Disinfecting after illness

[Mercyr79]

Hi. We lost one of hens due respiratory illness yesterday Whats the best way to disinfect the water and food containers that were used while she was in isolation? I assume bleach would be the best but I’m not sure since the rest of the flock will be using them after I clean them…. Thanks

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Vinegar and/or apple cider vinegar are good natural disinfectants. I'd recommend those!

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

I'm also so very sorry about the loss of your hen, that's terrible.

 

[Mercyr79]

Thank you. It was a really hard day yesterday. We did everything we knew to try to help her.

Oh great, vinegar is enough. I was worried that it might not be strong enough to kill whatever she had.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

It should work but if you're still a little nervous @Wyorp Rock might have some more insight.

 

[coach723]

What to use depends very much on what particular pathogen you are dealing with. Some recommend a bleach solution, Virkon S is a strong disinfectant that works on many virus's. Many of the respiratory illnesses are very contagious, so depending on what you were dealing with, the others may already have been exposed.

 

[Mercyr79]

What to use depends very much on what particular pathogen you are dealing with. Some recommend a bleach solution, Virkon S is a strong disinfectant that works on many virus's. Many of the respiratory illnesses are very contagious, so depending on what you were dealing with, the others may already have been exposed.

Thank you. Do you know how long I would wait to know that the other hens are out of the woods? They are not showing any symptoms but were exposed to her. Her respiratory illness started on Wednesday and she died yesterday….

 

[coach723]

It's very hard to say without knowing what it was. It could have been something that won't affect the others at all, or it could have been viral and might. It's a very good idea when you lose a bird to something unknown, which might affect the flock, if possible, have them necropsied with lab work. That way you know for sure. If you have another get ill with similar symptoms, or pass from it, I would recommend you do that. It makes decisions easier.

 

[Mercyr79]

It's very hard to say without knowing what it was. It could have been something that won't affect the others at all, or it could have been viral and might. It's a very good idea when you lose a bird to something unknown, which might affect the flock, if possible, have them necropsied with lab work. That way you know for sure. If you have another get ill with similar symptoms, or pass from it, I would recommend you do that. It makes decisions easier.

Thank you so much for your input.