How would you know that a chicken had a Coryza before you introduce it to your flock?

[toptom]

Hi! I would like to know how would you know that a chicken had a Coryza before you introduce them to your flock?

Suppose that the chicken is new (or bought).

Suppose that a chicken is old - you have it for a long time but you don't know that it experienced Coryza before.

Thanks!

 

[CMV]

You quarantine the new bird for 3-6 weeks upon arrival. No signs of illness? Then you introduce it to a single sacrificial bird from your flock. House the two together for 4-6 weeks. No signs of illness in either bird? Then the new bird does not have Coryza. If your sacrificial bird gets sick then the new bird has something contagious, and should not be introduced to your flock. Your sacrificial bird should also not be re-introduced into the flock.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[toptom]

seems a good idea even though I don't like sacrificing any bird! Thank you!

Is it okay to keep them in the same cage but in different partitions and different feeders and waterers? I have this big cage divided in to rows. Each rows are divided into 5 partitions. I do not free range my chickens yet.

 

[CMV]

They need to share the same resources to really know for certain. There are certain other conditions, like canker, that come from sharing waterers. Admittedly, you should see overt signs of canker, but not always.

 

[toptom]

as long as they don't share resources, coryza-free chicks are safe? (except other known factors like mosquito bites)

 

[CMV]

No. Coryza is spread readily through direct and indirect contact. I am just saying that to ensure transmission of any diseases it is best to house questionable birds with your sacrificial bird so they have direct contact.

 

[toptom]

No. Coryza is spread readily through direct and indirect contact. I am just saying that to ensure transmission of any diseases it is best to house questionable birds with your sacrificial bird so they have direct contact.

Can it still be discovered through the survivor's poop?

 

[CMV]

I am not sure what you mean. Do you want to have some poop tested for coryza? If you want to test for coryza then you would have better luck testing the birds themselves. It is primarily a respiratory condition, but the bacterium has been isolated in non-respiratory sites such as the kidney. If the bacterium has been located in the kidney, then it would be theoretically possible to find it in poop.

I am very unclear about what your question is, though.

 

[toptom]

Yeah I was wrong. I should have asked:

Can it still be discovered through the "possible survivor's" poop? So that he can be tested before being introduced in the flock. To have stool test instead of the sacrificial idea.

But since you said "the bacterium has been isolated in non-respiratory sites", well it might not be possible unless if they are located in the kidney.

When sneezing and having colds, does it mean Coryza already?

 

[dawg53]

If your birds had Infectious Coryza you'd know it. There's a foul odor around the head area with coryza. Here's a link for you; scroll down to Infectious Coryza and read about it if you wish. Please read about Mycoplasma Gallisepticum (MG) and Infectious Bronchitis (IB) as well:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044