In early June I picked up 7 day-old chicks from my local feed store. 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Buff Orps, and 1 RIR/Production Red. They were healthy and happy and grew up fast in their pack n play brooder in our living room, and my children and I enjoyed socializing them. When they were 5 weeks old, I moved them into the coop I built. It is well-ventilated, with a covered attached run. The move was successful, and everyone had settled in comfortably.
When they were 7 weeks old, a friend and I went to look at some chickens from a Craigslist ad. She came home with two, and I came home with two-- a buff and a black Silkie, 5 months old. They looked good, and I asked the owner about their health-- she said everyone was healthy. I brought them home and introduced them to my flock, more concerned about them getting along than being a health hazard to my girls.
One week later, I completed the fencing around the chickens' daytime run and let them all out to explore. 8 of the 9 chickens happily ran around the new space, eating grass and chasing bugs and dust bathing. One of my 8 week old EEs, the one who has been the most curious, the most social, the most affectionate, stayed behind. She was standing with her head tucked under her wing and wasn't interested in exploring. I went and picked her up and noticed that she was wheezing with each breath.
I brought her inside and set up the pack n play brooder again. Quick exam showed no throat obstruction, but she had clear discharge from her nostrils. It was odorless, but dripping. Her face was swollen right under her eyes, like tiny water balloons under her skin. Uh oh. Went to the feed store and picked up Duramycin-10, and started treating her right away. Decided to treat the rest of the flock out in the coop too, just to be safe.
The next morning I went to check on the other girls in the coop and examined each one-- the black Silkie had nasal discharge too, and it was bubbling on her nostril every time she breathed. Into the pack n play brooder with her, too. Checked the flock again in the afternoon, and two more chicks (the other EE and the RIR) had nasal discharge and very swollen faces. I didn't bother bringing those two into the brooder because I figure it's too late-- they're all infected, and I have some decisions to make. At this point only the first EE is wheezing, although all 4 of the affected birds have swelling and nasal discharge. They are eating and drinking normally and are slightly lethargic, but still walking around.
I've read dozens of threads on BYC about MG, and even though all the symptoms fit and I have a feeling I know what needs to be done, I think I'm in denial. This is my first flock, and I'm so torn up that a naive mistake I made may have led to this.
1. Is this MG?
2. Did it come from the Silkies, or could it be something wrong with my coop?
3. Should I continue to treat the entire flock with antibiotics and hope for the best?
4. Should I *gulp* cull everyone, disinfect, and start again, promising to never ever add birds without quarantine ever again?
5. If I decide to keep them, what impact will this have on their laying, and will I be able to eat any of the eggs they produce?
Thanks for holding my hand through this. My emotions are clouding my judgment, and I need help.
When they were 7 weeks old, a friend and I went to look at some chickens from a Craigslist ad. She came home with two, and I came home with two-- a buff and a black Silkie, 5 months old. They looked good, and I asked the owner about their health-- she said everyone was healthy. I brought them home and introduced them to my flock, more concerned about them getting along than being a health hazard to my girls.
One week later, I completed the fencing around the chickens' daytime run and let them all out to explore. 8 of the 9 chickens happily ran around the new space, eating grass and chasing bugs and dust bathing. One of my 8 week old EEs, the one who has been the most curious, the most social, the most affectionate, stayed behind. She was standing with her head tucked under her wing and wasn't interested in exploring. I went and picked her up and noticed that she was wheezing with each breath.
I brought her inside and set up the pack n play brooder again. Quick exam showed no throat obstruction, but she had clear discharge from her nostrils. It was odorless, but dripping. Her face was swollen right under her eyes, like tiny water balloons under her skin. Uh oh. Went to the feed store and picked up Duramycin-10, and started treating her right away. Decided to treat the rest of the flock out in the coop too, just to be safe.
The next morning I went to check on the other girls in the coop and examined each one-- the black Silkie had nasal discharge too, and it was bubbling on her nostril every time she breathed. Into the pack n play brooder with her, too. Checked the flock again in the afternoon, and two more chicks (the other EE and the RIR) had nasal discharge and very swollen faces. I didn't bother bringing those two into the brooder because I figure it's too late-- they're all infected, and I have some decisions to make. At this point only the first EE is wheezing, although all 4 of the affected birds have swelling and nasal discharge. They are eating and drinking normally and are slightly lethargic, but still walking around.
I've read dozens of threads on BYC about MG, and even though all the symptoms fit and I have a feeling I know what needs to be done, I think I'm in denial. This is my first flock, and I'm so torn up that a naive mistake I made may have led to this.
1. Is this MG?
2. Did it come from the Silkies, or could it be something wrong with my coop?
3. Should I continue to treat the entire flock with antibiotics and hope for the best?
4. Should I *gulp* cull everyone, disinfect, and start again, promising to never ever add birds without quarantine ever again?
5. If I decide to keep them, what impact will this have on their laying, and will I be able to eat any of the eggs they produce?
Thanks for holding my hand through this. My emotions are clouding my judgment, and I need help.
