Okay I bought 10 chicks from the flea market a few weeks ago that were approx 1 week old. Everything was fine for about a week until I noticed that one of the didn't seem to grow. He was lethargic and had droopy eyelids. He died the next morning. Then one by one four more died over the course of a week. I was so distraught. I started them on Sulmet in their water and I gave them yogurt every afternoon. Well three more of them started getting weak looking. Then I woke up Saturday morning and one of the wouldn't walk. He didn't have the same symptoms as the rest but he acted like he couldn't control his wing or leg movement. Marek's?? He was about a week older than the rest and quite a bit larger. I have got 25 chicks coming in the mail this week and just couldn't risk having some kind of disease getting to them (I stupidly didn't get them vaccinated). So I made the decision to cull last night. Was it the right thing to do? I am so upset, I didn't do it, my SO did, but it was my call. Three of the chicks didn't have symptoms at all. I feel so bad about those three. I didn't know that I would take it this hard, but I just feel the worst that I could possibly feel. We raise all of our animals like they are our own babies. I dreamed about it last night and I keep hearing their little peeps everytime I walk by the spare room door. I'll never order a cull again.
Such a difficult decision. I would make the same call. Its not worth the risk of losing the 25. Please don't feel too bad.
You did absolutely, positively the right thing! Just disinfect everything that came in contact with those chicks now and know that you did well, though it was certainly hard. It's always hard on us folks who love animals.
Oh I know that was hard to deal with...so sorry. You truly did the right thing though, based on the circumstances. Put it behind you and enjoy the healthy chicks that are coming soon...
Thank you all so much for the encouraging words. I think the worst part of the loss is behind me now. I stayed home from school today and just had a cry-fest. I know now that I had to do what I had to do. I never knew that this chicken thing would be so hard. Lesson Learned: Never buy chickens from the flea market. The first chicks I bought back in July had cocci, the hens I bought in August had a respiratory infection, and the chicks I bought in September had God knows what.
