Hands on hatching and help

[Laurel Meadows]

X2
Is there any way to tell what it is without dragging them all to the vet for testing? I hate to think that any future birds I bring in could be compromised or vice versa..

You may be able to get a vet to run a blood test but it's expensive. The only other, and cheaper, way would be to cull one and send it for necropsy - but of course that means you'd have to kill one.

X2

Like Pyxis said, its expensive to run tests for viruses and having a culture and sensitivity is the best route to diagnose and treat bacterial issues. Unfortunately, all that usually isn't practical or even possible for many of us. But there isn't a way to know exactly what you're up against without tests. You could just have something out there in your soil like cocci. I've read that as birds reach maturity there is often some degree of resistance but there are several strains. You may see your younger birds hit harder but few adults affected. If you're in an area with high temps your birds may be less active and have watery stools just due to drinking more to stay cool.
Another option you have is to bring a stool sample to the vet (if they see birds). That's usually about a $15-$20 test and may give you some answers.
I haven't had to deal with an illness in my flock (knock on wood) but I'm sure you're very stressed. I hope you can get some answers and maybe others will jump in here with some more thoughts or ideas for you.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

X2

Like Pyxis said, its expensive to run tests for viruses and having a culture and sensitivity is the best route to diagnose and treat bacterial issues. Unfortunately, all that usually isn't practical or even possible for many of us. But there isn't a way to know exactly what you're up against without tests. You could just have something out there in your soil like cocci. I've read that as birds reach maturity there is often some degree of resistance but there are several strains. You may see your younger birds hit harder but few adults affected. If you're in an area with high temps your birds may be less active and have watery stools just due to drinking more to stay cool.
Another option you have is to bring a stool sample to the vet (if they see birds). That's usually about a $15-$20 test and may give you some answers.
I haven't had to deal with an illness in my flock (knock on wood) but I'm sure you're very stressed. I hope you can get some answers and maybe others will jump in here with some more thoughts or ideas for you.

Thanks so much. We have livestock vets all around but only one that sees small livestock like chickens. They charge quite a bit which is why I'm reluctant to go unless it's a true emergency. It's almost 100 dollars just for the office visit and that doesn't include any testing. Last time I took my chickens they didn't even run test. She just said it was a bacterial infection and to keep doing what I was doing. I would hate to spend so much for them to do the same thing again which is basically nothing lol. The cochins my newly hatched chicks seemed to get sick first and are still sick along with my jubilee's. All the others are already better. Is it possible the cochins brought something with them from hatch? I did purchase them from ebay..

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you!!!  I'm at work this morning, but hopefully taking the afternoon off to spend with my birds! 

Today is also my Dad's 85th bday. I'm getting ready to go start the cakes. We are doing a bday bbq Saturday.

Hope you're having a good day.

 

[WVduckchick]

Today is also my Dad's 85th bday. I'm getting ready to go start the cakes. We are doing a bday bbq Saturday.

Hope you're having a good day.

Awesome! I dont remember you mentioning last year that it was his birthday too! But you probably did, and my brain just forgot it. Happy birthday to your daddy, and I hope he enjoys the BBQ. I'd love to see his cake when you get done!

 

[casportpony]

.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/cahfs/

Davis Laboratory
West Health Science Drive
Davis, California 95616
(530) 752-8700
(530) 752-6253 (FAX)
[email protected]

Turlock Laboratory
1550 N Soderquist Road
Turlock, CA 95380-2204
(209) 634-5837
(209) 667-4261 (FAX)
[email protected]

Tulare Laboratory
18830 Road 112
Tulare, CA 93274-9042
(559) 688-7543
(559) 686-4231 (FAX)
[email protected]

San Bernardino Laboratory
105 W Central Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92408 2113
(909) 383-4287
(909) 884-5980 (FAX)
[email protected]

 

[casportpony]

@WVduckchick ,


-Kathy

 

[WVduckchick]

@WVduckchick , -Kathy

Thank you Kathy!

 

[Laurel Meadows]

Thanks so much. We have livestock vets all around but only one that sees small livestock like chickens. They charge quite a bit which is why I'm reluctant to go unless it's a true emergency. It's almost 100 dollars just for the office visit and that doesn't include any testing. Last time I took my chickens they didn't even run test. She just said it was a bacterial infection and to keep doing what I was doing. I would hate to spend so much for them to do the same thing again which is basically nothing lol. The cochins my newly hatched chicks seemed to get sick first and are still sick along with my jubilee's. All the others are already better. Is it possible the cochins brought something with them from hatch? I did purchase them from ebay..

Hmm interesting that the vet diagnosed a bacterial infection without even checking a stool sample or doing a C&S to know what bacteria to treat for. But maybe he/she sees that type of thing often or just gives folks broad spectrum antibiotics to cover the bases.

Not a fan of that, personally but I understand why some vets do that with livestock.
I don't know a lot about which specific diseases can be transferred through the egg, but diarrhea can be a symptom of many things which makes it more of a challenge to find a cause as a stand alone symptom without tests.

When your birds are finished with their antibiotics, you can also start them on some probiotics to help restore good bacteria in the gut to help get their tummies back on track

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Awesome! I dont remember you mentioning last year that it was his birthday too! But you probably did, and my brain just forgot it. Happy birthday to your daddy, and I hope he enjoys the BBQ. I'd love to see his cake when you get done!

I didn't remember you sharing it either...lol My mom and dad loved to fish together, so I'm attempting a fishing themed cake, but I'm doing it in icing instead of fondant and modeling chocolate. If it comes out half way decent I'll share pics....lol