Infection Control? Or Coop and Run Question?

[KoaLovesChickens]

I have a quick question... or maybe it isn't quick?

I have a hen who died a few weeks (maybe 5 or 6 now) back, we thought from heat stress - RIP Chanel. During the same heat spell, we brought home 12 new layers - so we later thought the heat stress coupled with the stress of new layers (in same coop, but divided - pictured below) did her in. Well, about a week or two after that, another hen ended up becoming what I thought was egg bound, thought due to heat/stress. Did all the treatments, etc. Then the next day, another hen became just as lethargic. Did treatments. Then due to increasingly worrying symptoms, we thought it was coccidosis from bringing in the new hens. Treatment. Well, now it's been about two weeks from treatment with Corid and the two hens still aren't well, one worse off than the other. (I'm thinking that all the hens illnesses are related.)

I should also say during the first round of treatment, we gave them both injections of LA-200 antibiotic as we thought they were egg bound that turned infected - as ALL 8 (then after the one died, 7) stopped laying abruptly. Prior to this, we were getting 7-8 eggs per day. We thought subsequent salpingitis due to the egg binding. Their poo indicated such. Both seemed to improve following the LA-200 but the one is still not doing as well as the other.

My question(s) is/are: how should I go about "infection control" other than the obvious isolation? No other birds are showing signs of infection, despite having been "cooped up" with the sick ones in the coop and run previously.

• Infection control for the two sick birds - should I just cull and call it a day? They are primarily used for egg laying and since we haven't had eggs for going on weeks now, what should I do so as not to infect other birds?
  • Are they contagious? I have read that the stress could affect the egg laying for up to six weeks.
  • Should I just keep them separated, clean up after them, and wait it out?
• Infection control for the 12 new layers - they have not yet been let out of their part of the coop into the run where the 'sick birds' have been. They have only been kept in their part of the coop (see picture).
  • How do I disinfect the run before letting them out in it? Is that even possible? I'm concerned as I don't want my 12 new 2-month-old layers to have the same problems as my 2-year-old layers and then be out eggs for even longer (even though we don't sell the eggs, we give them away to those who need them, which causes me even more stress because I know people are relying on them).
• Infection control for our 50 broilers - we also have 50, 4-week-old broilers that are under the brooder in a separate garage that we will be adding to the right side of the coop (see pictures). The right side of the coop and run will be for the broilers. I am concerned for these girls as I don't want them to become infected with whatever my 8 layers have either as when we go to slaughter, we can't afford to not be able to use them (see 12 new layer problem). Again, how can I disinfect the coop and run on the right side as the infected birds have been on this side as well?

Any other thoughts or maybe something I am missing?

A few quick notes - Yes, we sit in and spend time with our girls! Yes, we have a 'baby' waterer in there with the big girls - they were jealous when the littles joined in and had something they didn't. It actually encouraged them to drink on warmer days! LOL! Our coop was built in 1920-1921 and could maybe use a remodel, but we love it. We are working on painting and fixing it up, likely this summer/fall. We just bought the farm this winter and the renters that were in it prior to us did a number on some of the buildings, Lord knows why. Also, I thought chickens were like garbage disposals? Our girls don't hardly touch the 'weeds' ifo their coop! A little disappointing! lol

 

[Neggative]

i dunno.... i wouldnt cull unless they look really bad.... culling can often be a lot less work.... although i couldnt personaly ever get up enough courage to cull one of my chickens... i would have somebody else do it...... not sure in you situation tho....

 

[KoaLovesChickens]

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's hard to know how to manage something when you don't know what the problem is. For example, Corid only works on Coccidiosis. If the problem is anything else it does not help. Not being critical of you, I might have tried it myself.

If you are in the US I suggest you call your county extension office. Not all offices are the same, but they should be able to put you in touch with a chicken disease expert. Mine in Arkansas did that for me. Chat with them, see what they recommend.

One thing I'd explore is what would it take to get a necropsy. That's where they cut the chicken open to see what the problem is. Typically people take dead chickens in for that but it's possible they will take a live one. See how they want to proceed. I know, holiday weekend coming up if you are in the US so make that call now.

If you are not in the US maybe call your agricultural ministry or whatever you call it.

 

[Mrs. K]

Some general information that would really help: age and a count of birds, climate you live in.

I don’t think what you have is contagious, or it would be spreading through all of them. Personally, I would cull them and call it a day. What I think (guess) is that these may just naturally be close to the end. Often times production birds do burn out around 2 -2.5 years.

High heat or a hidden nest, can also be the cause of egg production loss.

However, I am not a big believer in giving medicine to birds. I want naturally healthy active birds. I would cull the sick ones, and get the babies outside.

mrs k