I am so upset

[Lil'ChickFarm]

I just purchased two white/ cream americauna chickens from a lady in my area. They were on Craigs list. I did this sort of sight unseen.
I met her this morning. The girls were dirty, one foot looked swollen. She said she came that way to her.
I got them home and one breathed a deep raspy breath and coughed with snot.
They are sick and I cannot put them in my flock.
I asked her to take them back and keep the money, but she won't.
I have her address and have a mind to drop them off there, but the drive to her house is 45 minutes of gas.
I am not even sure she gave me a correct address, as when she started to give me an address, she then said she would meet me somewhere as there was some road block down in her area.
Probably that she did not want me to see her place.
These birds are now in a dog crate on my front steps. My birds are out back. So there isn't any contact.
I don't know what I am going to do now. I gave them shavings, food and water.
Learned a big lesson.
I don't even know if you should butcher sick hens.
Also they are PROBABLY not nine months old as she said. People lie so easily. She sounded so nice, but I guess sounding nice is not nice always.

 

[Heathero617]

Could you keep them seperated from the others for a while and give antibiotics to get rid of the snot and cough? I know you're supposed to keep them seperated for an "isolation" period to be sure they dont get your flock sick.

 

[speckledhen]

I got them home and one breathed a deep raspy breath and coughed with snot.

Do NOT give them antibiotics. Cull them. They are very sick and will remain carriers, even if you can make the symptoms go away. Sounds like either Coryza or CRD to me, both carrier diseases. Sounds like she knew they were ill, if she won't take them back, even keeping your money. Be sure not to contaminate your birds--wash your hands, change clothes and shoes after handling them.

You can most likely butcher and cook them without any issues, but is it really worth it anyway for that small amount of meat? Cooking will kill bacteria, but if it was me, I'd just cull and burn their bodies, if you have a safe place to burn them.​

 

[chicmom]

Buyer beware. I am so sorry you had to experience this. I sometimes think that, when somebody doesn't want you to see where they live, you should be suspicious.

Now, some people are VERY into biosecurity, and won't let you get near their chickens because they fear you might bring in some disease, and sometimes, people will be nice enough to meet you half way, but I'm betting this lady had HORRIBLE living conditions for her hens.

I personally would never put those hens with your flock. You can bring them back to health, but they will most likely be carriers of some illness. I speak from personal experience, because somehow, and I believe it was from birds I bought at a well known poultry show, my flock was contaminated. My chickens all look wonderful and healthy, and they have a wonderful hen house and some beautiful country to free range in, but in truth, I know something is going on with them, because about every six months or so, they come down with a respiratory illness, and I have to treat them, and then they're fine again. I can't sell them now, so they just get to stay with me until they pass naturally, or I cull them. I haven't had them diagnosed yet, but I believe they have MG.

Anyhow, that's why I would suggest you cull. You might bring those hens back to health, and I feel sorry for them, but if you put them with your flock, it's likely your flock will become ill, and then become carriers.

Take care, and I hope everything works out for you. I know it will,

Sharon

 

[Katy]

My only thought.....why on earth would you take them in the first place if they looked dirty and unkempt.

If a chicken doesn't look 100% healthy don't take it home.

At this point there's not much you can do if she won't take them other than cull (as in kill) them and disinfect everything they came in contact with.......or be prepared to keep them completely seperate from your other birds and hope the illness doesn't transfer to your birds.

 

[Lil'ChickFarm]

Quote:
I met her at her job. I did not know they were sick. They are not filthy, just that being white, they looked dirty, but I could not tell if it was darker feathers or dirt.
I was being nice, but I should have left her there with them. Now I know that I should. She isn't being nice and won't take them back.
She must have known.
She works for the police dept. for crying out loud. I have a mind to report her, but people like that just make it harder back. It is not worth it.

Oh and I did not hear the cough until I got home.

 

[EweSheep]

Cull them and chalk that one for experience. Next time if you decide to get started birds, look them over really good before money change hands. Once that is being done, isolate them away from your flock for a good four to eight weeks and bring in a sacrificial bird to keep the new bird company. If that bird becomes sick, then you know you have a carrier and both must be culled out. If no sickness during the isolation, then it would be ok to re-introduce them back into your flock.

 

[poonam]

If returning them is an option (with the 45 minute drive to a place that you're not sure is her home) — that would be best. If not, culling them might be the best option. Treating them with antibiotics can be an option too, but i'd recommend separating them regardless.

I had a similar experience on craigslist. I returned the sickest, but the other two started showing symptoms, and it's been a long hard journey and tons of heartbreak dealing with their illnesses.

it may be a pain to try and track her down and return them, but i think it's really worth it.

 

[Imp]

Oh, That's too bad. Sorry you are having to deal with this.
Is there any animal control in your area? Maybe turn everything over to them.

Imp

 

[jbs]

Wow, people are really awful. It sounds like that woman knew that she was selling you sick chickens. I can see myself getting into a situation like this as well, thinking that maybe something's not quite right with the chickens, but not really figuring it all out till I got home. This is a valuable lesson to those of us who have been thinking of buying new chickens to add to our flocks. I'm too new to have any advice, but sorry that you're going through this. Don't beat yourself up too much, just try to learn from the experience and move on.