you. Take care.

Thank you very much for the response. We live in central Texas. The town is Temple Texas.

The veterinarian took her to put down and then cremated her. All other birds at this time are completely asymptomatic. I will alert the state authorities of the diagnosis of New Castle and see if they want to authorize testing.

Is my location an area of concern? We are 30 minutes from the home of Ideal Poultry.

The only active area of concern is in Israel at the moment. There have been sporadic outbreaks in CA, IL and up north near Canada in the past few years, but not recently.
http://outbreaks.globalincidentmap.com/home.php#searchlist

If you are in the area of Ideal Poultry, then you would be well aware if there was a problem in your area. There would be flyers posted on every feed store door for 100 miles around it. I would follow through on the testing with the state lab, but I highly doubt that the problem is Newcastle Disease. I'm not saying you don't have a problem, but Newcastle? Unlikely.

When you hear hoof beats, assume horses, not zebras.

I think Ideal is positive for mycoplasma.

-Kathy

casportpony said:

I think Ideal is positive for mycoplasma.

-Kathy

Click to expand...

Do you have any recent sources on this?

CMV said:

casportpony said:

I think Ideal is positive for mycoplasma.


-Kathy

Click to expand...

Do you have any recent sources on this?

Click to expand...

Someone posted a letter from the president of Ideal. I'll see if I can find that thread.

-Kathy

Here it is, post #14:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-entire-flock-of-60-chickens/10#post_15751823

-Kathy

casportpony said:

Here it is, post #14:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-entire-flock-of-60-chickens/10#post_15751823

-Kathy

Click to expand...

Interesting read. Glad I've never used them. I guess I won't ever be using them in the future. It's this kind of irresponsibility that gives us high production layers that usually die of EYP and internal laying by 2 years old, and apparently sells us stock infected with MG. Disgusting.

CMV said:

casportpony said:

Here it is, post #14:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-entire-flock-of-60-chickens/10#post_15751823


-Kathy

Click to expand...

Interesting read.  Glad I've never used them.  I guess I won't ever be using them in the future.  It's this kind of irresponsibility that gives us high production layers that usually die of EYP and internal laying by 2 years old, and apparently sells us stock infected with MG.  Disgusting.

Click to expand...

Ticks me off, too.

-Kathy