Afraid I did a dumb thing...

[Chickenmaven]

If your new birds are 'fine' and the old ones are dying off, you will know that the newbies brought some crud into your flock.

I have seen this - and been GUILTY of it so many times: People are too afraid to say "no thanks" and walk away from a deal. I have known folks to go into a supposed buying situation, then seeing awful conditions, begin to think of it as a RESCUE situation. Don't do it!

I hope your birds are okay.

 

[Big C]

Just an opinion here,
but would we would never buy anyone else's flock and introduce them to ours.
Good luck

 

[the simple life]

Sorry to hear about your situation. It does appear to be a case of the new birds bringing in something and exposing your older birds to it.
If you can its always best to buy chicks from a reputable breeder/hatchery, hatch your own or got a reputable breeder who tests their flocks.
Its really not worth it to take on someone else's issues.
Its tough though to turn around and walk away after you made a deal with the guy, but someone who keeps their chickens in those conditions doesn't really deserve much courtesy anyway.
Good lucky with getting that straightened out.

 

[Rosechuk]

Well yes, I have learned my lesson. It was a dumb move. Still, there is a chance that this was unrelated, or that that bird was already sick or compromised some other way. The others seem ok anyway...so far.

Does anyone have any advice on going forward?

 

[the simple life]

You need to just keep them apart like you have been doing for the rest of the quarantine time.
There is not much else that can be done, I would think its best to just wait it out and see how the others do.
The only other thing you could do is get them tested if you really wanted to be sure but I have no idea how much that would cost or where its available in your area.
You may want to call the guy you bought them from and ask him if any of his flock is or has been sick with the same type of symptoms now or in the past.
What were you planning to do with the older flock, I know you were not keeping them but were you planning to eat them or sell them off?

 

[Katy]

It could very well be that your new birds are carriers of an illness that they aren't displaying symptoms of, but have spread it to your old flock.

 

[emys]

Right now I think you just watch and wait for any other signs. Hopefully all the others will be well.

 

[chookchick]

Oh no--I'm so sorry you are going through this! There is a disease where they spray bloody fluid on walls-I can't remember what it is (IRC or something like that?), but I'll try and figure it out. Keep the birds separated as much as you can and practice heavy biosecurity with shoes, boots etc..Keep them from flying into the other pen--the stress of strange chickens will drive their immune systems down. Also post on with symptoms on emergencies forum, the sooner you can figure out what is going on the better!

Here's a good post with info on diseases, still searching....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=113931
(this link may be TMI--a big discussion on MG/MS)


It sounds like it could be ILT, let's hope not! here's info
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=157749&p=2


Here's an excerpt I got from that thread--geez I hope this is not it!
Laryngotracheitis (LT)
A highly contagious infectious Herpes viral disease of chickens and pheasants. Characterized by SEVERE respiratory distress and bloody tracheal exudates. Chickens 14 weeks and older are more susceptible than young chicken. Most LT outbreaks occur in mature hens. Can become a problem within an endemic or localised area. Chickens that recover carry the virus, so farms tend to stay infected for a while after outbreaks. Transmission is direct bird-to-bird contact, or bird contact with bird-tissue, dead infected birds, infected buildings or unattentuated vaccines. Can be spread on clothing, shoes, tires.

Chickens that recover remain carrier for as long as 24 months. Clinical signs first noticed are water eyes, then the birds remain quiet because breathing is difficult, coughing, sneezing, and shaking of the head to dislodge exudate plugs in the windpipe. Birds extend head and neck to attempt open mouth breaking (gasp), and inhalation produces a wheezing sound. These birds are called "callers". Blood tinged exudates and serum clots are expelled from the trachea of affect birds. Many birds die of asphyxiation. No nervous symptoms as in NewCastle Disease. Egg production drops sharply.

Gross lesions are usually confined to the respiratory tract. Tracheal hemorrhage is common, including blood clots. Treatment is difficult at best. Quarantine the farm, tighten farm security and have separate caretaker for sick birds, stop cross traffic to other poultry buildings. Administer antibiotics and vaccinate the remaining flock. Administer vaccine by eye or nose drop methods. Delay vaccination until birds are at least 6 weeks old. Vaccination with LT is not as successful as for other diseases, but is an excellent preventative measure for use in outbreaks and in epidemic areas.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Quote:
That is why quarantine has limited utility - IMHO. Often, the new birds are carriers and will look just great. Illness comes later. I believe that you should get the new birds as far away from your existing flock - ASAP. If I was in your shoes, I would try to beg or borrow a shed of some sort and house these newbies on the other side of the property.

I have been on BYC for awhile now and I am seeing a pattern: People get all excited about chickens & want more, more, more. Then, months after a new, enthusiastic BYCer appears on the forum, said Enthuser brings sad report of illness obtained at swapmeet or from Craigslist birds. It is sad. I am not writing this in order to rip on the OP. I am just saying that as a group, **WE** do this!!!! We do this and it is not too smart. We are like a bunch of kids that took the sex ed class and decide to do it w/o protection anyway.

 

[jenjscott]

Watch your old birds closely. If you loose another bird I would take it for necropsy to your state vet. Cost varies according to state, but then you would (hopefully) know what you are dealing with and what to treat it with. If you or a friend has any experience, necropsies can be performed at home, but you have to know what you are looking for, be familiar with normal appearance.