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- #291
I am glad to hear that my story is helping others find safer ways. You are right that quarantine is often almost pointless when it comes to MG since if the carrier bird is dormant during quarantine it offers no actual safety. The sacrificial bird concept is hard but may help. I can never know for sure where it came from in my flock though I have very strong suspicion. I was in the process last year of collecting all the rare breeds from as varied lines as possible with the intent of breeding for sale. I bought from breeders all over. I bought hatching eggs, chicks, started birds and birds on the verge of lay. I also accepted some gifted bird or second hand birds from other backyard keepers that were not breeders. Only once did I receive what I knew was a sick bird. I picked it up from a friend who did not know him to be sick. She is a professional breeder, friend, very honest. She has never seen any sign of illness in her flock. When I picked him up I remarked on him stinking and that he must have gotten pooped on. I took him home in the middle of summer and although my car had the A/C on, by the time we got home 20 minutes away he was now drooling, had bubbling eyes, was wheezing and smelling really bad. I took him straight to quarantine and called my friend. She thought he must have gotten overheated and stressed. I doted on him for a month. During the first week a hen separate from him got a swollen eye. I moved her in with him. By the end of a month they both appeared fine. I moved them in with the flock. It took time but eventually this swept through everyone. My friend still has no explanation for how he could possibly have been ill. He had never shown signs while she had him. She has never had any other birds show signs. She still sells birds regularly and no one else has had any problems.
In other news... I had to cross my first name off the list morning. I was devastated. I brought my favorite pullet inside in a dog carrier yesterday because her leg appeared injured. Onyx spent the day eating scrambled eggs with garlic and cayenne, drinking water with colloidal silver in it, and snuggling with me on the couch. Her leg seemed painful to the touch but I couldn't feel anything obvious. I put some arnica lotion on it for any swelling though I saw none. I babied her all day. This morning she was dead, still warm, in the kennel. Her crop was full and she drank plenty of water. I have no idea. She had no breathing issues. I am assuming she was more hurt internally than i could see. I broke into tears and both my boys hugged me. I've seen a lot of death in this flock and I can usually keep it together. But she was very special. She is the one who always followed me everywhere, hopped in my lap, rode on my shoulder, talked to me constantly, and loved to just be held and sleep on me. I have one other young one like that and I am afraid she will be next
I noticed a little bit of snot on her beak yesterday. I actually gave her a breathing treatment with colloidal silver in hopes it will help. I am going to treat her daily for a few days to see if it helps. I just cured my own pneumonia with the same treatment so I have some hope... but realistically I feel like it is just a matter of time for all of them.Here was my Onyx on her last day on Earth :'(
Here is my Lacey
[VIDEO]
you just can't catch a break. Do hope the rest of your flock hangs in there.
I lost a total of 20 chickens and now I think I am left with the rest currently being healthy. But who knows... I went out to the coop today and sat with my pad and pen and wrote down the names of everyone I have left (yes, they all have names, LOL!). There are 
