ILT - what to do after diagnosis

[Bb62]

Good afternoon fellow chicken peeps!

We unfortunately recently started having some illness run through our flock and had a post mortem done revealing ILT. I have read countless articles and papers but still have some questions I hope someone can help with!

We have a mixed breed flock ages 9months to 3yrs (BCM, Ameraucana, Silverudd’s, Chanteclers, Orpingtons and some crosses) and have two coops for our chickens - older ones in the big coop and youngsters in the small one.
Two weeks ago, 2 of our BCMs developed typical ILT symptoms, we isolated but we lost both. About half the remaining chickens in the big coop showed mild symptoms (coughing and decreased activity and intake). None of the chickens in the small coop have shown any symptoms.
I appreciate this is a forever virus and we just want to do what’s safest and best going forward so this is where I am looking for advice.

Option 1 - cull the flock and start over. Terminal clean of the coop, run and anything that goes in or out with Vikron. Down time of 2-3months. Hatch and vaccinate or buy chicks vaccinated for ILT as day olds from a reputable breeder. Then annual vaccination of the flock and be sure all new chicks are vaccinated before joining the flock.
I wonder if we go this route if it is then safe to hatch our own chicks and have the possibility of selling vaccinated chicks or fertilized eggs? Or is there too much risk for this?

Option 2 - keep the current flock and allow them to live out their years. Vaccinate now and annually. No new additions to the coops. No free ranging. No hatching or selling of fertilized eggs.

We have neighbours with chickens on either side of our property. One flock is vaccinated, the other is not. They are aware of our current situation. Our goal is to have eggs for our family and to sell. We also would like to be able to again sell fertilized eggs or chicks.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[DLA]

Those are some really tough decisions. I'm sorry you had to go thru this. In your shoes I'm not sure exactly what I would do but I think personally might consider option 1 for the infected larger coop and for the smaller coop if they aren't infected they should be ok to stay unless you see some sign of it with them. I'd wait a bit before adding any new till I was sure all clear on smaller coop.
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/infectious-laryngotracheitis

 

[Bb62]

Those are some really tough decisions. I'm sorry you had to go thru this. In your shoes I'm not sure exactly what I would do but I think personally might consider option 1 for the infected larger coop and for the smaller coop if they aren't infected they should be ok to stay unless you see some sign of it with them. I'd wait a bit before adding any new till I was sure all clear on smaller coop.
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/infectious-laryngotracheitis

Thanks so much for the advice! Not easy that’s for sure.
I think we are certainly leaning in the direction you have indicated. We just want to do what’s best in the end.

 

[flocksandflowers]

Thanks so much for the advice! Not easy that’s for sure.
I think we are certainly leaning in the direction you have indicated. We just want to do what’s best in the end.

It’s been a while but what did you end up doing?

In a very similar situation. 3 coops (1 coop has ILT, 1 has ILT/MG/MS/something fungal, 1 has nothing confirmed so far). Currently in the 45-day quarantine from the state.

I don’t really want to cull given the likelihood of them catching these again. But I do want to add new breeds in - I don’t sell hatching eggs or chicks.

 

[Eggcessive]

It’s been a while but what did you end up doing?

In a very similar situation. 3 coops (1 coop has ILT, 1 has ILT/MG/MS/something fungal, 1 has nothing confirmed so far). Currently in the 45-day quarantine from the state.

I don’t really want to cull given the likelihood of them catching these again. But I do want to add new breeds in - I don’t sell hatching eggs or chicks.

Welcome to BYC. The original poster was dealing with infectious bronchitis. That is the most common respiratory disease affecting chickens, and symptoms are mainly sneezing and mild congestion. They only remain carriers for about 5 months, while some say up to a year. You get rid of it by not adding new chickens or hatching any for a year. That is what I did, and it worked.

If your flock has ILT, MG, and MS, those are more serious, and the whole flock will be carriers for life. Many may never have symptoms, but it remains in their bodies. Did you have those confirmed with a necropsy or testing? What works best is to close your flock to any birds coming or going out of the flock. You could hatch and those birds may get sick. You waste a lot of money on antibiotics and keep the illnesses ongoing. But personally, I would wait until your birds are all gone, clean and disinfect the coop and run and wait a few months to get new baby chicks from a hatchery or feed store. Buying birds from breeders or other sellers is a good way to bring in diseases.