North Carolina - Page 2691

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You can add to a closed flock........you do NOT sell or give away any birds

when keeping a closed flock. If you did not practice bio-security before entering

your brooder area then most likely the chicks have been exposed to some

extent. Bio-security means you change clothes and shoes and thoroughly

scrub all exposed skin with antibacterial soap, you sanitize all footwear and

make sure your hair is free of any bird dander or feathers. Carriers can be silent

carriers. They may never show signs or they may only show signs when they get

stressed. You could have had a carrier in your original flock and not known it

until they was stressed with the addition of new birds or changes in their housing

area. Many diseases can be given to your birds through contact with wildlife or

 from wildlife simply flying or passing through. The best thing we can do to protect

our flocks is to be careful when adding new birds and use quarantines. Keep a

healthy flock with regular worming and good food. You can get new birds from

many sources to include flock swaps and auctions just make sure to thoroughly

check over the new birds before buying and then quarantine for 30 days minimum

well away from your coop areas. Good luck and keep trying.

Hi, I haven't been on for a long time, but I need to share what I am going through.  

My flock has been diagnosed with ILT.  I have no idea where they got it from, haven't brought new birds in for about a year, have never vaccinated with a live vaccine and have never purchased vaccinated birds.  I have heard from a poultry vet who tells me that my property will probably be put on a 45 day quarantine.  In the meantime, I need to vaccinate my flock with a non-shedding, recombinant, ILT-Mareks vaccine.  I have only lost three.  I used to work at Charles River and I have a degree in Molecular biology, plus I have been a vet tech for many years, so I am good at sterile procedure.  I have all symptomatic birds isolated in my laundry room (because it has a vent).  

I already have a brooder with five birds and their mother who have recovered.  Luckily, my turkeys are safe and my muscovies will never become symptomatic.

I don't know where I got this, so it could happen to you too.  Here are some of the symptoms:  clear or crusty eye exudate, clear nasal exudate, rales, neck stretching and wheazing breathing, sneazing, coughing or sneazing up blood.  Bringing them into the AC seems to help.