Am I doomed?

[NovaChooks]

Hi there,

I'm new here and to owning chickens. Being new I had no idea there was a risk for illness to be passed from chicken to chicken, I should have done my research better first

I got a few chicks from a really sweet couple about 6 weeks ago. I went to their hobby farm and picked out my day-olds. They're growing amazingly and have no issues.
Now, the other day I decided to add to my flock and wanted to get buff orps. I had to go through someone else as the couple I previously dealt with didn't have that breed.
I met up with the 'breeder' and he handed me two two week-old buff orp chicks. I took them home and started noticing them sneezing/sniffing. They don't chirp like the others, just stay quiet and mostly still. they don't run around like my originals did when they were that little.
I have them in separate cages but the cages are really close together. I didn't know about quarantining either

I'm going to be removing the new ones ASAP, cleaning the cage well and putting them in the garage far from my others. I emailed the guy I bought them from but I don't have high hopes that he will be compensating me in any way, as he has obviously sold me sick chicks.

What should I do? Do I treat them and hope they get better and then introduce them after a few months? Do I cull them? Are my existing, beautiful, healthy birds now doomed to be sick and then carriers as well??

I wont be making this mistake again

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

I wouldn't cull them; respitory issues can be fixed, but you do need to keep them isolated. I'd keep hounding that guy to. He was wrong for selling you sick chicks. Let me tag the experts: @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[NovaChooks]

I wouldn't cull them; respitory issues can be fixed, but you do need to keep them isolated. I'd keep hounding that guy to. He was wrong for selling you sick chicks. Let me tag the experts: @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

thanks!

I read on this site that respiratory illness in chickens can never be cured, only treated, and that it will keep coming back to them in times of stress. Also that the birds shouldn't ever be sold or have their fertile eggs sold as it can be passed on to other flocks even with no symptoms.

Is all this true?

I don't mind nursing them to health if I can, but if it means my original flock is now basically contaminated... :/

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

Well, I'm really not the best person to ask advice from, let's see what the experts have to say. @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @casportpony

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I got a few chicks from a really sweet couple about 6 weeks ago. I went to their hobby farm and picked out my day-olds. They're growing amazingly and have no issues.

I met up with the 'breeder' and he handed me two two week-old buff orp chicks. I took them home and started noticing them sneezing/sniffing. They don't chirp like the others, just stay quiet and mostly still.

I'm going to be removing the new ones ASAP, cleaning the cage well and putting them in the garage far from my others.

What should I do? Do I treat them and hope they get better and then introduce them after a few months? Do I cull them? Are my existing, beautiful, healthy birds now doomed to be sick and then carriers as well??

I read on this site that respiratory illness in chickens can never be cured, only treated, and that it will keep coming back to them in times of stress. Also that the birds shouldn't ever be sold or have their fertile eggs sold as it can be passed on to other flocks even with no symptoms.

Hi @NovaChooks Welcome To BYC

Can you post some photos of the sick chicks?
Where in the world are you located? (state or country)

You mention the 2 new ones are sniffling/sneezing - is there any mucous, facial swelling, bubbly eyes, coughing, etc.?

Are they eating/drinking on their own? How often is the sneezing/sniffling?

IF they have a respiratory disease, technically, they have been near the others, so everyone is considered exposed, but moving them won't hurt - but illness is spread in dust, dander, on clothes, shoes, etc.

Now...all that said, try not to panic just yet IF they have respiratory disease, then finding out what it is would be a good idea. There are many common diseases that can look like one another as far as symptoms. Most do make birds and those exposed carriers for life. Once you find out and it's one that they will carry for life, then yes, imho, the responsible/ethical thing to do would be to keep a closed flock - no selling/giving away hatching eggs, chicks, started pullets or showing birds. Basically once a bird is on your property, they stay there for life. It's possible the others may get sick, they may not. The Buffs may recover and never show more symptoms, they may have relapses, there's no hard and fast rules here. It is true that stress can make bird symptomatic.

 

[NovaChooks]

I am definitely panicking lol

I'm in Nova Scotia, Canada.

I have a couple pics of them from when I first got them, but didn't take any yesterday (I've only had them just over 24 hours). I'm going to try and attached a video.

They don't have any of the symptoms you described, Runny nose, facial swelling, bubbling, etc. but they did have a wet sounding peep, like they had fluid on their lungs. I'm at work right now and I can't remember if I heard them cough or not, but sometimes it seems like one will take a little gasp. They are eating and drinking and pooping. but not much food or water is missing from their bowls.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I am definitely panicking lol

I'm in Nova Scotia, Canada.

I have a couple pics of them from when I first got them, but didn't take any yesterday (I've only had them just over 24 hours). I'm going to try and attached a video.

They don't have any of the symptoms you described, Runny nose, facial swelling, bubbling, etc. but they did have a wet sounding peep, like they had fluid on their lungs. I'm at work right now and I can't remember if I heard them cough or not, but sometimes it seems like one will take a little gasp. They are eating and drinking and pooping. but not much food or water is missing from their bowls. View attachment 1827095 View attachment 1827096

The video would be good - upload to youtube and provide a link.

So you have only had them 24hrs - how often do they sneeze? Is that the box you are keeping them in or how they came?

 

[Perris]

hello @NovaChooks ! welcome to BYC
It sounds like you've had a bit of a baptism by fire
But you have learned very important lessons for the future, and the worst may not happen. I have a young home-hatched one with snivels, presumably caught from wild birds or the environment, and while I think it has held her back a bit, and she's smaller than her siblings, she is holding her own without any help from me. Follow the advice Wyorp Rock gives you, and don't beat yourself up - we all make mistakes when we start out.

 

[NovaChooks]

The video would be good - upload to youtube and provide a link.

So you have only had them 24hrs - how often do they sneeze? Is that the box you are keeping them in or how they came?

That is how they came. I snapped a couple pics right after I picked them up.

I feel like they sneeze a lot. while they're awake maybe every 15 seconds or so. and while sleeping much less often but does still happen

After I took them out of the box I put them in a hamster cage with bedding, heat lamp etc. and the hamster cage was sitting right next to the larger cage I have my older birds in. I moved them to the garage downstairs away from my others after I started reading all sorts of scary articles about sneezing/sniffling birds.

I will try the youtube link. Have never posted a youtube video!

 

[Perris]

be careful with the heat lamp! make sure they can get away from it if they are overheating!