Lord this is confusing... please, can someone explain this to me step by step? I can't understand why there isn't a straight answer in all of this (or I missed it somewhere) I've been reading and reading and reading and get different answers everywhere.
I gave DH the order to put one down last night that has been sick and was very apparently suffering, flopping all around the brooder, splayed legs, barely raising it's head. There is another and it seems to be recovering, standing for much longer periods, and of course is still separated. I have two other McMurray chicks left and they are in the same brooder as my own hatched chicks. None of those chicks, including the two McMurray chicks, have shown symptoms throughout all of this.
Seeing as all of my chicks were exposed, because they were all in the same brooder before symptoms occurred, I am struggling with putting all of my chicks down and need some insight. Some are silkies and mille fleurs that I have hatched, and yes, I will want to breed them.
* I have chicks that are not showing symptoms but have been exposed. Do these chicks carry natural immunity or will they become immune because they have been exposed but did not get "sick"?
* If they do not carry natural immunity or will not develop immunity by being exposed, can I/should I get them vaccinated at 10 weeks old? Will this make a difference?
* The chick that is recovering, will she always carry this or will she become immune and stop spreading it and if she does stop spreading it, when can I put her back in with other chicks? Can she be vaccinated when recovered or is there a need? Or is there no use for her, and she will always pass this on to any eggs that she lays?
* No one has mentioned cockerels, only pullets/hens passing it thru the egg. What happens if a cockerel is infected/sick or even just exposed? Does he have any impact on the egg/offspring?
* Did I mention that I'm losing my mind? (You don't have to answer that)
Thanks for any insight to what I hope are not stupid questions.
I gave DH the order to put one down last night that has been sick and was very apparently suffering, flopping all around the brooder, splayed legs, barely raising it's head. There is another and it seems to be recovering, standing for much longer periods, and of course is still separated. I have two other McMurray chicks left and they are in the same brooder as my own hatched chicks. None of those chicks, including the two McMurray chicks, have shown symptoms throughout all of this.
Seeing as all of my chicks were exposed, because they were all in the same brooder before symptoms occurred, I am struggling with putting all of my chicks down and need some insight. Some are silkies and mille fleurs that I have hatched, and yes, I will want to breed them.
* I have chicks that are not showing symptoms but have been exposed. Do these chicks carry natural immunity or will they become immune because they have been exposed but did not get "sick"?
* If they do not carry natural immunity or will not develop immunity by being exposed, can I/should I get them vaccinated at 10 weeks old? Will this make a difference?
* The chick that is recovering, will she always carry this or will she become immune and stop spreading it and if she does stop spreading it, when can I put her back in with other chicks? Can she be vaccinated when recovered or is there a need? Or is there no use for her, and she will always pass this on to any eggs that she lays?
* No one has mentioned cockerels, only pullets/hens passing it thru the egg. What happens if a cockerel is infected/sick or even just exposed? Does he have any impact on the egg/offspring?
* Did I mention that I'm losing my mind? (You don't have to answer that)
Thanks for any insight to what I hope are not stupid questions.