Considering starting over....What to do now?

[Clarks2YWAM]

Here is my history: This is the second flock of chickens we have had this year. The first flock of beautiful hand tamed chickens were all killed by a dog. Then we began again.... with a whole new flock.

About 2 weeks ago, my Polish got a crusty eye and it swelled. We seperated him and treated him with neosporin. After a lot of heartache and debate, we culled him. Now my Light Brahama has the same thing. I isolated her, but it is looking pretty bad.

I am thinking of calling the State and seeing what I am dealing with, but if my birds are going to be carriers, I am going to cull the whole beautiful flock. (This is just gonna kill my sweet 10 year old daughter...)

Luckily, we were going to move into a new coop in a new location anyway so I won't have to worry about the soil being contagious. I am just wondering where I got this? The coop run was not covered so perhaps wild birds? We will cover the new run for sure!

How does one go about culling 12 birds? Is there a way to do this all at once? We are vegetarians and don't even eat chicken. My hubbie will do it, but he hates the thought of killing them one at a time.

Anyone???

(This is so terrible isn't it??? Tell me I am being responsible...because I feel like a big jerk!!!!)

 

[hinkjc]

I am sorry to hear you're going through this with your birds. I would highly encourage you to get a state evaluation. If it is something present on your property, you want to know what you are dealing with (regardless of what final decisions you make). This is important to the existing flock, as well as any future flocks.

As far as euthanizing, there are several good posts on this and everyone has their own method. I will add that if the state identified a reportable disease, they may come and gas your flock for you and help with advise and cleaning your property. Best wishes to you and hugs to your dd.

 

[wenitolduso]

I spent $102.00 on a vet visit to save a chicken so I wander myself at times. you get a 22 hand gun and at night do it or put a sock over their head and take them one by one out of the coop and do it put them in plastic bags so as not to get the problem all over the place. good luck.

 

[Renee]

Try Terramycin eye ointment first. It's possible that most of the flock will not catch it. I had one chick with conjunctivitis that we eventually culled because she started sneezing, and we were lucky none of the others got it. Can you isolate the infected chicken and see what happens with the rest?

 

[beautifulbirds]

If your first flock didn't have anything wrong with them then chances are (high) that you have brought this in with your second lot of hens. Don't cull just yet, investigate first, it may be minor.

 

[Beekissed]

Try some ACV in your water, you would be amazed at the immune system boost you will get from it. When we raised rabbits we would eventually get a case of conjunctivitis, either in the adults or in a new batch of kits. A little ACV in the water would clear it up in 2-3 days and it would stay gone for several months.