infectious bronchitis

[Carolyn]

First of all I was stupid for not quarantining 2 hens for 30 days. They looked very healthy, I had no illness in my flock so I only kept them apart a few days. My very big BAD!
I bought them at a flea market from a man who raised them. Really don't think they were sick but suspect they picked up a bug from other birds nearby.
One of the hens looked depressed (lethargy), the next day she had rattling resp. I thought she picked up something in my pen that my chickes were resistant to. WRONG. Next day my roo was obviously very sick as was this hen. Wheezing, coughing, lethargy; my roo has even quit crowing. Of course by then the whole flock was getting sick. That was several days ago and although they still are sick no one has died.

What do I need to do for future flock management (less than 10 birds to raise eggs and for meat)? Do I need to cull them all? Can I eat their eggs? What about the eggs I put in the bator some of which were laid the day before they showed symptoms? What about future chickens?

Please help me figure out what to do? I promise to never fail to quarantine a bird in the future; in fact I doubt I will ever buy another bird. I just thought Rocky really needed some Barred ladies that looked like him.

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
i have a closed flock. only NPIP chicks or eggs.
my recommendation for buying at a flea mkt or auction is DON'T.

not only can bringing the animals home bring illness/disease into your flock, just touching them can bring home illness/disease also.

how long did you have them before they got sick?

 

[Carolyn]

I kept them apart for 2 or 3 days. One hen was probably sick by the afternoon I put them together(I put them together in the am). She looked depressed. The other challenged the pecking order and was very active and I thought she was just lonely. She was sick the next day and my roo was very sick by the next.
They are still sick, one has a matted eye today also.

I know how to prevent it in the future and believe me I will.
Now I need to know what to do about the flock. Do I need to cull them all? Can we eat the eggs? What hatching the eggs? I have some in the bator now mixed with eggs I got from a friend.

What do I do now?? Please help!

 

[farmgirlie1031]

You can medicate them to make them feel better. BUT, they will always be carriers and the disease can be passed on through eggs hatched from them

Stress can bring on the illness again once they are better.

 

[lovemychix]

This is my first year too and I will never bring another bird home from a swap. I myself have been scared to death with a bird that I had quarantine for some time and finally culled her because I was scared to put her in my flock. My birds still caught it because I had been around her I guess. All my birds are healthy and the only thing I ever noticed was a little sneezing and a couple weezes but everyone is fine now. I spoke to a poultry specialist at ISU in Iowa and he said that backyard flocks are almost always carriers of one thing or another. It is almost impossible for them not to be. they can also contract diseases from wild birds that may be on the property. They will be carriers. And their eggs will be carriers, but you can eat them.
Try giving them some Apple Cider Vinegar about a tbs in a gallon of water in a plastic waterer and crush up a couple cloves of garlic. It's great organic way to treat your birds and I give mine ACV all the time just because it is good for them. Some things need an antibiotic. You could always call your vet and talk to him.

Before someone jumps down my throat about saying most backyard flocks are carriers. That was the specialist saying that not me. I just hate posting sometimes because so many people want to argue or "act" like they know everything.

 

[crazyhen]

Isolate the sick birds immediately! I did that and lost 4 but two did not ever get sick. I kept those two and had them checked for everything in the book and they have remained healthy. No problems.
It is so sad to really look for ward to the hens and name them which I did and have to cull 4 right within a week. I would never knowing sell a sick hen but some will esp. at auctions or flea mkts. It really upset me. I too learned a hard lesson. No flea mkts or auctions.
I am qualified for npip now and will remain so. The agr. man is getting my num. for me.
I ask now where my new biddies come from and if they are NPIP. I still might get some from non NPIP but they sure would be isolated for at least a month and be tiny ones.
Sorry for your looses. Jean

 

[pips&peeps]

IB does not transfer through the egg.

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/disviral.htm

I believe once they have fully recovered, which may take several weeks, the disease is done. It is not a herpes virus that stays with the bird for life.

 

[lovemychix]

IB doesn't but some other diseases do. You are right. Thanks for saying that because I wasn't clear about which disease.

 

[Carolyn]

Thanks for all the info. No need to isolate; they are all sick.
I have been doing some supportive treatment but they aren't eating or drinking very much. My roo is crowing but his comb is still droopy.

What is NPIP? I am sure it has been explained on here but I missed it. What does it stand for?

Thanks again, all.

 

[steffpeck]

Are your hens laying age?