Hello all,
I'll try to make this brief. I live in a very populated area near Washington, DC. However, there is a farm, about a 20 minute drive from my house, that has a nursery/produce stand in the spring and summer and a festival (for six weeks) in the Fall. I've worked at the festival for 4 years now and have gotten to know the owner of the farm fairly well.
This year, he brought in some grown chickens and a batch of chicks from McMurrays hatchery to add to the "charm" of the nursery/produce stand. I go over there about 2 - 3 times a week to make sure they are being taken care of properly, give them treats and to get a "chicken fix" as I don't have a flock anymore. They give the grown chickens chick starter so I buy them layer pellets out of my own pocket. (No one really wants to invest the way it's endorsed on BYC but I am willing to contribute...to a point.)
Okay, here's the dilemma. The chickens were brought in in April. There are 6 RIR's and 3 cornish (I think - just guessing). One of the cornish has been sneezing since it arrived in April. None of the others are showing any signs of illness. Also, one of the chicks (now 8 weeks old) is showing signs of respiratory illness - sneezing, congestion though no runny nose or eyes. The chicks are in a run within the bigger run where the chickens are. Only the one seems sick and she's been that way for a few weeks but getting worse. The others seem fine.
These are not my chickens, guys. I want to help but have become somewhat "hardened" over the years and am not willing to go to the extent I would if they were mine. If the chick dies, I would have it necropsied if it were my flock but it's not and I KNOW the owner will not be willing to pay the cost of a necropsy. I guess I have two questions: What can I do under the circumstances? I am willing to buy Vet RX or something like that but wonder if it will do any good. Secondly, does a sneezing chicken ALWAYS mean it has something contagious? These chickens have been here for 2 months and no one else is sneezing or acting sick. However, the chick that has respiratory problems...perhaps SHE caught something from the cornish?
Am I crazy to be concerned about these chickens? I want to help them, as I say, but am not willing to invest lots of $ in a flock that doesn't even belong to me! Okay, I'm done. Lay it on me!!
I'll try to make this brief. I live in a very populated area near Washington, DC. However, there is a farm, about a 20 minute drive from my house, that has a nursery/produce stand in the spring and summer and a festival (for six weeks) in the Fall. I've worked at the festival for 4 years now and have gotten to know the owner of the farm fairly well.
This year, he brought in some grown chickens and a batch of chicks from McMurrays hatchery to add to the "charm" of the nursery/produce stand. I go over there about 2 - 3 times a week to make sure they are being taken care of properly, give them treats and to get a "chicken fix" as I don't have a flock anymore. They give the grown chickens chick starter so I buy them layer pellets out of my own pocket. (No one really wants to invest the way it's endorsed on BYC but I am willing to contribute...to a point.)
Okay, here's the dilemma. The chickens were brought in in April. There are 6 RIR's and 3 cornish (I think - just guessing). One of the cornish has been sneezing since it arrived in April. None of the others are showing any signs of illness. Also, one of the chicks (now 8 weeks old) is showing signs of respiratory illness - sneezing, congestion though no runny nose or eyes. The chicks are in a run within the bigger run where the chickens are. Only the one seems sick and she's been that way for a few weeks but getting worse. The others seem fine.
These are not my chickens, guys. I want to help but have become somewhat "hardened" over the years and am not willing to go to the extent I would if they were mine. If the chick dies, I would have it necropsied if it were my flock but it's not and I KNOW the owner will not be willing to pay the cost of a necropsy. I guess I have two questions: What can I do under the circumstances? I am willing to buy Vet RX or something like that but wonder if it will do any good. Secondly, does a sneezing chicken ALWAYS mean it has something contagious? These chickens have been here for 2 months and no one else is sneezing or acting sick. However, the chick that has respiratory problems...perhaps SHE caught something from the cornish?
Am I crazy to be concerned about these chickens? I want to help them, as I say, but am not willing to invest lots of $ in a flock that doesn't even belong to me! Okay, I'm done. Lay it on me!!
