Feeling so helpless with my flock

[Ridgerunner]

I'm really sorry to read this. You've had unbelievable bad luck, most of us don't have it anywhere this bad no matter where we got the chicks.

The first year went perfectly; no illness, injury, loss. At around a year old one of our hens started laying only soft shell. Then we had a series of undetermined illnesses, just lethargy and weakness. Took them to the vet and bloodwork showed toxic changes but no answers. Then we lost one suddenly. Necropsy confirmed lymphoid leukosis, likely from the hatchery.

I'm no medical expert and am sure not going to argue with a professional. From reading, lymphoid leukosis is a virus that can be spread either from the mother through the hatching egg or from other chickens. Really young chicks are more susceptible to symptoms compared to older chickens. One source said it could be spread through the Marek's vaccination. Sometimes they are contaminated.

I should give a disclaimer that I’m not sharing this as definitive evidence that it came from the hatchery, but my vet suggested this is the likely culprit based on timelines and presentation. Our first 5 are from MPC, and we have a variety of breeds.

MyPetChicken is not a hatchery. They traditionally get their chicks from different hatcheries. Even if they were all from the same hatchery I would not expect different breeds to pass this down through the eggs. I think it more likely they were exposed as baby chicks.

I don't know if all these symptoms would be caused by lymphoid leukosis but with this virus you did nothing wrong. There is absolutely nothing you could have done. It hurts but you have no reason to feel guilty.

 

[Mrs. K]

Ridgerunner is completely right. And, I would cull those birds. A sick flock just sucks the joy out of the whole deal.

I see that you are trying to do right by them, and people with such great sensibilities, I sometimes think chickens are a poor choice for a pet. They don't tend to live real long lives, and people like you are so broken up when they pass. They really do not make a forever friend.

When you dispatch a sick bird, it is called the coup de grace, in that you end the suffering.

There are healthy chicks out there, I have had numerous hatchery chicks, and never gotten a disease like this. As you are seeing, healthy chicks are just more fun.

I keep a flock, and birds come into the flock, and leave the flock. No guilt here, I do keep them well. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Mrs K

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

I'm really sorry to read this. You've had unbelievable bad luck, most of us don't have it anywhere this bad no matter where we got the chicks.


I'm no medical expert and am sure not going to argue with a professional. From reading, lymphoid leukosis is a virus that can be spread either from the mother through the hatching egg or from other chickens. Really young chicks are more susceptible to symptoms compared to older chickens. One source said it could be spread through the Marek's vaccination. Sometimes they are contaminated.


MyPetChicken is not a hatchery. They traditionally get their chicks from different hatcheries. Even if they were all from the same hatchery I would not expect different breeds to pass this down through the eggs. I think it more likely they were exposed as baby chicks.

I don't know if all these symptoms would be caused by lymphoid leukosis but with this virus you did nothing wrong. There is absolutely nothing you could have done. It hurts but you have no reason to feel guilty.

Thank you for all of this. That's the theory for sure, not that each one of them got it vertically but one did and transferred horizontally when they were combined at day 1. They all did get the Marek's vaccination as well. The semi-silver lining is that I've read age of exposure really matters on prognosis, and the newer girls were introduced after several weeks of age. But only time will tell.

LL can cause tumor proliferation throughout the body. We sent out our hen we lost for a necropsy and they found: Lymphoma: Lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, ovary

I'm hoping that some of the symptoms are separate entirely, but the whole flock has had bloodwork (besides the two newest) and all shown way elevated lymphocyte activity, most had toxic heterophils.

I've been lucky to work from home for the past couple of years and they've become such an important and joyful part of my life. I LOVE caring for them. It's just so dejecting to feel like my effort has been futile. This year has been a year for extremes where I live as well, which I'm sure hasn't been easy on their bodies. We had 2 record heat waves + a record cold snap (currently). Feeling so disheartened.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Ridgerunner is completely right. And, I would cull those birds. A sick flock just sucks the joy out of the whole deal.

I see that you are trying to do right by them, and people with such great sensibilities, I sometimes think chickens are a poor choice for a pet. They don't tend to live real long lives, and people like you are so broken up when they pass. They really do not make a forever friend.

When you dispatch a sick bird, it is called the coup de grace, in that you end the suffering.

There are healthy chicks out there, I have had numerous hatchery chicks, and never gotten a disease like this. As you are seeing, healthy chicks are just more fun.

I keep a flock, and birds come into the flock, and leave the flock. No guilt here, I do keep them well. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Mrs K

I really appreciate that perspective. I know you're right, it's kind of a losing battle to fall in love with animals with short lifespans. I'm going to be wrestling with the decision to let this one go over the next day or so. I wanted to give her a shot to improve in case this was a transient issue versus a decline with LL, but it's been 2 days of supportive care. She's still eating, drinking, exploring, but isn't herself. I'll make the call when the time comes.

We have a vet visit tomorrow but I'm really unsure about taking her in at all. I've heard from vets that euthanasia there isn't all that pleasant for them which I can imagine. If I were faced with a true emergency/need for coup de grace, I'm sure we'd find a way to do it, but I feel sick to my stomach imagining doing it myself.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Ultimately, most birds come from a hatchery.

Very true. And you can't lump in all local breeders in the same bucket. It depends on what they're selecting for. Only time will tell how the younger girls of mine will do--the place I got them states they breed for disease resistance.

 

[AntiqueB]

I'm so sorry about your experiences. I worry about what to do when the time comes for my girls, as well.

 

[Barb Root Hinkkanen]

I hav had my share of losses. It’s so hard. All we can do is give our chickens their best life. Mine are happy. They are well fed, loved, and cared for. I’m so sorry for your difficult times. Know that you are doing your best. I am doctoring a little Cochin now. She rally’s then backslides. She’s not in pain and she’s being babied every day. It’s all I can do. Keep the faith.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

I hav had my share of losses. It’s so hard. All we can do is give our chickens their best life. Mine are happy. They are well fed, loved, and cared for. I’m so sorry for your difficult times. Know that you are doing your best. I am doctoring a little Cochin now. She rally’s then backslides. She’s not in pain and she’s being babied every day. It’s all I can do. Keep the faith.

Good luck to you and your lady.

 

[nicalandia]

I’m so exhausted. I do absolutely everything I can to keep them stress free and healthy. I’m meticulous in caring for them and I’m still losing them.

Chickens should not be this hard to care for.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Ultimately, most birds come from a hatchery.

Um…okay?
I mean…you could find ones that aren’t, I’m sure.