I brought in sick chickens to my flock?

[Joplus]

I don't know. This post is just a downward spiral I doubt anyone can help me with. I was actually trying to sell off most of my flock because I'm overwhelmed. Basically I had like 50+ chickens after some overly successful hatches in April. I listed 6 rooster and a guy offered to trade for 2 hens. I should have said No. Also it's been extremely hot in AZ and people are losing chickens left and right but I have a swamp cooler and lost none. Well right away these hens looked bad. I had them in a rabbit hutch isolated from my flock but in the same run (terrible mistake). I've contacted the guy, says they're stressed from the drive, etc. They never improve. They are always sleeping. One had a raspy congested sound and bubbles in her eye. I gave them garlic honey and vinegar in their water. I have no clue and I have no money for a vet. Anyway my other 30 chickens are really thin. Probably lack of food (bigger girls don't share, roof rats stealing food?) and the heat or parasites I don't know. I feed all flock pellets and scraps fruits and veggies and scratch. So we decide we should maybe worm the flock? We do it randomly like once a year though I've never seen worms but we had ticks once years ago. We gave everyone 2 drops under the wing of 5% ivomec pour on and 1/2 mL of valbazen in their mouths. We've done this many times. As a preventative. Anyway. Today one chicken in my flock looks tired. Then I sell one to a lady. Looked fine. She brings it home it's raspy and falls over. This is when I realize this tiredness from the two new hens has spread to my flock!! I return her money obviously and the chicken is wrecked, can't walk. It wasn't like that before. Is this heat stress??!! Disease? I gave them electrolytes for everyone, I dumped out their pool and just left small dishes so the whole flock is forced to drink it. And the deworming was done 11 days ago so I'm afraid to retreat if I need to but I don't even think they have parasites but I'll look really carefully in the morning again. I've deleted my ad I'm not selling sick chickens. I don't know what to do. Does this sound like a disease or heat related? Should I add oregano oil in addition to electrolytes? Cull the sick ones asap? They aren't dying, the two hens but sleep nonstop. Are the roof rats terrorizing them all night and they're exhausted? (We've placed traps, no luck). I have no idea. In 10 years I've never had sick chickens

 

[3riverschick]

Kill the 2 newcomers. Have a necropsy
Done on them to see what is wrong with them. Often a State will do it for free. Contact your extension office. Put the birds on ice after you kill them so they are preserved for the State.
Tho the newcomers may not look sick, they can be carriers making your birds sick.
Heartbroken for you,
Karen

 

[Pork Pie]

Whilst it may be too late if the disease is contagious, I'd cull them immediately.

 

[3riverschick]

Okay here you go you need to contact the University of Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on 2831 N. Freeway in Tucson. the people that have the scientists who do the necropsy. Here's their phone number. call them before you kill the chickens and they will explain how to do it correctly on how to either drive or ship them the birds .if there is cost they will explain to that to you too.
Their phone number is 520-621-2356.
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[Joplus]

Ok thank you I will call them.

 

[3riverschick]

the scientists can tell you for sure what is wrong. tell them what the what the symptoms are and I'm sure they can get you started on the road to recovery. Hugs for you and your birds
Best,
Karen

 

[Joplus]

Thank you. I am heartbroken. I've hatched all these out from eggs. They are my babies.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

What a terrible expirence, so sorry you are having to go through this. Looks like you have some good advice. Please know we are all rooting for you and your chickens. Good luck

 

[3riverschick]

Awh Joplus,
I really don't know what to say .what a heartbreaker. well at least when you get with the laboratory you'll know what's wrong and then you can start to fix it .
God bless you and yours,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Joplus,
The raspy sound ,weakness, and bubbling eyes... I think you may have a mycoplasma in your flock. there are several different kinds . the laboratory can tell you what's really going on. the good news is if it's a mycoplasma, the world poultry Community is rapidly researching new ways to heal birds from them and prevent them from getting it later on. let us know what the laboratory says.
Best,
Karen