Do you always quarantine sick chickens?

[Sunshine Flock]

When I quarantined a pullet who was exhibiting respiratory issues with open mouth breathing and diminished energy, she became very distressed and emotional. A few hours later she briefly escaped and immediately flew back to her flock and did her best to forage.

But from everything I had read here on BYC up to that point, it was either quarantine her or risk losing the entire flock to a sudden and disastrous death.

She died two days later. I'm not casting blame at all. It does make sense to quarantine, but I'm beginning to feel, as I did with Dune Buggy a few months ago, that isolating sick birds from the flock and depriving them of their role in the pecking order and the social experience they require for good health, seems counterproductive.

Not always, though. I know there are situations where it's necessary. Someone pointed out in another discussion that their large flock makes observations of sick or injured chickens almost impossible. And bleeding wounds are another reason to isolate an injured bird.

But with the threat of Marek's disease, more than a few people have pointed out that separating a bird from the flock isn't necessary. The chances are good they've all been exposed, and isolation could prove harmful and exacerbate symptoms — and it could affect the flock, too. When Dune Buggy was quarantined the flock experienced stress. It was palpable, and they would often try to visit with her.

And when she died the head hen Rosemary would pace around the shed where Dune Buggy spent her last few days and squawk and squawk.

Chickens are intelligent creatures. I don't know how self-aware they are, but they are emotionally reactive. I've witnessed this many times.

So I'd welcome a discussion on your own experiences with quarantines and examples of when you feel it's necessary and situations where it's not warranted and could prove harmful to both the patient and the flock.

Thank you!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Wow, that's a tough one.

You covered it well! And I think each situation has to be taken on it's individual merit.

Personally in the case of Marek's, I feel as though continual shed of dander and being in the same air space may be increasing the exposure. I feel as though less exposure equals more of a chance for the newly exposed bird to build antibodies (or whatever) and fight it off.

I would be curious to see scientific counts as too how much early segregation of birds actively displaying symptoms impact flock numbers.

I had 60+ birds, used early segregation coupled with early culling of the same symptoms once it was identified... and only lost 2 birds. It's possible it could have been the less infectious strain (or however they refer to it). Or maybe my actions helped.

However, if I notice something that I can't identify and doesn't have me highly worried... I will let them forage with the flock as long as they can, say an injury. If they can't keep up, I consider them easy prey and protect them. It possible you could even bring a friend in with them, if there is one that fits the bill. An alternative in this instance would be to have an isolation pen for protection that is still among the flock, like I do for my broody's.

I look forward to seeing the discussion here!
And pause briefly for the sadness and frustration in the many decisions we have to make.

So thankful for all the caring, knowledgeable, and otherwise caring peeps here, willing to share their time and their hearts!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

When you purchase new birds for your flock you should quarantine them.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

When you purchase new birds for your flock you should quarantine them.

Yes, good one. I forgot about that. Thank you for the reminder!

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

I would start by defining what quarantine is. Strict quarantine involves complete separation, including breathing different air. Inside a home it would mean keeping the quarantined bird in a separate closed room, and wearing a coverall and shoe covers while in with the bird, removing them before you come in contact with other birds. The purpose is to keep new birds isolated until there's less chance of them transmitting disease and/or parasites to the resident birds. It allows you to dose that bird with anti-parasite and other preventive medications without medicating the others, and to monitor their food and water intake. It also reduces stress for the new bird and helps prevent stress related illness.

Quarantine is useless for birds that are already exposed to each other. However, for their own protection, sick or injured birds should be separated physically from the others. Flock birds with a pecking order may attack or kill a sick or injured bird. For flock birds the best way to separate is to use a partition, preferably one they can see each other through. I use cc cubes to build a custom partition, a cage, or a smaller pen inside the larger one. Here's an example of cc cubes, I use cable zip ties to attach them together. Note that the cubes in this example are poor quality, I find the Rubbermaid ones from Home Depot are better. The ties can be cut and the cubes re-used once you don't need the partition anymore.

Allowing the birds to see each other maintains flock bonds and pecking order as well as reducing stress. I also use partitions to introduce new birds to the flock, once they've completed quarantine. I've had former mates (from different bird species) turn on each other suddenly, which means they must be separated immediately or one gets killed. Sometimes they can be temporarily separated and then get along when reintroduced, but most of the time they never get along again.

 

[micstrachan]

Grest discussion. I have yet to quarantine a chicken, but am only in my second year. I have separated a sick, injured, or feather picked bird for her own protection or to simply giving her a rest, but maintained as much closeness with the flock as possible.
I think it’s best to take it case by-case, but whole heartedly agree removing a flock member is stressful for all. I believe we have the responsibility to weigh the pros and cons, follow our intuition, and follow through with what we think is best. As a former mecular biogist, I would indeed be interested in any scientific back up. My answer here is more of touchy feely answer, but that is reality, as we are dealing with living creatures with individual personalities and complex social structures.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

About the only quarantine I've dealt with was the quarantine of the adopted Brat Pack... but within that group, quarantining one of the BP from the others to let her pecked butt heal. Although we kept her contained in a dog kennel and run right next to her flock mates, she let us know every time we visited them that she wanted back in with her flock. She would pace the run right next to their coop, squawking her little head off. TBH, the ones in the coop didn't seem to care she was separated, as I am sure she was/is the low man on the totem pole.

 

[BantyChooks]

I have nothing really to add, but it's interesting that she was so distressed. I've never had a bird react that strongly. I had a duck show some depression-like symptoms after her buddies got killed by a mink, but most others seemed neutral about being in the house away from the flock. Some like it better than being with the flock and beg to come inside now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Quarantine or Separation?

These 2 words are sometimes used interchangeably in the forums. I am not a vet nor an expert, but I will give my opinion.

Quarantine - I think of this when someone is bringing in new birds to their property - this is a period of isolating new birds away from your existing flock, so they can be observed for any symptoms of illness and checked out for internal/external parasites. There's some very good articles about this - a couple of them are here:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/t...often-underestimated-part-of-raising-chickens
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/quarantine-of-backyard-chickens-why-and.html
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

Separation is probably the most commonly used word. This can simply mean confining the bird to a space where you can easily administer care. Depending on the reason for separation dictates where and how the bird would be separated. There's so many different factors to consider here, it really is a case-by-case situation.

Respiratory illnesses - generally all birds are considered exposed and carriers if you have one that gets sick - even if the rest don't show symptoms - but that one bird that does have mucous, cough, eye discharge, etc., does need to be separated for treatment. Separation/Isolation may also reduce the spread of illness which can be found in the mucous, dust/dander, feathers, feces, shared water, etc. A sick bird - most of the time will receive some type of medication/specialized care - even if they are still able to move through the flock, do you as a chicken keeper want to chase them down 2-3times a day to administer meds. This will not only stress the chicken, but you too. Nothing says you have to separate a sick bird completely from the flock, but placing them where you can get to them makes it easier. Something to consider when reading older posts is the method of treatment recommended as well. Before Jan. 2017 - water soluble antibiotics were available OTC and commonly used for treatment - since this was in the water, no need to dose the whole flock when only one or two birds needed it - another reason for separation.

You mention Marek's - that's a whole different ball game. Yes, it's considered everywhere - separating a bird showing symptoms is usually recommended as well. It's also possible they could be shedding more of the virus when symptomatic and separation can help lessen the spread, but you have to look at each post/situation as a whole. For instance birds with visceral form of Marek's that present with paralysis may need to be fed/watered by hand, cleaned up, etc., those with tumors may have open sores/lesions that need care and the bird needs protection from picked on, if they have Ocular form, their eyesight may be failing and they need additional care as well.

There is always degrees of separation - sometimes complete isolation may be in order - if it's cold/rainy and there's not a practical way to keep a bird warm/dry, then bringing them in is best. For sprains/slight injuries a cage/kennel next to the flock works well. I agree sick/injured birds do much better when they are near or can stay with the flock.

Just my thoughts - hope that helps

 

[chickens really]

By the time a Chicken shows symptoms for illness its pointless to separate...The rest of the flock is exposed ..If a Bird is injured/Bleeding I put in a Crate inside my Coop till its gets better..For the most part I never try to save a sick Chicken, usually at that point they are too far gone..I Cull as bad as it sounds..