Dont buy at auctions !

[mychooks]

I knew that. I bought three beautiful Spanish bantams and as I talked with the owner, it seemed that they had come from a good caring home. They turned out to have respitary disease and bad scaley legs. I have been building them up for a week now with multivitimans, yoghurt, boiled eggs, bird seed....anything to build up their bodies' natural defence system. I am treating them with vetRX five times a say and have been using vaseline on their legs. The birds are beginning to eat better and have put on a little weight and their leg 'scabs' are dropping off. They still have mucus but the breathing is slowly improving. The birds are still in a far barn on their own in quarantine and I have my fingers crossed for the rest of my birds. Its not worth the risk of buying the unknown from an auction.

 

[threehorses]

True story that. People who want to sell something can talk a good line. I'm very sorry oyu had to experience it though, particularly as that's a lovely breed. I hope they turn out alright for you. Be sure to do the full 30 days to make sure the longer incubation periods are all covered.

 

[SportTees]

If they have a respiratory disease than they can be life time carriers and infect your other birds even after they are better. Thats what I've heard anyway

 

[oldrooster]

I don't think it's the auction that is the problem, it's the fact you bought before you looked (meaning you did not get up real close and inspected the birds before the auction). I realize some problems you can't see right away and also being with other fowl at the auction they are likely to get something if they were healthy to begin with. Caviot Emptor (I hope I spelled that correctly) but let the buyer beware....

 

[Intheswamp]

Well, oldrooster, this thread is seven years old so those chickens are probably dead by now, but I agree with you. Before buying something at an auction it's a good idea to check the item(s) out well.

But, even after checking chickens out and finding that they look good, with no issues and are apparently healthy...they *have* been exposed to the other animals/birds at the auction and it could be said that they've been exposed to birds that have been through the auctions in times past...the dander, scales, dust, feathers, etc., that are shed can still be hosts for disease, I would think. And a few days or weeks later the chickens start getting sick... <sigh>

As you said...buyer beware.

Ed