Avain Encephalomyelitis has anyone gone through it

[bhaugh]

After speaking to a knowledgeable poultry man today I'm pretty sure my chicks have Avain Encephalomyelitis. I am still on the fence as to cull them or not so I want to know if anyone has successfully raised them to adulthood and if the birds lived relatively good lives.

 

[MrsBrooke]

If I were you, I would either take one of my birds to the vet for a blood test OR sacrifice one of my birds and send it in for a necropsy to get a definite diagnosis. Your poultry guy could certainly be right, but I'd rather cull one bird and find out what it is in the hope it's treatable, rather than destroy my entire flock with a best guess.

Either way, it's awful, and I'm sorry you're having to go through this.

You can contact your local vet or the local college/university agriculture department to get information on where to send for a necropsy. If you have a bird that passes or one that you cull, place its body in the fridge wrapped in plastic bags (NOT the freezer), and ship it to have the necropsy done.

The necropsy is most likely free, but you'll have to pay for shipping if you go that route.

With a diagnosis, you can formulate a plan and know for sure what to do.

MrsB

 

[bhaugh]

I've been waiting for one to die after the initial wave of death but none of them seem to want to die. I don't know the dislocation method to cull and send a chick off for neucropsy.

This isn't treatable but the birds will be immune for life. I haven't found a vet that even treats chickens in my area.

And thanks I wouldn't want anyone else to go through this either

 

[MrsBrooke]

I hope there is a remedy for your troubles.

MrsB

 

[bhaugh]

Yes it was called euthanize