CRD question- My first flock****UPDATE***MS

[mzfancichicks]

-I just took one of my RIR hens to have a necropsy done because most of my RIR's and some of my silkies were all of a sudden coming down with a "head cold". I now know it's probably CRD. The univ said he wouldn't have a definitive answer until the first of the week. I'm so upset and hurt. I have 4 RIR's just about to lay, 4 white silkies about 4 mo's old. 36 - 2 week old babies from a hatchery, and 3 - about 8-9 week olds (these are the ones that started it all !!!). Only the RIR's and silkies are (were showing) signs until our vet put them all on Baytril 2x a day. In reading posts from others about CRD, ILT, IB, etc. I decided to stop the antibiotic. In my state this is a reportable disease, so the state will be contacting me.

My question is- does anyone know how this process works once they (the State) contacts me and would I need to cull everyone? My purpose for chickens is: eggs, selling eggs, selling chicks, relaxation. I really appreciate your help. I'm just about in tears over this. I have worked really hard with trying to keep everyone healthy, clean. I have had nothing but problems from the 8-9 wk olds. I wish I would have known more when I first saw them with the symptoms.

**UPDATE*** I found out yesterday the results from the diagnostic center and talked to the State Vet today. My RIR tested neg for everything except MS. The state vet said I had two options: quarentine or cull. If quarentined then it would be for the life of the birds. I live in a poultry area so this is pretty bad to have. I have a vet who will help me with the 47 birds tomorrow - he will inject them for me. I don't have the stomach to do it myself. I know this goes with the territory but I can't. I will have to disinfect the coop and I'm going to also do the yard and also no birds for at least 30 days. This will give me time to paint and finish putting in my pens. I'm learning a lot through all of this. I'm trying to move forward and just look at the knowledge I'm gaining and not at the hurt. I have talked to Julie at Gabbard Farms here in Arkansas and she is wonderful to deal with. In a couple of months I hopefully plan to have some more birds.

Everyone has been wonderful on here with advise and trying to help me through this. The State Vet and the Diagnostic center Vet has been really good to work with also.

I know I could end up with MS, MG, CRD, ILT, etc due to the NPIP tests are only for Avian, Pollorum, Sal., but maybe if we could have testing some day for these as well we could make these diseases a rare occurence.

Sorry this was so long - I just needed to get this out.
April

 

[robin416]

No doubt this is tough for you.

As to what the state will do, every state is different. They would not cull here in TN for CRD but that doesn't mean your state won't. You need to talk to them about it.

Selling chicks, you can't or shouldn't. By selling chicks that have been exposed to CRD you could be spreading the disease to other flocks.

It is recommended that eggs be collected from the flock to be hatched in a bator and then cull the flock. Then sterilize the living quarters to break the cycle.

 

[mzfancichicks]

What I meant by "selling" is that was my original plan for having chickens. Obviously now I would never. I just don't know what to do? Are the babies ''infected" now too?

 

[PurpleChicken]

You need to assume any birds you have are infected.

Wait and see what the necropsy results are. I highly doubt your state will require culling for a CRD.

If the CRD turns out to be MG you can still keep them and do everything except sell hatching eggs or chicks. You can get some Tylan and treat them.

 

[katrinag]

Where does CRD come from? Do wild brids carry it? If so and you cull your flock and get new ones wont the new birds get it? How do yu keep it from getting your flock again if the wild birds carry it?
I have never delt with CRD but want to know ALL the options there are.
Sorry did not mean to hijack.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Spook's Chicken Cold Page:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=9241

 

[mzfancichicks]

I truly believe my first ones that I got carried it in. I didn't know about CRD or the other diseases. I have my doubts about the lady I bought them from after all the trouble I've had with them and now this.
My first ones had the "neck stretching", "open mouth breathing", sneezing. I have heard the old " chicken cold" theory, but had NO IDEA that it was this awful !!!!
I have learned the hard way about chickens the last 2 months. Maybe out of all of this my problems can help someone else.

Before you buy any chickens from "unknown" source - please watch them carefully and look them over !!!!

It took 2 weeks for the RIR's to come down with it. The silkies have been with them 1 1/2 months. The original ones got over their sneezing and neck stretching after I took care of the mites.

I'm really afraid to continue with chickens. I still have a pure ameracauna rooster and hen at a friends house (they have not been here yet, thank goodness !!). They will stay there until any chance of infection is gone!!!!

 

[mzfancichicks]

Quote:

 

[PurpleChicken]

Several of us here feel your pain. It sucks bad but you are doing the right thing. This is the first confirmed case of MS I've seen on BYC.

Take your time with your coop and things. Chickens will come again for you. Mine have been gone for a few months now and I still haven't rechickened the place yet.

BYC is a great place with a lot of great members. Stick around while while you are chickenless, I am.