I just got my first laying hens two days ago. They are 8 months old and I got them from a reputable small time organic poultry farmer.
She said that some of her hens had developed a irritation recently due to wood shavings, and recommended that we use straw instead. I found this plausible as wood shaving irritate our cavies too.
Anyhow, on the way home, we noticed one of the hens gurlging and coughing.
When we got home I separated her immediately from the other 3.
She's still in the same shed, but in a rabbit cage instead of the chicken enclosure.
In general the air in the shed is a little dusty...I'm trying to work on that and keep the window open a crack during the day.
Anyhow, today I've noticed she is slightly swollen above the beak area, and maybe some nasal discharge. Her droppings are a combination of normal looking with a white crust on top and watery. She is eating and drinking, being as active as she can be in a cage, and laying nice clean smooth brown eggs. Today's egg was lighter in shade than yesterday's.
The poultry farmer is quite a ways away-several hours drive, so going back asap isn't feasible.
Is this likely to be contagious or not? How can I tell?
Should we cull her? Can we eat her if we do? What about the other birds...are they likely to get sick too now? Is it ok to eat the eggs from the gurlgy bird? What about the others?
I'm going to call the farmer, and see what she says....but I really wanted other opinions as well.
Thanks
Heather=^..^=
She said that some of her hens had developed a irritation recently due to wood shavings, and recommended that we use straw instead. I found this plausible as wood shaving irritate our cavies too.
Anyhow, on the way home, we noticed one of the hens gurlging and coughing.
When we got home I separated her immediately from the other 3.
She's still in the same shed, but in a rabbit cage instead of the chicken enclosure.
In general the air in the shed is a little dusty...I'm trying to work on that and keep the window open a crack during the day.
Anyhow, today I've noticed she is slightly swollen above the beak area, and maybe some nasal discharge. Her droppings are a combination of normal looking with a white crust on top and watery. She is eating and drinking, being as active as she can be in a cage, and laying nice clean smooth brown eggs. Today's egg was lighter in shade than yesterday's.
The poultry farmer is quite a ways away-several hours drive, so going back asap isn't feasible.
Is this likely to be contagious or not? How can I tell?
Should we cull her? Can we eat her if we do? What about the other birds...are they likely to get sick too now? Is it ok to eat the eggs from the gurlgy bird? What about the others?
I'm going to call the farmer, and see what she says....but I really wanted other opinions as well.
Thanks
Heather=^..^=
