Help with quarantine

[Atomlin895]

hi everyone!

My husband and I had a respiratory outbreak in our flock starting on Sunday. We brought 7 of our 16 inside and quarantined them. After giving them antibiotics and electrolytes it looks like we’re only going to lose one, although losing that one is going to be very hard Anyways, my roo, two of my hens, and two of my pullets are doing so much better. I know I’m supposed to quarantine them for 30 days but having my rooster in my spare bedroom is not ideal. Also it’s cold outside and I’m afraid that if I move the quarantine zone outside the cold will bring back the respiratory illness. Any advice on what to do? Also can I keep sick birds together or do they have to be in solitary confinement? Thanks so much in advance for the advice.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

is your coop ventilated enough? heard that that is one main cause of respiratory problems, i wouldn't put them back until you are sure they wont be exposed to the same situation.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

hi everyone!

My husband and I had a respiratory outbreak in our flock starting on Sunday. We brought 7 of our 16 inside and quarantined them. After giving them antibiotics and electrolytes it looks like we’re only going to lose one, although losing that one is going to be very hard Anyways, my roo, two of my hens, and two of my pullets are doing so much better. I know I’m supposed to quarantine them for 30 days but having my rooster in my spare bedroom is not ideal. Also it’s cold outside and I’m afraid that if I move the quarantine zone outside the cold will bring back the respiratory illness. Any advice on what to do? Also can I keep sick birds together or do they have to be in solitary confinement? Thanks so much in advance for the advice.

Do you know what respiratory illness you are dealing with?
What are you treating them with?

All birds have been exposed if they were initially housed together. Even if some do not show symptoms, depending on what it is, they would also be considered carriers.
Even after quarantine, they would be carriers.

I'm sorry that you are dealing with this. It's hard to know what you should do. Cold weather does not help the situation since you have them inside now, it will be a challenge to re-acclimate them for outdoors.
Birds that are sick do need to be kept warm until they recover. Do you have a garage or outbuilding you can put them in where it's cooler, but you can safely provide them a heat source like a heat lamp?

If you lose one, it would be a good idea to have testing to find out what you have.
Refrigerate the body and send it to your state lab http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Mycoplasma, ILT, Infectious Coryza and Infectious Bronchitis are some of the more common respiratory illnesses that chickens have. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with Wyorp Rock. Personally, I would put them all back inside their coop, and make sure that it has plenty of overhead ventilation. If not make more ventilation. They may all be exposed already from the same source. What symptoms have you seen? Each disease such as infectious bronchitis, MG or mycoplasma gallisepticum, coryza, and ILT will have certain specific symptoms. MG may respond to Tylan 50 injectable given orally, and that is available at most feed stores.

 

[Atomlin895]

I agree with Wyorp Rock. Personally, I would put them all back inside their coop, and make sure that it has plenty of overhead ventilation. If not make more ventilation. They may all be exposed already from the same source. What symptoms have you seen? Each disease such as infectious bronchitis, MG or mycoplasma gallisepticum, coryza, and ILT will have certain specific symptoms. MG may respond to Tylan 50 injectable given orally, and that is available at most feed stores.

I’m currently giving them tylan50 and I’m not sure if it’s helping. The symptoms are sneezing that turns into wheezing if it progresses, lethargy, and in the one serious case a lack of eating or drinking. The closest place that will take a look at my birds is over an hour away

 

[townchicks]

Since you say the rooster is doing much better, and having him inside is hard, and it is likely that the rest of the flock has already been exposed, maybe you could put just the roo back with them, as a test.( just a thought, other more experienced members, please tell me if this is dumb) How cold is it where you are? If you do lose the one bird (hoping she pulls through) certainly send her out for a necropsy if at all possible.

 

[Eggcessive]

If it is infectious bronchitis, that is a virus, and it will run it’s course over about a month. If it is MG, which in mild cases may look like IB, the Tylan may help. They can get secondary infections which can include other resp infections or air sacculitis. Make sure they drink enough water since sick birds will not because they are weak or lethargic. Making a fresh pan of chicken feed with a lot of water daily can get more water into them. I mix a tsp per bird of plain yogurt (such as Chobani) well to give them some probiotics. If you should lose a bird, you could get a diagnosis of what disease you are dealing with, if you refrigerate the body and send it in to your state vet or poultry lab.

 

[Atomlin895]

Since you say the rooster is doing much better, and having him inside is hard, and it is likely that the rest of the flock has already been exposed, maybe you could put just the roo back with them, as a test.( just a thought, other more experienced members, please tell me if this is dumb) How cold is it where you are? If you do lose the one bird (hoping she pulls through) certainly send her out for a necropsy if at all possible.

I was thinking about that! The one bird is still kicking, not sure how but she finally drank a whole cup of electrolyte water and ate a bit of corn. I want to put the roo and the two healthy hens back in the coop, they aren’t wheezing at all and stopped sneezing today. I guess I’m just scared to get any more sick.

 

[HennyPenny2019]

I was thinking about that! The one bird is still kicking, not sure how but she finally drank a whole cup of electrolyte water and ate a bit of corn. I want to put the roo and the two healthy hens back in the coop, they aren’t wheezing at all and stopped sneezing today. I guess I’m just scared to get any more sick.

I’m sorry you are going through this ... I hope tomorrow things are looking up.

 

[Atomlin895]

Quick update: things are looking up. We didn’t lose the one yet, she ate and drank some. Still trying to decide whether or not to put the healthier ones back into the coop, let me know what you guys think.