Bacterial Illness - Do I need cull my flock?

[fluffybumfarm]

Hi, I am a newbie to chickens. I have some respiratory issues in my flock. They are recovering from it but they are getting it one by one.

I have been told that if its a virus I need to cull my existing chickens and start again, if I want to increase my flock size. (Currently 20)

But I am not clear about a bacterial issue. Is it the same as when there is a virus?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Eggcessive]

What symptoms are you seeing? The most common respiratory disease is a virus called infectious bronchitis, and symptoms are repeated frequent sneezing, and sometimes a clear thin nasal discharge. That one spreads throughout the flock, and usually lasts about a month, and is usually not that serious or fatal. Chickens will remain carriers for 5 months up to a year. No treatment is required . You should not hatch or add to your flock for 1 year.

Other diseases may include mycoplasma (MG,) coryza, ILT, and aspergillosis. Those may be more serious, include, coughing, wheezing, rattly breathing, and the first 2 include bubbles or pus in eyes, a swollen face, are chronic and come back again with any stress. Chickens can be carriers for life (except for aspergillosis, a fungal disease from mold.)

 

[fluffybumfarm]

What symptoms are you seeing? The most common respiratory disease is a virus called infectious bronchitis, and symptoms are repeated frequent sneezing, and sometimes a clear thin nasal discharge. That one spreads throughout the flock, and usually lasts about a month, and is usually not that serious or fatal. Chickens will remain carriers for 5 months up to a year. No treatment is required. You should not hatch or add to your flock for 1 year.

Other diseases may include mycoplasma (MG,) coryza, ILT, and aspergillosis. Those may be more serious, include, coughing, wheezing, rattly breathing, and the first 2 include bubbles or pus in eyes, a swollen face, are chronic and come back again with any stress. Chickens can be carriers for life (except for aspergillosis, a fungal disease from mold.)

Symptoms are nasal discharge, shaking heads, some chesty sounding coughs but not significant, some has extended their neck to breathe, some have had bubbly eyes. Only the initial two got really sick, not eating weak etc. I took those to the vet and he said cull them. Really they don't seem all that sick, egg production only down slightly, if at all, and they recover in a few days.

If it is IB, can I introduce new birds when everyone is well again or will they have to be a closed flock?